Abstract: A method of and a system for preparing postal items in which, for each item, an assembly is prepared from a plurality of sheetlike parts, the assembly is individually passed to a postage meter and the assembly is franked by the postage meter. A postal value is determined from the weight dependent value of the quantitative property of each assembly and by setting the postage meter for franking each assembly in accordance with the determined postal value. Since the postage meter is thus automatically set for each assembly, the franking with different postal values can be carried out with a single postage meter. Accordingly, only one postage meter needs to be provided downstream of one exit of the packaging station, so only one exit is required and if other exits are available, these can be used for outputting assemblies which need particular attention or treatment.