ber; street address; post office box; name of building and room number including street address; or names of intersecting streets specifying which corner). The ZIP Code number must be shown in all instances. The adequacy of the address, to ensure return of undeliverable mail will be determined by the postmaster.

(ii) Name of post office or branch post office, State, and ZIP Code number.

(2) Printing of any of the following may be requested:

(1) A request to return after a specified number of days (not less than 3 and not more than 30). If a return request is included on envelopes for third-class mail the words Return Requested must be used. See § 158.2(d) of this chapter.

(ii) Name. The name may be that of an individual, firm, corporation, institution, association, or society. It may include the name and title of an officer of the concern (as John Doe, Treasurer, Washington Educational Association) and such titles as M.D., D.D.S., Rev., and LL.D., when they are clearly for identification and not for advertising.

(iii) Where a name as part of the return address indicates or incidentally discloses the nature of a business or vocation, it may be printed if the name is a bona fide business name that is used in a corporate charter, copartnership agreement, or other articles of organization, or is the name under which business with the public is actually transacted.

(iv) The name of a branch or department of a business may be printed only when other branches or departments are located at the same post office address, to ensure the return of undeliverable mail.

(3) No other matter may be printed, nor are such forms as phone numbers, Mr., or Esq., permissible. Names like druggist, attorney at law, and C.P.A. represent business or professional names and are not classed as titles.

(4) Styles of return address available

(If sender desires return of undeliverable mail only of obvious value.) CHARLES JONES

610 Seventh Avenue NEW YORK, N.Y., 10036

To expedite the delivery of mail on Long Island, the following style of return address is suggested.

FRANK BROWN

1218 Clifford Avenue Jamaica, L.I., N.Y., 11413

Special

(d) Rejection of Envelopes. request envelopes may be rejected because of defective manufacture, or mistakes in printing, denomination, quality, size, etc. If the mistake was made by the purchaser, the value of the postage only will be returned. If the mistake was made by the post office or its contractor, the entire invoiced value of the envelopes will be returned.

[28 F.R. 11886, Nov. 7, 1963, as amended at 30 F.R. 11678, Sept. 11, 1965; 30 F.R. 13215, Oct. 16, 1965. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 141.4 Purchase of postage.

(a) Acceptable form of payment. Foreign or mutilated money is not acceptable. When the post office cannot make change, the exact amount of the purchase must be paid. Postal employees are not required to accept personal checks. To send money by mail use money order or certified check.

(b) Purchase receipts. If the purchaser wants a receipt for money paid for postage, prepare the receipt in advance and the postal employee will sign or stamp it when paid.

(c) Postage due. Postage due must be paid in cash. Postage-due stamps may not be used for paying postage. They may be purchased, for stamp collections only, through the Philatelic Sales Agency, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C., 20260.

[26 F.R. 11561, Dec. 6, 1961. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 141.5 Exchanges of stamps.

(a) Post office mistakes. Mistakes in selling damaged or unserviceable stamps may be corrected by the post office by exchanging stamps at full value.

(b) Purchaser's mistakes. Mistakes made by purchaser in buying adhesive stamps of the wrong denomination, or stamped envelopes or postal cards of the wrong kind, size, or denomination may

be corrected by exchanging stamps at full value.

(c) Unserviceable and spoiled envelopes or cards, and unused precanceled stamps. Unserviceable and spoiled stamped envelopes or postal cards, if uncanceled, and unused precanceled stamps, and postal cards, may be exchanged for other postage-stamped paper as follows:

(1) Stamped envelopes (mutilated no more than is necessary to remove contents), for postage value plus value of postage added as a result of rate increase or for additional service.

(2) Unmutilated aerogrammes (airletter sheets), for postage value less 1 cent for each aerogramme redeemed.

(3) Unmutilated single postal cards, for 85 percent of postage value plus full value of postage added as a result of rate increase or for additional service.

(4) Double postal cards are acceptable only if neither half is detached from the other for 85 percent of postage value.

(5) Sheet postal cards spoiled in the process of cutting to size, for 85 percent of postage value plus full value of postage added as a result of rate increase or for additional service, if all cut sections are submitted.

(6) Stamps affixed to commercial envelopes and post cards, for 90 percent of postage value. The envelopes and post cards must be in a substantially whole condition and in lots of at least 50 of the same denomination and value.

(7) Unused precanceled stamps in full coils or in full sheets redeemed from precanceled permit holders, for 90 percent of postage value. Stamped envelopes or aerogrammes (air-letter sheets) with a printed return address and postal cards with any printed matter of the purchaser, may be exchanged only by the purchaser. If there is no purchaser's printing, they may be exchanged by any responsible person. When redemption cannot be made at time of presentation, the postmaster will furnish a receipt on Form 3210 for uncanceled unserviceable or spoiled envelopes or postal cards or for unused precanceled stamps left in his custody.

(d) Nonexchangeable. are nonexchangeable:

The following

(1) Adhesive stamps, unless mistakes were made in purchasing or stamps were defective or stamps were affixed to commercial envelopes and postcards.

86-085-68- -9

(2) Stamps cut from postal cards, stamped envelopes, or aerogramms (airletter sheets).

(3) Parts and pieces of postal cards. (4) Either half of double postal cards. (5) Postal cards, stamped envelopes and air-letter sheets received for reply purposes.

(6) Mutilated and defaced stamps. [26 F.R. 11561, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 30 F.R. 4198, Mar. 31, 1965. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 141.6 Validity of stamps.

All postage stamps issued by the United States since 1860 are good for postage from any point in the United States or from any other place where the United States domestic mail service operates, except from the Panama Canal Zone where special Canal Zone stamps are used. The following are not good for postage:

(a) Mutilated or defaced stamps;

(b) Stamps cut from stamped envelopes, letter sheets, or postal cards;

(c) Stamps covered or coated in such manner that the cancelling or defacing marks cannot be imprinted directly on the stamps.

(d) Nonpostage stamps (documentary internal revenue stamps, migratory-bird hunting stamps, U.S. saving and thrift stamps, boat stamps, and the like).

(e) Postage-due, special-delivery, special-handling, and certified mail stamps.

(f) United Nations stamps, except on mail deposited at United Nations, New York.

(g) Stamps of other countries.

[26 F.R. 11562, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 30 F.R. 11719, Sept. 14, 1965. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 141.7

Unlawful transactions.

(a) Unlawful transactions include use of stamps, by postal employees entrusted with the sale or custody of postage stamps, in payment of debts or purchase of salable articles, and sale of stamps, except for cash or for more or less than face value.

(b) Counterfeit stamps are confiscated and forwarded to the inspector-incharge of the division in which the post office is located. A receipt identifying the stamps will be given to persons from whom counterfeits are confiscated.

(c) Postmasters shall not give opinions to the public concerning the reproduction of foreign or domestic postage stamps. Persons who request informa

Sec. 142.1 142.2 Sale and use of precanceled stamps. 142.3 Mailer's precancel postmark. 142.4 Precancel permits. 142.5 Mailings of precanceled mail.

Purpose of precanceling.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 142 issued under R.S. 161, as amended; 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501, 2503, 2507, 2508-2510.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 142 appear at 26 F.R. 11562, Dec. 6, 1961, unless otherwise noted. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966.

§ 142.1 Purpose of precanceling.

stamps may be precanceled only by the post office.

(b) Benefits. The use of precanceled postage reduces the time and costs of mail handling. Precanceled mail, sorted and tied in packages by the mailer, requires less processing time in the post office, and is therefore dispatched more quickly.

§ 142.2 Sale and use of precanceled

stamps.

holders except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section.

(d) Prohibited. Precanceled postage stamps may not be used on matter mailed in boxes, cases, bags, or other containers designed to be reused for mailing purposes.

If

precanceled

(e) Overprinting. postage on a single piece is over 16 cents, the precanceled stamps must be overprinted or handstamped in black ink with the mailer's initials and the numerical abbreviations of the month and year for use; for example, A. B. Co. Precanceled stamps overprinted in this way are acceptable on mail during the month shown, and through the 10th of the following month.

(f) Philatelic sales.-(1) Nonpermit holders. Not more than 10 stamps of each of the precanceled denominations which are available at a post office may be purchased in person or by mail by nonpermit holders for collection purposes. Each mail order must be accompanied with a stamped, self-addressed envelope for use in returning the stamps to the purchaser. Precanceled stamps are available only at post offices which prepare or obtain them for sale to permit holders.

(2) Permit holders. Precancel permit holders may buy the quantity of precanceled stamps for philatelic purposes provided for by subparagraph (i) of this paragraph. Other precanceled stamps may be purchased only for the purpose of paying postage. Unused precanceled stamps may not be sold for philatelic purposes by permit holders.

[26 F.R. 11562, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 32 F.R. 11328, Aug. 4, 1967]

§ 142.4 Precancel permits.

(a) Application for permit. Applications for permits to use precanceled stamps, precanceled stamped envelopes, and mailer's precancel postmarks must be filed on Form 3620 (Application for Permit to use Precanceled Stamps) at the post office where mailings will be made. Copies of this application form may be obtained from local postmaster. There must be submitted with each application from a patron of another post office a statement that he will use the precanceled stamps sold under the permit only on mailings for local delivery or on mailings prepared for local patrons who shall be named. Applications to use mailer's precancel postmarks must be accompanied with an imprint of the cancellation to be used.

(g) Precanceling for collectors. Postmasters will not comply with requests for imprints of a precanceling device on postage stamps or blank sheets of paper. [26 F.R. 11562, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 4365, May 8, 1962; 32 F.R. 11328, Aug. 4, 1967. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 142.3 Mailer's precancel postmark.

Mailers may use a precancel postmark on stamped envelopes mailed at the firstclass rate of postage. The precanceling imprint must include the name of the post office and State, the permit number preceded by the words "Mailer's Postmark," the date of mailing, and sufficient cancellation lines to fully deface the stamp. There is illustrated below the authorized design of a mailer's precancel postmark.

The post

(b) Issuance of permit. master will approve or disapprove the application. If it is approved, he will issue a "Precancel Permit" on Form 3620 to the applicant. If the permit covers the use of a mailer's precancel postmark, the permit will include a statement to that effect.

(c) Revocation. (1) Permits may be revoked if used in operating any schemes or enterprise of an unlawful character, or for the purpose of purchasing or acquiring stamps for other than mailing purposes, or for any noncompliance with the instructions on the "Permit", Form 3620.

(2) The permit holder will be notified by the postmaster at the post office that issued the permit that it is to be canceled, with the reasons for cancellation. The permit holder will be allowed 10 days within which to file a written statement why the permit should not be revoked. When no answer is filed, the postmaster will cancel the permit. If an answer is filed, decision will be made by the Assistant Postmaster General, Bureau of

Metered reply postage.
Mailings.

143.7 Meter Record Book.

143.8

Manufacture and distribution of postage meters.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 143 issued under R.S. 161, as amended; 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501, 4051-4053.

§ 143.1 Postage meters.

(a) Use of meter stamps. Postage may be paid by printing meter stamps with a postage meter on any class of mail. Metered mail is entitled to all the privileges and subject to all the conditions applying to the various classes of mail.

(b) Benefits. Postage meters facilitate the purchase, control, and affixing of postage. Metered mail does not require facing, canceling, and postmarking in the post office, and can therefore be dispatched more quickly.

(c) Description of meters. Postage meters are made to print single, several, or all denominations of postage. They contain in one sealed unit the printing die or dies and two recording counters. One adds and keeps a total of all postage printed by the meter. The other subtracts and shows the balance of postage remaining in the meter, after the use of which it will lock. From time to time the meter may be taken to the post office to have the counter set for such additional postage as may be desired to have added to the balance of postage remaining. Payment must be made for each additional setting.

(d) Meter manufacturers. Postage meters may be leased from authorized

manufacturers who are held responsible by the Post Office Department for the control, operation, maintenance and replacement, when necessary, of meters manufactured by them. The following manufacturers are presently authorized to lease meters to mailers:

(1) Commercial Controls Corp., Division of Friden, Inc., One Leighton Avenue, Rochester, N.Y., 14607.

(2) Friden, Inc., a subsidiary of The Singer Co., 2350 Washington Avenue, San Leandro, Calif., 94577.

(3) International Postal Supply Co., a subsidiary of Friden, Inc., Lewiston, Pa., 17044. (4) National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, 45409.

(5) Pitney-Bowes, Inc., Pacific and Walnut Streets, Stamford, Conn., 06904.

(6) Tele-Norm Corp., Postalia Division, 32-31 57th Street, Woodside, Flushing, N.Y., 11377.

(e) Control. After a meter has been delivered to a licensee, he must keep it in his custody until turned over to the authorized manufacturer or to the post office. Tampering with or misuse of a meter is punishable by law.

[26 F.R. 11563, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 10489, Sept. 28, 1963, 29 F.R. 8008, June 24, 1964. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

(a) Application. A patron may obtain a "License to Use a Postage Meter", Form 3601-A, by submitting an application on Form 3601-A (or a form supplied by the manufacturer) to the post office where his metered mail will be deposited. No fee is charged. The application must specify the make and model of the meter. On approval, the postmaster will issue a license.

(b) Responsibilities of licensee. (1) After a meter has been delivered to a licensee, he must keep it in his custody until turned over to the authorized manufacturer or to the post office. Tampering with or misuse of a meter is punishable by law.

(2) The meters in the custody of the licensee and his records relating to meter transactions must be available for examination and audit by authorized audit and inspection personnel of the Post Office Department.

(c) Revocation. (1) The license may be revoked if used in operating any scheme or enterprise of an unlawful character, for nonuse during any consecutive 12 months, or for any failure to