About Return Address Labels
Return-address labels are an easy way to put your personal information on all of your outgoing mail. Whether you are paying bills or sending out holiday cards, using return-address labels will make your job quicker and simpler. Rather than spending a lot of money on labels, you can design and print them using your home computer.
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History
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Artists who were lithographers were the first makers of return-address labels, offering them to businesses in the late 1800s. Avery Dennison, manufacturer of paper office products, was founded in 1935. The company developed the first self-adhesive labels soon thereafter. With the surge of home computers and desktop printers that occurred in the late 20th century, consumers began creating and printing their own, personalized address labels at home and in the office.
Function
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Personalized return-address labels are placed in the top left-hand corner of outgoing mail. These labels allow the recipient of the piece of mail to know who sent it. They are also helpful to the post office, in case the mail is undeliverable for some reason and needs to be returned to the sender. Pre-printed labels make it easier, especially when the sender has multiple pieces of mail to send. Instead of hand-writing the return address on each envelope, the sender can simply stick labels on them.
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Types
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Return-address labels are generally printed on 8-1/2-by-11 inch adhesive paper, although smaller sizes are available. Printing companies sell pre-printed labels on rolls as well. Label paper is typically white, although it can also come in various colors, foil, or clear. There are numerous sizes of labels available as well. The most common size of a return address label is 1 by 2.63 inches, although 1/2- by-1-3/4 inch mini labels are also commonly used. For packages, larger labels that show both the recipient's address and the sender's return address are often used.
Benefits
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If you are using the labels in an office setting, you don't have to worry about someone making an error or writing the return address illegibly. Thirty labels print onto a typical sheet of label paper, which makes them cost-effective and prevents you from using excessive paper or printer ink. The labels can be used for other purposes, as well. For example, if you lend books from your personal library, just stick a return label inside the front cover so the borrower remembers who loaned it.
Considerations
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If you are using Microsoft Word, there are many free address-label templates available. You can also create your own labels in Word. Go to the "Tools" menu and point to "Letters and Mailings." Click on "Envelopes and Labels" and go to the "Labels" tab. Click on "Options" to choose the label size. Type your name and address into the "Address" field, and make sure "Full Page of the Same Label" is selected. Click "New Document," and you will have a page full of return-address labels ready to print.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Tricia Goss
