System and method for embedding machine coded destination information into a postal mark

A system and method embeds a postal code in a postal mark. The system includes a scanner to input a destination zip code for a piece of mail and a control unit, connected to the scanner, to convert the destination zip code to zip code glyphs and to embed the zip code glyphs into a predetermined portion of a bit map representing the postal mark. A printer then prints the postal mark bit map with embedded zip code glyphs onto the piece of mail. The system also includes a scanner to read the embedded zip code glyphs and a controller to decode the read zip code glyphs. As a result of the decoding, a sorter sorts the piece of mail and directs it to its destination. The postal mark is either a stamp cancellation mark or a postal meter. The system can also be utilized to track mail by including a device which assigns a tracking number to the piece of mail. The control unit then converts the tracking number to track glyphs and embeds the track glyphs into a predetermined portion of the stamp cancellation mark bit map. The printer prints the stamp cancellation mark bit map with the embedded track glyphs and zip code glyphs onto the piece of mail, and scanners read the track glyphs at different points along a mail handling system so that a controller can track and document the progress of the piece of mail through the mail handling system.