A method and system for sorting mail includes the steps of imaging a face surface of the mailpieces (10) to acquire mailpiece delivery information and distributing the mailpiece image to a virtual sorting station (30). The virtual sorting station is operative to sort each mailpiece image into one of a plurality of database files (40DF) based upon common mailpiece delivery information. Depending upon the number of virtual sorting stations (30) required to perform the sorting operation, the mailpiece delivery information (10Dl) contained in each database file may be processed by a system controller (50) and/or transmitted to an automated mailpiece sorting device (14) where each mailpiece is physically sorted into one of a plurality of mailpiece containers. The system for sorting mail includes an imaging device (20), a virtual sorting station (30) for virtually sorting the mailpiece images and an automated sorting station (14) for physically sorting the actual mailpieces. The system may include a plurality of virtual sorting stations wherein operators at each station provide address interpretation data to sort the mailpieces.