enclosed, the rate may not in any instance be less than 4 cents an ounce.

(2) Air post cards must conform to the size and conditions prescribed for post cards. (See § 21.2(a) (7) of this chapter.)

(3) Each portion of a double air post card must be prepaid at the air card rate when originally mailed, except when the reply portion is prepared as a business reply air card. See § 21.2(c) of this chapter for information regarding business reply mail.

(4) The eighth zone airmail rates apply to articles mailed between continental United States and possessions and the Canal Zone, overseas Army-Air Force and Fleet post offices, naval vessels addressed in care of Fleet post offices, and Islands of the Trust Territory in the Pacific, except that rates according to zone apply between the United States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. § 26.3 Weight and size limits.

(a) Weight. Airmail may weigh up to 70 pounds. See Part 17 of this chapter for the exception to this limit for articles addressed to certain APO's and NPO's.

(b) Size. Airmail is limited to 100 inches in combined length and girth. See Part 17 of this chapter for the exception to this limit for articles addressed to certain APO's and NPO's and § 25.3 (b) of this chapter for instructions on how to measure parcels.

§ 26.4 Payment of postage.

Postage on airmail may be paid by adhesive postage stamps, stamped cards or envelopes, meter stamps, or permit imprints.

§ 26.5 Additions and enclosures.

There are no special restrictions with respect to written additions and enclosures in airmail. See § 26.2(c) (1) regarding first class mail. An airmail parcel weighing over 8 ounces, later forwarded or returned from place of original address by surface mail would be subject to the restrictions as to additions

and enclosures according to the class of mail involved.

§ 26.6 Marking, sealing, and depositing.

(a) Place the word "Airmail" prominently on the address side of flat mail preferably below the stamps and above the address, and on the top, bottom, and sides of parcels. The return address of the sender must be shown on the address side of each air parcel mailed at zone rates of postage.

(b) Airmal may be sealed or left unsealed without affecting the air rate.

(c) Deposit airmail weighing 8 ounces or less at the post office or in a special airmail letter box or drop, if available, to insure fastest dispatch, or in any collection box. Airmail weighing over 8 ounces must be deposited at the post office, branch, or station, or handed to a rural or star route carrier.

(d) Use envelopes printed with special airmail design for airmail only. Their use for mail not intended for air transmission is not permissible.

27.8

former Presidents.

Pan America Union and Pan American
Sanitary Bureau.

AUTHORITY: §§ 27.1 to 27.8 issued under R.S. 161, as amended; sec. 1303 (d), 40 Stat. 1141, as amended, sec. 1, 62 Stat. 783; 2 U.S.C. 277, 5 U.S.C. 22, 18 U.S.C. 1719, 39 U.S.C. 501, 2303, 2503, 2510, 4151-4156, 41584168.

SOURCE: §§ 27.1 to 27.8 appear at 26 F.R. 11553, Dec. 6, 1961, except as otherwise noted. § 27.1 Members of Congress.

(a) Collection of postage. Postage on mail sent under the franking privilege by the Vice President, Members and Members-elect of Congress, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, the Secretary of The Senate, Sergeant at

(d) Restrictions.

The following restrictions apply to franked mail:

(1) Official correspondence transmitted under frank of the Vice President, Members and Members-elect of Congress, Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, and Resident Commissioners, must be on official or departmental business.

(2) No franked mail will be admitted to the mail unless admissible as ordinary mail.

(3) A person entitled to use franked mail may not loan his frank or permit its use by any committee, organization, or association; or permit its use by any person for the benefit or use of any committee, organization, or association. This restriction does not apply to any com

mittee composed of Members of Congress.

(4) Franked mail is forwarded like any other mail, but when once delivered to the addressee it may not be remailed. A package of franked pieces may be sent by a person entitled to the franking privilege, to one addressee, who, on receiving and opening the package, may on behalf of such person, place addresses on the franked articles and mail them.

(5) Franked mail is handled as ordinary mail. Fees for special services must be paid at the time of mailing.

(e) Weight and size limits-(1) Weight. Official correspondence is limited to 4 ounces, except that when addressed to a Government official by title the limit is 4 pounds.

(2) Size. No limit.

NOTE: Effective January 1, 1963, this subparagraph will read:

(2) Size, shape, ratio, and sealing. The provisions of §§ 12.3, 21.2(a) (7), 21.3(b) and 24.3(b) of this chapter apply.

§ 27.2

Executive and judicial officers.

(a) Collection of postage. Departments, agencies, and establishments of the U.S. Government must reimburse the Post Office Department in amounts equivalent to the amount of postage and fees due on their mail for which the Post Office Department does not otherwise receive compensation. Instructions governing the manner of reimbursement for mailings made without postage or fees prepaid are issued by the Bureau of Finance which negotiates reimbursement agreements with the departments and agencies concerned.

(b) Description. The following kinds of mail may be sent as Federal Government mail by those authorized to use this privilege:

(1) Official mail relating exclusively to the business of the Government of the United States mailed by officers of the executive and judicial branches of the Government; official mail of legislative counsel for the House of Representatives and the Senate; official mail of the Superintendent of Documents; and official correspondence concerning the Congressional Directory under direction of the Joint Committee Printing.

on

(2) All correspondence, bulletins, and reports relating to agricultural extension work and home economics carried on in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture, when mailed by the college officer or other person connected with the extension department of the college who has been designated by the Secretary of Agriculture. Mailings may be deposited by the designated officer only at the authorized post office. Correspondence must be conducted under the name of the designated officer. Correspondence with autograph

signature may be sealed but all other matter must be left unsealed.

(3) Bulletins, reports, periodicals, reprints of articles, and other publications necessary for the dissemination of results or researches and experiments, including lists of publications available for distribution, when mailed by agricultural experiment stations designated by the Act of March 2, 1887, as amended by the Act of August 11, 1955, as follows:

The officer in charge of a station that claims the privilege of sending materials without prepayment of postage through the mail must file an application with the Bureau of Operations, Classification and Special Services Division, through the post office where the station is located, stating the date of establishment of the station, its name or designation, its official organization, the names of its officers, the name of the college, school or institution to which it is attached, if any, the legislation of the State or Territory providing for its establishment, and any other legislation granting it the benefits of the act of Congress referred to in this section.

(4) Annual reports of Governmentaided colleges established under the Act of July 2, 1862, when addressed to the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, and to any other Government-aided college. The postmaster receiving the annual reports from an officer of the college will use a post office penalty envelope or label to send it through the mail.

(5) Copyright material sent to the Register of Copyrights with claim for registration, as follows:

(i) Postmasters receiving the claim for registration and any articles that are required to accompany the claim will use a post office penalty envelope or label to send the matter to the Register of Copyrights, Washington 25, D.C.

(ii) If requested to do so, the postmaster will give a receipt for articles delivered to him to accompany a claim for registration.

(iii) When desired, the person submitting copyright matter to the postmaster may also present the fee for copyright registration enclosed in a sealed envelope addressed to Register of