Operation Turnkey: World's First Automated Post Office, Providence, RI 1960

The cachet, printed in black by C. Stephen Anderson, features a detailed architectural illustration of the automated post office building with mechanical processing diagrams, alongside bold text reading 'Operation Turnkey / Automated Mechanized Post Office' and a lengthy descriptive paragraph about the world's first completely mechanized post office at West River Industrial Park, Providence, R.I. The 4-cent U.S. postage stamp depicts an aerial view of the Providence, R.I. automated post office facility. Two cancellations are present: a circular datestamp from Providence, R.I. dated October 20, 1960, at 9:00 A.M., and a pictorial cancellation from the Post Office Department featuring a rider on horseback. The cover is unaddressed and in excellent condition.

The cachet artwork features a detailed black-and-white illustration of the automated mechanized post office, including architectural and mechanical processing diagrams. The stamp depicts an aerial view of the facility in blue, with the text 'FIRST AUTOMATED POST OFFICE IN THE UNITED STATES' and 'PROVIDENCE, R.I.' The postmark includes a circular Providence datestamp from October 20, 1960, and a pictorial Post Office Department cancellation. Additional text describes the post office's capabilities and significance.