Show Postal Notes 1 I At times during the year r when you thank-you notes and other other oth er remembrances are especial ly in order parents call a athe at atthe atthe t the post office and are surprised surprised surprised sur sur- and offended to lea learn that handwritten items require require require re re- quire first class postage Their r argument usually is that th the e re Postal Service discriminates discriminate s against initiative and creative e effort by requiring a higher rate of postage on items written written written writ writ- ten by children than on ma produced machine b by y mailers in large volume When one at first considers consider s the matter says Postmaster r Peterson It does seem a little tittle strange that a piece of third- third class advertising matter will 1 be accepted with less postage e than the carefully contrived contrive ed d letter of some child who wan wanto wants to remember a parent or other other other oth oth- er relative on a special oc oc- casion But there is an explanation explanation explanation ex ex- if one considers th the e matter at length The basic reason for charging charging ing more for handwritten items is that matter of this type is classified as first class Postal regulations provide that all matter wholly or partly in writing except authorized authorized authorized auth auth- additions to second third or fourth class matter is considered to be first class mail Also first-class first mail is entitled to more expeditious handling and may be forwarded forward forward- ed or returned The general rule governing what rate of postage is appropriate appropriate appropriate as between first and third-class third is that handwritten items require the first class rate of postage This means for example that those things that are written in longhand or on a ar are automatically auto first while words letters characters figures fig fig- ures or images or any com corn com thereof reproduced on paper by any process other than handwriting or typewriting ing are entitled to postage at the third-class third rate If you have questions in this regard please ask one of our employees at the Post Office We will be glad to answer your questions and rule on the class of mail you may be sending |