(a) Description. Airmail is mail carried by air and by the fastest connecting surface carriers, and given the most expeditious handling in dispatch and delivery. Airmail is not given special delivery to the addressee unless a special delivery fee is paid in addition to the airmail postage.

(b) Articles acceptable. Any matter acceptable in the domestic surface mail may be sent by airmail, except:

(1) Anything susceptible to damage, or which may be rendered harmful by changes in temperature or atmospheric pressures and not protected against the effects of such changes.

(2) Permanent magnetic with unconfirmed fields.

materials

(3) Matter specifically excluded by appropriate Federal agencies from air shipment.

(c) Application of rates. (1) Postage is charged on airmail (except postal and post cards) according to weight at the rates in § 136.1 regardless of the class of mail.

(2) Air post cards must conform to the size and conditions prescribed for post cards. (See § 131.2(b) (2).)

(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 § 131.2 (c) for information regarding business reply mail.

(4) Air parcel post articles addressed to military post offices overseas (Army, Air Force, and Fleet post offices, and Naval vessels) require postage at the airmail zone rate applicable between the

mailing post office and the post office shown in the address.

(5) The eighth zone airmail rates apply to articles mailed between: (i) The United States and

(a) Its possessions,

(b) The Canal Zone, and

(c) The islands of the Trust Territory of the Pacific; and

(ii) The possesisons of the United States and

(a) The Canal Zone, and

(b) The islands of the Trust Territory of the Pacific; and

(iii) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and

(a) The possessions of the United States,

(b) The Canal Zone, and

(c) The islands of the Trust Territory of the Pacific.

(6) The airmail rates according to zone apply to articles mailed between: (i) The United States and (a) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and

(b) The Virgin Islands, and (ii) Between the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. § 136.3

Weight and size limits.

(a) Weight. Airmail may weigh up to 70 pounds. See part 126 for the exception to this limit for articles addressed to certain APO's and FPO's.

(b) Size. Airmail is limited to 100 inches in combined length and girth. See part 126 for the exception to this limit for articles addressed to certain APO's and FPO's, and § 135.3(b) for instructions on how to measure parcels.

§ 136.4 Payment of postage.

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

§ 136.5

Additions and enclosures.

There are no special restrictions with respect to written additions and enclosures in airmail.

§ 136.6 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. Adhesive Label 19, available without charge at the local post office, may be used. The return address of the sender must be shown on the address side of each air parcel mailed at zone rates of postage.

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

(c) Deposit airmail weighing 7 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 7 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.

Commissioner from Puerto Rico, the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives is paid annually by a lump sum to the Post Office Department.

(b) Description. Official mail of Members of Congress is sent without prepayment of postage bearing written signature or a printed fascimile signature instead of a postage stamp. Mail accepted under frank, and the officials authorized to use franked mail, are shown in paragraph (c) of this section.

(c) Authorized users.

(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 committee 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.

(6) Franked mail must be addressed to the recipient by name, except as provided in § 123.4(d) (2).

limits-(1)

(e) Weight and size 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, shape, ratio, and sealing. The provisions of §§ 122.3, 131.2(a) (3) (iii), 131.3(b), and 134.3 (b) apply.

Persons authorized to use Matter that may be franked the frank

Marking required

§ 137.2

sent by him in connection with winding up the affairs of his office.

Executive and judicial officers. (a) Collection of postage. Departments, agencies, and establishments of the U.S. Government must reimburse the Postal Service in amounts equivalent to the amount of postage and fees due on their mail for which the Postal Service does not otherwise receive compensation. Instructions governing the manner of reimbursement for mailings made without postage or fees prepaid are issued by the Finance and Administration Department 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 words Public Docu-
ment-Free and the sig-
nature and title, either
written or printed fac-
simile, of the person en-
titled to frank it, must
appear on the address
side.
The words Congressional
Record or Part of Con-
gressional Record-Free
and the signature and
title, either written or
printed facsimile, of the
person entitled to frank
it, must appear on the
address side.

The signature and title, either written or printed facsimile, of the person entitled to frank it, must appear on the address side. The signature and title,

either written or printed facsimile, of the person entitled to frank it, must appear on the address side.

The signature and title, either written or printed facsimile, of the Vice-President-elect must appear on the address side. Matter intended for air service must be marked with the words Air Mail on the address side.

The signature and title, either written or printed facsimile, of the former Vice President must appear on the address side. Matter intended for air service must be marked with the words Air Mail on the address side.

Period during which the frank may be used

Until the 30th day of June following expiration of their respective terms of office.

During term of office only.

Until the 30th day of June following the expiration of their terms of office.

Until the 30th day of June following expiration of their respective terms of office. When the position of Secretary of the Senate or Sergeant at Arms of the Senate is vacant, privilege may be exercised in officer's name by authorized persons. Until assumption of duties as the Vice President.

Until 6 months from the date of expiration of his term of office.

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 on Printing.

(2) All correspondence, bulletins, and reports relating to agricultural extension work and home economics carried on in cooperation with the U.S. 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 of 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:

(i) 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 Office of Mail Classification, Finance and Administration Department, 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, D.C. 20540.

(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 Copyrights, Washington, D.C. 20540, which must have postage prepaid at the letter rate.

The postmaster, after canceling the postage stamps, will enclose the envelope containing the fee together with the copyright material in the post office penalty envelope sent to the Register of Copyrights.

(iv) Matter for copyright enclosed in post office penalty envelopes will not be sent by registered mail unless the registry fee is prepaid.

(c) Methods of preparing official mail (1) Postage and fees paid. (i) Authorized Departments and Agencies are: Administrative Conference of the United States.

Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental
Relations.

Agency for International Development.
Agriculture, Department of.
Air Force, Department of.
Alaska Railroad.

American Battle Monuments Commission.
Appalachian Regional Commission.
Architect of the Capitol.

Army, Department of.

Atlantic-Pacific Interoceanic Canal Study
Commission.

Atomic Energy Commission.
Botanic Garden.

Bureau of the Budget.
Bureau of Prisons (or FBP).
Civil Aeronautics Board.
Civil Service Commission.
Coast Guard.

Commerce, Department of.
Commission on Civil Rights.
Commission of Fine Arts.
Council of Economic Advisers.
Defense, Department of (or DOD).
Defense Supply Agency.

D.C. Court of Appeals.

D.C. Court of General Sessions.
D.C. Juvenile Court.

Employment Security Mail.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Farm Credit Administration.
Federal Aviation Agency.

Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Federal Coal Mine Safety Board of Review.
Federal Communications Commission.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
Federal Highway Administration.

Federal Home Loan Bank Board.
Federal Housing Administration.

Federal Maritime Commission.

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Federal National Mortgage Association. Federal Power Commission.

Federal Railroad Administration.

Federal Reserve System, Board of Governors of the.

Federal Trade Commission.

Foreign Claims Settlement Commission.
General Services Administration.

Government Printing Office.

Great Lakes Basin Commission.

Health, Education, and Welfare, Department of.

U.S. Information Agency.
U.S. Soldiers' Home.
U.S. Supreme Court.
U.S. Tariff Commission.
Veterans Administration.
Water Resources Council.

(ii) All official mail of authorized departments or agencies, subject to the weight and size limits, if any, for matter of its class, shall be given the postal service indicated on its cover when the mail bears the appropriate indicia, which may not be handwritten or typewritten.

(iii) Indicia:

(a) An area 11⁄2 inches by 2% inches is reserved in the upper righthand corner of the mail piece for the indicia or stamp. No other markings may appear in the indicia area except borders extending no further than one quarter inch from the envelope edges.

(b) The indicia for letter size official mail of departments or agencies authorized to use the "Postage and Fees Paid" system consists of: An eagle symbol (shown actual size below) located 3⁄4 inch from the top edge of the mail piece; the words "Postage and Fees Paid," and name of department or agency.

(c) The eagle may be reduced in size to not less than 5% inch by 1% inches and the indicia area to not less than 14 inches by 2 inches.

(d) Use of the eagle symbol as part of the indicia is optional on larger than letter-size mail.

(e) The eagle symbol may be omitted on self-mailers completely printed by computer with no provisions for printing designs other than letters and numerals, provided the items are faced, sorted, and tied in bundles by ZIP Code.

(iv) This mail must bear the complete return address, the words "Official Busi→ ness," and the statement "Penalty for private use, $300" in the upper left corner of the mail piece.