Postage meter having a dot matrix printer

A postage meter, comprising:

• a keyboard for inputting postage information;
• a memory for storing the input postage information;
• a programmable read-only memory for storing standard postage indicia information;
• a dot matrix printer, said dot matrix printer comprising a staggered arrangement of a plurality of dot matrix printheads;
• a controller which 1) retrieves the input postage information and the standard postage indicia, 2) combines the input postage information and the standard postage indicia information to form a postage indicia to be printed, 3) divides the formed postage indicia into equal portions wherein the formed postage indicia is divided by a number of the dot matrix printheads in the dot matrix printer, 4) routes divided portions to each of a plurality of dot matrix printheads, and 5) instructs each of the dot matrix printheads to print its portion of the divided postage indicia at a specific time such that upon completing the printing of the divided portion, a complete postage indicia is printed;
• a label dispenser which is controlled by the controller to dispense an adhesive label to the dot matrix printer so as to be printed on by each of the plurality of dot matrix printheads in order to form a complete postage indicia;
• and
• a circular platen onto which the label dispenser dispenses an adhesive label to the dot matrix printer, said circular platen carrying the label and rotating the label past each of the dot matrix printers in sequence with the printing by each dot matrix printer.