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Show Cooperation of the Public In Preparing Christmas Mail As the year fast nears its close many things remind us of the approaching holiday season, at which time a spirit cf good will and cheer prevails. In a notice dated October 24, 1929, published under the heading "Organizing "Org-anizing for Christmas" in the Postal Bulletin of October 28, the First Assistant As-sistant Postmaster General called the attention of postmasters to the importance impor-tance of making the necessary arrangements ar-rangements to handle the Christmas mail, emphasizing the need for proper organization of post office forces and the encouragement of early mailing. In this connection postmasters art again reminded of the need for proper preparation of Christmas mail. To this end they should earnestly seek and develop the cooperation of their patrons, pat-rons, urging particularly observance of the conditions set forth below. This information for the guidance of mailers in preparing their Christmas mail should be disseminated as widely as possible. Postage Prepay postage fully on all mail matter. mat-ter. The rates are as follows: First Class. Letters and written and scaled matter, 2 cents for each ounce, Government postal cards, 1 cent each; private mailing cards in cmfw cmfwf f ing greeting cards in this form, 1 cent each. Air mail -Five cents for the first ounce and 10 cents for each additional addition-al ounce or fraction thereof. Second classJ Newspapers, magazine and other periodicals containing notice not-ice of second-class entry, 1 cent for each 2 ounces or fraction thereof, re gardless of weight or distance. Third class (limit, 8 ounces) Circulars Circu-lars and other miscellaneous printed matter, also merchandise, 1 cents for each 2 ounces; books (including catalogues) of 24 pages or more; seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, and plants. 1 cent for each 2 ounces; bulk lots of identical pieces of third-class matter may be mailed at special rates under conditions which may be ascertained ascer-tained from the postmaster. Fourth class (over 8 ounces) Merchandise, Merch-andise, books, printed matter, and all other mailable matter not in first or second class. Addresses. Address all matter plain and completely in ink, giving street address or box or rural route number whenever possible. Place sender's return card in upper left corner of address ad-dress side. Tags should not be used unless necessary, in which case a copy of. the address and return card should be placed inside the parcel for' identification identi-fication if tag is lost:. Packing and wrapping. Pack articles arti-cles carefully in strong, durable con- tamers, wrap parcels securely, but do not seal them except when bearing a printed label or indorsement reading: "Contents: Merchandise. Postmaster: This parcel may be opened for postal inspection if necessary," together with printed name and address of sender, as sealed parcels not so labeled or indorsed in-dorsed in printing are subject to postage at the letter rate. Permissible additions and inclosures Parcels may be marked "Do not open until Christmas," this being permitted per-mitted in order to encourage early mailing. Written greetings, such as "M0rry Christmas," "Happy New Year" "With best wishes," and names, numbers or symbols, for the purpose of description may be inclosed with third or fourth class (parcel postl mail. Books may bear simple dedicatory inscriptions not of a personal nature. Other written additions subject parcels to letter postage. Do not inclose letters in parcels, as doing so would subject entire parcel to lelter . postage. Communications prepaid at the first-class rate may be sent wih parcels prepaid at the third or fourth class rate by securely attaching at-taching the envelopes containing the letters or other written matter to the ouside of parcels. Seals. Christmas seals or stickers should not be -placed on the address side of mail. Special handling Fourth class matter mat-ter only. Parcels of fourth class matter mat-ter indorsed "Special handling" will be given the expeditious handling and transportation ' accorded first-class mail (but not special delivery) upon payment, in addition to the regular postage of the following charge: Up to 2 pounds, 10 cents; over 2 pounds up to 10 pounds, 15 cents; Over Ov-er 10 pounds, 20 cents. Insurance Valuable parcels should be insured. The fees are: For parcel par-cel valued not over $5, 5 cents; not over $25, 8 cents; not over $50. 10 cents; not over $100, 25 cents. Return receipt re-ceipt 3 cents extra. All in addition to the regular postage. Attention is rnewed to previous efforts to discourage the use of small or odd-sizod greeting cards and envelopes, en-velopes, which practice is so costly to the Postal Service. The cooperation of manufacturers, dealers, and the public generally in the elimination of small-sized cards and envelopes to the end that the Postal Service may be relieved of the burden of handling them is desired and should continue to be sought and cultivated. It should be suggested that in no case should cards and envelopes be smaller than 2 3-4 by 4 inches, a size somewhat larger being preferred. |