Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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Segment Information (Assets) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	$ 6,678,715	$ 5,837,133	$ 6,123,132
Cash and cash equivalents	1,009,021	764,522	640,190	$ 1,043,439
Short-term investments	48,988	38,448
Identifiable long-lived assets	564,314	502,657	507,603
United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable long-lived assets	506,064	441,443	434,557
Outside United States
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Identifiable long-lived assets	58,250	61,214	73,046
Small & Medium Business Solutions \| North America Mailing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	1,959,206	2,066,480	2,562,816
Small & Medium Business Solutions \| International Mailing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	552,570	532,647	594,564
Enterprise Business Solutions \| Production Mail
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	260,977	239,358	244,156
Enterprise Business Solutions \| Presort Services
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	387,701	373,443	374,647
Digital Commerce Solutions \| Software Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	658,737	645,349	858,308
Digital Commerce Solutions \| Global Ecommerce
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	1,016,045	449,363	438,917
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	4,835,236	4,306,640	5,073,408
Operating Segments \| Small & Medium Business Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	2,511,776	2,599,127	3,157,380
Operating Segments \| Enterprise Business Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	648,678	612,801	618,803
Operating Segments \| Digital Commerce Solutions
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Assets	1,674,782	1,094,712	1,297,225
Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cash and cash equivalents	1,009,021	764,522	640,190
Short-term investments	48,988	38,448	127,388
Other corporate assets	$ 785,470	$ 727,523	$ 282,146