CLASSES OF MAIL

DOMESTIC matter is divided into four classes, governed as follows:

First Class embraces letters, postal cards, post cards, all matter wholly or partly in writing or sealed against inspection. Rate, 2 cents for each ounce and fraction. Limit of weight, 4 pounds.

Second Class applies to newspapers and periodicals in their entirety bearing the printed statement “Entered at the post-office as second-class matter,” etc., when they are mailed by the public. Parts of publications are third-class matter. Additions may be made on the wrapper or the matter itself; there may be written or printed the name and address of the sender, preceded by the word “from”; the name and address of the person to whom sent; the words “sample copy” or “marked copy,” or both, as the case may be. On the matter itself the sender may place all that is permitted on the wrapper; correct typographical errors in the text; designate by marks, not by words, {130} a word or passage in the text to which it is desired to call attention. Other writing will subject the package to the first-class rate.

Rate 1 cent for each 4 ounces or fraction. Full prepayment required. No limit of weight.

Third Class includes unsealed books, newspapers and periodicals not admitted to the second class, circulars, miscellaneous printed matter on paper not having the nature of personal correspondence, and proof sheets, corrected proof sheets, and manuscript copy accompanying the same, engravings, lithographs, seeds, scions, cuttings, bulbs, roots, and plants. Also facsimile copies made by a mechanical process such as the printing press, electric pen, mimeograph, hektograph, copygraph, etc., provided that they are mailed at the post-office window in the minimum number of twenty identical copies separately addressed. If mailed elsewhere or in less number, first-class postage is required.

A circular may have in writing therein the name of the addressee or sender or date.

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. They include 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 {131} correction. Corrections must be upon the margin of or attached to the proof sheets. Manuscript of one article cannot be inclosed with proof or corrected proof sheets of another except at the first-class rate. Written designation of contents, such as “book,” “printed matter,” “photo,” is permissible upon the wrapper of mail matter of the third class.

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 inclosed with a circular, catalogue, or other third-class matter without affecting the classification thereof. 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.

Rate 1 cent each 2 ounces or fraction. Limit of weight, 4 pounds, except single books. Postage must be fully prepaid and great care exercised not to add any written words or figures except such as are permissible.

Parcel Post includes all (unsealed) matter not embraced in the three classes already enumerated, except seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants, on which the rate is one-half cent per ounce. Important changes are certain to be made from time to time during the experimental period, so readers are urged to secure the {132} latest information from their own post-office. The basic regulations at present are as follows:

All matter weighing over 4 pounds, except second-class matter, single books, and documents printed and circulated by authority of Congress.

Postal, post, or other cards mailed without wrappers and all matter bearing upon the outside cover or wrapper any delineations, epithets, terms, or language of an indecent, lewd, lascivious, obscene, libelous, scurrilous, defamatory or threatening character, or calculated by the terms of manner or style of display, and obviously intended to reflect injuriously upon the character or conduct of another.

Post cards bearing particles of glass, metal, mica, sand, tinsel, etc., are unmailable.

All matter concerning any lottery, so-called gift concert, or other enterprise of chance, or concerning schemes devised for the purpose of obtaining money or property under false pretenses.

Postal and private mail cards, 2 cents each.

Printed matter of every kind, commercial papers, samples of merchandise, 1 cent each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, but at least 5 cents must be paid on each packet of commercial papers and 2 cents on each packet of samples of merchandise.

Mail schedules showing the name of steamer, hour of closing of the mail at the General Post-Office, etc., may be found in the corridors of the General Post-Office or any of its stations. {135}

All sealed packages other than letters in the usual form; all packages (including packages of second-class matter which weigh more than 4 pounds 6 ounces), except such as are sent by parcels post; publications which violate any copyright law of Mexico.

Samples of merchandise: Packages not in excess of 4 ounces, 2 cents. Packages in excess of 4 ounces, for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, 1 cent. Limit of weight, 12 ounces.

Mail matter in United States addressed to CANADA and CUBA is subject to same postage rates and conditions as addressed for delivery in United States, except that the following articles are absolutely excluded from the mails:

All packages closed against inspection and not in usual form of a letter; all packages, except single volumes of printed books, {136} which weigh more than 4 pounds 6 ounces; publications which violate any copyright law of Canada, Cuba, or Republic of Panama.

Unsealed packages of “commercial papers” are admitted to the mails dispatched from this country to Mexico and Canada at the same rate and subject to the same conditions as to weight and dimensions as apply to commercial papers in mails dispatched to other countries of Universal Postal Union.

Parcels Post packages may be mailed only at the main post-office or at branch carrier stations after each package has been examined and is attached to a parcels post declaration.

When payable in Cape Colony, France, Great Britain, Greece, Republic of Honduras, Italy, New South Wales, Queensland, Russia, Salvador, South Australia, Tasmania, and Victoria:

A return receipt signed by the recipient and showing delivery is returned to the sender of each domestic registered letter or parcel if requested at the time of mailing. {139}

If it is desired that registered matter be delivered to the addressee only, it should be endorsed “To be delivered to the addressee only.”

The postal authorities give an indemnity for domestic first-class registered mail lost in transit up to $50.

2. Name and address of sender in full must be indorsed on or written across the end of the letter or article before it can be registered.

3. The senders of registered articles may obtain assurance of their receipt by persons addressed by indorsing them with the words, “Return receipt requested.”

If special delivery matter fails of delivery because there is no person at the place of address to receive it, the matter is returned to the post-office and delivered in the ordinary mail.

Ten cents worth of ordinary stamps with “special delivery” written on envelope serves the same purpose. Short-paid second, third, and fourth class matter, to which is attached a special delivery stamp, cannot be forwarded.