DIGEST OF UNITED STATES POSTAL REGULATIONS. (As compiled by the Post-Office Department, Washington, D. C.) GENERAL GUIDE TO CLASSIFICATION OF DOMESTIC MAIL MATTER, FIRST-CLASS Includes all written matter, all matter closed against inspection, and all matter, though printed, which has the nature of actual and personal (individual) correspondence, except that certain writing or printing may be placed upon matter of the second, third, and fourth classes without increasing the rate. (See section 2.) SECOND-CLASS Includes all newspapers and periodicals which bear the authorized statement: "Entered at the post-office as second-class mail-matter. (See sections 2 and 4.) THIRD-CLASS Includes all printed matter upon paper not having the nature of actual personal correspondence, except newspapers, and periodicals bearing statement: "Entered at the post-office as second Exceptions:-Miscellaneous printed matter (not books), weighing more than 4 pounds shall be included in matter of the fourth-class (parcel post), and books weighing more than eight ounces shall be included in the fourth-class (parcel post). FOURTH-CLASS (Parcel Post.) Includes all merchandise and all other matter not comprehended in the first, second, and thirdclasses. (See sections 2 and 4.) NOTE.-Matter of a higher class enclosed with matter of a lower class subjects the whole package to the higher rate. SECTION 1. Domestic Mail Matter. Domestic mail matter includes all matter deposited in the mails for local delivery, or for transmission from one place to another within the United States, or to or from or between the possessions of the United States. Porto Rico, Hawaii and Virgin Islands are included in the term "United States." The Philippine Archipelago, Guam, Tutuila (including all adjacent islands of the Samoan group, which are possessions of the United States), and the Cannal Zone are included in the term, "Possessions of the United States." The term "Canal Zone" includes all the territory purchased from the Republic of Panama, embracing the "Canal Zone" proper and the islands in the Bay of Panama named Perico, Naos, Culebra and Flamenco. Domestic rates of postage also apply to mail' matter sent from the United States to Canada, Mexico, Cuba, the Republic of Panama, and the United States postal agency at Shanghai, China, and matter addressed to officers or members of the crew of vessels of war of the United States. The domestic rate applies also to letters, but not other articles, addressed to: Domestic mail matter is divided into four classes: FIRST CLASS-Rate, 2 cents for each ounce or fraction. Limit of weight, 70 pounds for parcels mailed for delivery within the first, second, and third zones, and 50 pounds for all other United States postal cards, 1 cent each; post cards, 1 cent each. zones. Includes: Letters, United States postal cards, post cards manufactured by private persons (see sec. 7), all matter sealed or otherwise closed against inspection, and all matter wholly or partly in writing, whether sealed or unsealed. Except maunscript copy accompanying proofsheets or corrected proof-sheets of the same and the writing authorized by law to be placed upon matter of the other classes. NOTE-Typewriting and carbon and letterpress copies thereof are written matter and subject to the first-class rate. A printed communication having the character of actual personal correspondence is regarded as a letter. (See section 8.) See section 3 for exceptions to prepayment. SECOND-CLASS.-Unsealed.-Rate, i cent for each 4 ounces or fraction. Full prepayment required. No limit of weight. Copies must be complete. This is the rate which applies to newspapers and other periodical publications bearing the printed statement: "Entered at the post-office as second-class matter," etc., when they are mailed by the public. For permissible additions see section 4; wrapping, section 13 NOTE. The rates of postage on and the conditions applicable to second-class matter, when mailed by publishers or news agents, are not treated in this Digest. THIRD CLASS.-Unsealed.-Rate, 1 cent for each two ounces or fraction. Full prepayment required. Miscellaneous printed matter (not books), becomes fourth-class (parcel post) matter when packages weigh in excess of four (4) pounds. Includes: Books weighing 8 ounces or less, newpapers and periodicals not admitted to the second-class, circulars, miscellaneous printed matter on paper not having the nature of personal correspondence and weighing four pounds or less, and proof-sheets, corrected proof-sheets, and manuscript copy accompanying the same, and all matter in point print or raised characters used by the blind. For permissible additions see section 4; wrapping, section 13. FOURTH-CLASS (DOMESTIC PARCEL POST) matter embraces all other matter, including farm and factory products, not now embraced in either the first, second or third class, not exceeding 70 pounds when mailed for delivery within the first, second, and third zones and not exceeding 50 pounds when mailed for delivery in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth zones. Parcels cannot exceed 84 inches in length and girth combined and cannot contain matter of a perishable nature within a period reasonably required for transportation and delivery. The following table governs the postal rate on parcels to the different zones. POSTAL RATE ON PARCELS TO DIFFERENT ZONES-Concluded. First zone includes approximately 50 miles distance. The above table applies to parcels weighing in excess of four ounces, fractions of pounds being considered full pounds. On parcels weighing four ounces or less the rate is one cent for each ounce or fraction of an ounce regardless of distance. Books weighing eight ounces or less shall be charged at the rate of one cent for each two ounces or fraction of two ounces; on all in excess of eight ounces the rates as shown in the table shall be charged. Miscellaneous printed matter weighing in excess of four (4) pounds, shall be charged according to zone rates. Printed matter (not books) weighing four (4) pounds or less shall be charged at the rate of one cent for each two (2) ounces or fraction of two ounces. (NOTE).—All fourth-class (parcel post) matter should be marked to indicate if same is perishable or fragile. Parcel post packages cannot be registered but can be insured at the following rates: $5.00,. When the value of the parcel does not exceed 100.00,. 3 cents. 5 cents. 10 cents. 25 cents. The charges on a package will be collected on delivery and returned to the sender by money order upon payment of 10 cents in addition to the regular postage providing that the amount to be collected does not exceed $50,00, and a fee of 25 cents in stamps provided the amount to be remitted does not exceed $100.00. Such a parcel becomes automatically insured up to $50, and $100 according to whether 10 or 25 cents fee is paid. Insurance and C. O. D. fees the payment of which is evidenced by postage stamps being affixed, do not constitute postage on such matter. For permissible additions see section 4; wrapping, section 13. SECTION 3. Payment of Postage. Postage on all domestic mail matter must be prepaid in full at the time of mailing by stamps affixed, except as follows: (a) Letters for Soldiers, Salior and Marines may be transmitted in the mails, without prepay. ment of postage. Letters of soldiers, saliors and marines connected with the American Expedi tionary Forces may be mailed free of postage, provided they bear in the upper left hand corner the name of the soldier, sailor or marine, together with the designation of the service to which he belongs, as, for instance, Private John Doe, United States Army, United States Navy, or United States Marine Corps, as the case may be. (b) A letter bearing only a special-delivery stamp. This provision applies to special-delivery letters only. (See section 19.) (c) First-class matter, prepaid one full rate, 2 cents. NOTE.-In each of the above cases the matter will be forwarded to destination and the unpaid postage collected on delivery at single rates only. (d) Matter of the first-class and not less than 300 pieces and of the second and third classes mailed in quantities of not less than 300 indentical pieces upon which postage is paid in money, and 250 indentical pieces of matter of the fourth-class upon which postage is paid in money, NOTE. Postage-Due stamps, internal-revenue stamps, or embossed stamps cut from stamped envelopes, or stamps cut from postal cards will not be accepted in payment of postage. SECTION 4. Permissible Additions to Original Matter. NOTE The words "personal" or "to be called for," and other directions as to delivery, and requests for forwarding or return upon prepayment of new postage, are permissible as part of the address on second, third, or fourth-class matter. (Parcel Post.) Additions to Second-Class Matter. 1. ON THE WRAPPER, or the matter itself, there may be written or printed (1) the name and address of the sender, preceded by the word "from" (2) the name and address of the person to whom sent; (3) the words "sample copy" or "marked copy, or both, as the case may be. 2. ON THE MATTER itself the sender may (1) place all that is permitted on the wrapper; correct typographical errors in the text; désignate by marks, not by words, a word or passage in the text to which it is desired to call attention. 3. Other writing will subject the package to the first-class rate. 4. To be entitled to the transient second-class rate copies of newspapers or periodical publications must be complete. Partial or incomplete copies are third-class matter. Additions to Third-Class Matter. 5. ON THE WRAPPER, envelope, or the tag or label attached thereto, or upon the mat ter itself, there may be written or printed the name, occupation, and residence or business address of the sender, preceded by the word "from;" there may also be printed on the wrapper, envelo_pe. or the tag or label attached thereto, any matter mailable as third-class, but there must be eft on the address side a space sufficient for a legible address, postmark, and the necessary postge stamps. 6. The words "please send out," or "post up," or other similar directions or requests, not a part of the address, nor necessary to effect delivery, may not be written upon the wrapper of third-class matter or upon the matter itself without subjecting it to postage at the letter rate. 7. ON THE MATTER itself the sender may place all that is permitted on the wrapper, and may make marks other than by written or printed words to call attention to any word or passage in the text, and may correct any typographical errors. There may also be written or printed upon the blank leaves of any book, or upon any photograph, or other matter of the third-class, a simple manuscript dedication or inscription not of the nature of personal correspondence. A serial number written or impressed upon third-class matter does not effect its classification. 8. WRITTEN DESIGNATION OF CONTENTS, such as "book, "printed matter," "photo," is permissible upon the wrapper of mail matter of the third class. 9. ENCLOSURES.-A single card bearing the written name and address of the sender, or an envelope bearing a written or printed name and address of the sender may be enclosed with a circular, catalogue, or other third-class matter without affecting the classification thereof. 10. PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOKS, otherwise mailable at the third-class rate, may bear any printed or written mark which may reasonably be construed as a necessary inscription for the purpose of a permanent library record. 11. ADDITIONAL IMPRINTING, by hand stamp, upon third-class matter will not affect its classification as such except when the added matter is in itself personal or converts the original matter into a personal communication; but when such appears to be the fact, the presentation at one time at the post-office window or other depository designated by the postmaster of not less than 20 perfectly identical copies separately addressed and unsealed will be sufficient evidence of impersonal character to entitle such matter to the third-class rate. 12. CORRECTIONS IN PROOF-SHEETS include the alteration of the text and insertion of new matter, as well as the correction of typographical and other errors. Includes also marginal instructions to the printer necessary to the correction of the matter or its proper appearance in print. Part of an article may be entirely rewritten if that be necessary for correction Corrections must be upon the margin of or attached to the proof-sheets. Manuscript of one article cannot be enclosed with proof or corrected proof-sheets of another except at the first-class rate. 13. Additions to Fourth-Class Matter. ON THE WRAPPER, envelope, tag, or label, in addition to the name and address of the addressee, there must be written or printed the name, and residence, or business address of the sender preceded by the word "from," and there may be any marks, numbers, names, or letters for the purpose of description On the address side or face of the package there must be left a space sufficient for a legible address, postmark and the necessary postage stamps. |