tents), 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. The following are nonexchangeable:

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

(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]

§ 31.6 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] § 31.7

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. [26 F.R. 11562, Dec. 6, 1961]

§ 31.8 Imitations of postage stamps and other adhesives, seals, or stickers resembling postage stamps.

Matter bearing imitations of postage stamps, or private seals or stickers in form and design like a postage stamp shall not be accepted for mailing. Pictorial seals or stickers that do not resemble postage stamps and do not bear numerals or other markings indicating a value may be fixed on other than the address side of mail.

[27 F.R. 9058, Sept. 12, 1962]

means

(a) Definition. Precanceling the cancellation of postage stamps, stamped envelopes, or postal cards in advance of mailing. Adhesive postage 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. § 32.2

Sale and use of precanceled stamps.

(a) Classes of mail. Precanceled stamps may be used to pay postage on: (1) Post cards, but on no other firstclass mail, unless specifically authorized by the postmaster on Form 3620, “Application for Permit to Use Precanceled Stamps or Government Precanceled Stamp Envelopes".

(2) Second-, third-, and fourth-class mail.

(b) Place of mailing. Matter bearing precanceled stamps may be mailed only at the post office which sold the stamps.

(c) Other than local patrons. Precancel permits will not be issued to nonlocal patrons unless it is established that the precanceled stamps will be used on mailings prepared for local delivery or that the stamps will be used on mailings prepared for local patrons.

(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.

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) Resale. Precanceled stamps will be sold only to precancel permit holders for the purpose of paying postage. Unused precanceled stamps may not be sold by permit holders.

(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]

§ 32.4 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.

(b) Issuance of permit. The postmaster 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 Operations, whether the permit shall be continued in effect. Notice of decision will be given the permit holder through the postmaster.

[26 F.R. 11562, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 6977, July 24, 1962]

§ 32.5 Mailings of precanceled mail.

Any number of pieces may be mailed at one time regardless of whether they are identical, except for third-class bulk mailings. (See Part 24 of this chapter.)

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.

Postage

(c) Description of meters. 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.

Postage

(d) Meter manufacturers. 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]

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) 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 comply with the regulations governing the use of postage meters.

(2) The meter license holder will be notified by the postmaster that the license is to be canceled, and the reasons for cancellation. If no written statement of objections is filed by the license holder within 10 days, the postmaster will cancel the license. If a written statement is filed, the Bureau of Operations, Classification and Special Services Division, will decide whether or not the license shall be continued in effect and will notify the license holder through the postmaster.

[26 F.R. 11563, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 11767, Nov. 29, 1962]

§ 33.3 Use of meter.

(a) Sealing of meter. A patron may not have any postage meter in his possession until it has been set and sealed at the post office that issued the license or, if more convenient, at one of its stations or branches where meters are set. A Meter Record Book, Form 3602-A, is issued at the time of initial setting. When the Meter Record Book is filled, a new one will be issued without charge.

(b) Payment of postage. (1) A meter licensee must bring the meter and Meter Record Book to the post office or station or branch where it was first set, for resettings and payments of postage. Postage must be paid at time of setting. Advance deposits for meter settings may not be accepted. The postmaster will issue a Meter Setting Receipt, Form 3603, for the amount of postage paid. If a meter is not reset within a 6-month period, it must be presented, with "Meter Record Book", showing daily register readings, at the post office, station or branch where last set, for examination.

(2) Local postmasters may set a meter for use in paying postage on mail to be presented at another post office under the following conditions:

51-077-66- -9

(i) A meter license must be obtained from the post office where the mailing is to be presented (see § 32.2 (a)). When the license is received, it must be presented to the local post office with the meter for setting. The license will be returned to the licensee.

(ii) A separate meter must be used for each post office. The postmark die must show the name of the post office of mailing.

(iii) Payment for each meter setting must be made by certified or bank cashier's check payable to the postmaster at the post office where mailings will be made. The check must be presented to the local post office when the meter is set.

(iv) The postmaster setting the postage meter will complete Form 3618 "Local Setting of Postage Meter Licensed at Another Office" in duplicate. The original of this form with the check and a stamped, self-addressed envelope furnished by the mailer for return of Form 3603 "Receipt for Postage Meter Setting" will be sent in a post office penalty envelope to the postmaster where mailings are to be made. A record of each setting shall be entered on Form 3610 "Record of Postage Meter Settings" at the office where the mailings are made.

(v) The mail may not be consigned to the post office in bulk by freight, express or other carrier. It must be presented at a designated receiving point in the post office by the mailer's representative. The postmaster may not act as the mailer's representative and the Department has no responsibility for the articles until they are actually received in the mails. See Part 42 of this chapter concerning the carriage of letters outside the mail.

(vi) Matter sent to other post offices for mailing must be shipped in private containers. The total weight of pieces placed in containers such as cartons, crates, etc. which are to be handled by postal employees must not exceed 80 pounds. Post offices will not furnish mail sacks for this purpose.

(vii) When the use of a meter is discontinued, it must be presented to the post office where it was set for checking out of service. Any postage adjustment will be made by the postmaster where the mailings have been made.

(c) Faulty mechanism. If the printing and recording mechanism is faulty in any way, the meter must not be used

but should be taken promptly to the post office, branch, or station where it is regularly set for checking out of service.

(d) Discontinuance. When a licensee discontinues the use of a postage meter, it must be taken with the Meter Record Book to the post office. If the licensee has not notified the manufacturer of his intention to check out the meter, the postmaster must promptly request the manufacturer to call for the meter. The postmaster should also furnish the meter readings at time of checkout to the manufacturer's representative to complete his record, since the descending register will have been cleared to zero or the lowest possible setting at that time. Unused postage in the meter may be transferred to another meter used by the licensee and registered at the same post office, or the postmaster may refund the amount, in accordance with provisions on the License form. The Meter Record Book is returned to the licensee

and should be kept on file for at least 1 year from date of final entry. Application for refund should be made on Form 3533, Application and Voucher for Refund of Postage and Fees, or on a special form furnished by the meter manufacturer.

(e) Refunds for unused meter stamps. When complete and legible meters stamps cannot be used because of misprints, spoiled envelopes or cards, and the like, the licensee may apply to the postmaster for refund of postage up to 90 percent of postage value. (See § 37.2 of this chapter.)

[26 F.R. 11563, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 9258, Sept. 19, 1962, 29 F.R. 8008, June 24, 1964, 30 F.R. 14929, Dec. 2, 1965]

§ 33.4 Meter stamps.

(a) Designs. The types, sizes, and styles of meter stamps are fixed when meters are approved by the Post Office Department for manufacture. Only approved designs may be used. Some approved designs are illustrated below.