Intangible Assets and Goodwill 3 (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
Goodwill [Line Items]
Impairment of Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill)					$ 5,000,000		$ 5,000,000		$ 5,000,000
Goodwill, Gross			2,277,238,000				2,277,238,000		2,306,793,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	18,315,000		130,150,000		0		(84,500,000)		0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill, beginning period					2,147,088,000		2,306,793,000
Other	7,365,000	[1]	(29,555,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	2,136,138,000		2,147,088,000		2,136,138,000		2,147,088,000		2,306,793,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			(130,150,000)				(130,150,000)
North America Mailing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			352,897,000				352,897,000		357,909,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	2,977,000	[1]	(5,012,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	355,874,000		352,897,000		355,874,000		352,897,000		357,909,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
International Mailing
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			176,285,000				176,285,000		193,761,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	(5,158,000)	[1]	(17,476,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	171,127,000		176,285,000		171,127,000		176,285,000		193,761,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Small & Medium Business Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			529,182,000				529,182,000		551,670,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	(2,181,000)	[1]	(22,488,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	527,001,000		529,182,000		527,001,000		529,182,000		551,670,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Production Mail
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			140,371,000				140,371,000		129,246,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	4,276,000	[1]	11,125,000	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	144,647,000		140,371,000		144,647,000		140,371,000		129,246,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Software
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			667,124,000				667,124,000		678,111,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	4,094,000	[1]	(10,987,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	671,218,000		667,124,000		671,218,000		667,124,000		678,111,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Management Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			487,223,000				487,223,000		494,432,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		(84,500,000)						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	1,176,000	[1]	(7,209,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	403,899,000		402,723,000		403,899,000		402,723,000		494,432,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			84,500,000				84,500,000
Mail Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			259,105,000	[2]			259,105,000	[2]	259,101,000	[2]
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	(18,315,000)	[2]	(45,650,000)	[2]					0	[2]
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	0	[1],[2]	4,000	[1],[2]
Goodwill, ending period	195,140,000	[2]	213,455,000	[2]	195,140,000	[2]	213,455,000	[2]	259,101,000	[2]
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			45,650,000	[2]			45,650,000	[2]
Marketing Services
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			194,233,000				194,233,000		194,233,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	0		0						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	0	[1]	0	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	194,233,000		194,233,000		194,233,000		194,233,000		194,233,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			0				0
Enterprise Business Solutions
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill, Gross			1,748,056,000				1,748,056,000		1,755,123,000
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	18,315,000		130,150,000						0
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Other	9,546,000	[1]	(7,067,000)	[1]
Goodwill, ending period	1,609,137,000		1,617,906,000		1,609,137,000		1,617,906,000		1,755,123,000
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss			$ (130,150,000)				$ (130,150,000)

[1] Primarily foreign currency translation adjustments for the period.

[2] Impairment charges for the Mail Services segment relate to IMS and have been classified as discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income.