Methods and apparatus for generating and distribution of surface mail objects

A distributed system for generating and delivering mail items, said system comprising:

• a first user system and a second user system coupled to a mail service computer over a computer network, said first user system configured to allow a first user to specify the contents of a first mail file, and said second user system configured to allow a second user to specify the contents of a second mail file;
• said mail service computer configured to store said first and second mail files, wherein each of said first and second mail files includes recipient address information;
• a printing facility coupled to said mail service computer, said printing facility configured to receive said first and second mail files and to print, on a single sheet of media, said first mail item in accordance with said first mail file, and a second mail item in accordance with said second mail file;
• and
• a surface mail system operable to deliver said first and second mail items, wherein said first mail item is addressed in accordance with said first recipient address information, and said second mail item is addressed in accordance with said second recipient address information.

A method of providing secure on-line address-changes, wherein a postal authority maintains a list of recipient addresses associated with users, said method including the steps of:

• presenting a user with a web page prompting for address-change information;
• validating said address-change information using at least the name of said user and a credit card number associated with said user;
• and
• transmitting said address-change information to a post office center if said address-change information is verified.