§ 34.5 Mailings with permit imprints. (a) Minimum quantities. Except as stated in paragraph (b) of this section, minimum quantities required to be mailed at one time are as follows: (1) First-class mail. 300 pieces of identical weight. (2) Second- and third-class mail. 300 pieces of identical matter, except 50 pounds or 200 pieces of identical thirdclass bulk mail. (See parts 16 and 24 of this chapter.) (3) Fourth-class mail. 250 pieces of identical matter. (4) International mail. See § 111.2 (b) (2) of this chapter. 300 pieces of identical matter. (b) Exceptions to minimum quantities. When any mailing consists of less than the required minimum, enter an explanation on the Mailing Statement, Form 3602 "Statement of mailing of matter with Permit Imprints". Exceptions may be made for the following reasons only: BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE 2% C PAID Permit No. 1 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE 2% PAID New York, N.Y Permit No. 1 (1) First-class mail. Occasional exception for a mailer whose total daily mailings are not much more than 300 but who, to cooperate with the post office, presents a portion of his mailings early in the day. (2) All classes of mail. When a large mailing extends over two or more consecutive days and the last deposit, made to complete the mailing, is less than the minimum. (c) Preparation for mailing. All classes of mail must be faced. Mailers must separate second-, third- (nonbulk), and fourth-class by cities and States according to postmaster's instructions. Mailers must separate first- and fourthclass according to postage paid on each piece; that is: put pieces subject to 5 cents each in one lot, those subject to 10 cents each in another lot, etc. (See § 24.4(b) (5) of this chapter for mailing of third-class bulk mail.) (d) Place of mailing. Deposit mail at the post office that issued the permit or at a station or branch designated by the postmaster. (e) Mailing statement. Prepare and sign a Mailing Statement, Form 3602, for each mailing. The statement must be prepared by typewriter, ink, or indelible pencil to show the sender's address, permit number, class of mail, number of pieces in the mailing, and weight of single piece. For third-class bulk mailings, additional information required by the Mailing Statement must be shown. If a receipt is desired, present a duplicate copy of Form 3602, which will be initialed by the accepting employee after verification and turned to the mailer. re (f) Payment of postage. The mailer must pay for each mailing when it is presented at the post office, or make an advance deposit of enough to cover more than one mailing. Payments for postage or deposits must be made at points designated by the postmaster. These payments will not be accepted by employees handling the mail. Advance deposits may be made by mail. When the deposit becomes less than enough to pay for an entire mailing, an additional amount must be deposited before any mailings are made. The postmaster will furnish a receipt for each payment, on Form 3544. Credit for postage is not allowed. Postage on a mailing must be paid by only one method; that is, postage may not be paid partly in money and partly by postage stamps. (g) Post office computation of postage-(1) Random samples. Enough pieces will be selected at random from the entire lot to determine whether the whole mailing consists of identical pieces. (2) Weight of single piece. Determine the exact weight of a single piece and the amount of postage required. When scales do not show exact weight of a single piece, weigh enough pieces to balance beam and divide total weight by number weighed. Example: 20 pieces weigh exactly 31⁄2 ounces. 3.5 20 0.175 ounce. (3) Total number of pieces. Ascertain the total number of pieces by one of the following methods. (i) Find the total weight in pounds, exclusive of tare. (For definition of tare see subparagraph (5) of this paragraph.) Reduce the pounds to ounces and divide the total number of ounces by the weight of a single piece. The (5) Tare. Tare includes sacks, cartons or other containers, hand trucks, skids, or similar pieces of equipment upon which the mail may be placed during the weighing operation. standard weights for new sacks are 3 pounds, 7 ounces for a No. 1 size; 2 pounds, 8 ounces for a No. 2 size; and 1 pound, 12 ounces for a No. 3 size. [26 F.R. 11567, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 9058, Sept. 12, 1962, 28 F.R. 1474, Feb. 15, 1963] Postage may be paid by means of permit imprints on matter which is entitled to be registered or sent as certified, insured, or COD mail. [26 F.R. 11567, Dec. 6, 1961] § 34.7 Improper use of permit imprints. Mail bearing permit imprints must not be distributed otherwise than through the mails, and will not be accepted at any post office except that shown in the imprint. Matter bearing permit imprints must not be used as enclosures, nor should envelopes bearing permit imprints be used for nonpermit mailings prepaid with stamps unless the imprint is obliterated. [27 F.R. 9058, Sept. 12, 1962] Commemora (a) Description. tive stamps are postage stamps issued in limited quantities to focus attention on historical places, events, or personages. Widespread use of these stamps by the American public is encouraged by the Department in order that our ideals, progress, and heritage, as reflected in our stamps, are carried throughout the world. They do not displace regular stamps of like denomination, but are provided on request, if available. (b) Commemorative stamp supplies. Postmasters shall carefully evaluate the demand for new stamp issues and shall forward a separate requisition for adequate stocks in accordance with notices which appear in the Postal Bulletin, so that stock will be available at all post offices on the day following official firstday sale. Regional distributing offices shall make certain stamps are supplied to post offices in time to permit sales the day after the official first-day sale. (c) Sale of commemorative stamps. Commemorative stamps will be sold to meet the public demand until supply is exhausted, as follows: (1) Philatelic window service. In post offices where full or part-time philatelic window service is provided, the sale of plate numbers and marginal markings shall be restricted according to the instructions outlined by the Philatelic Sales Agency. When notice is published in Postal Bulletin of removal of a stamp from sale in the Philatelic Sales Agency, the item will be immediately withdrawn from the philatelic window of post offices and the stock sold for regular postage purposes. (2) Plate number blocks. Plate number blocks are the stamps (usually requested in blocks of four) located on one corner of a sheet of stamps with a plate number printed on the margin. Stamp clerks must not remove plate number blocks in advance from a large number of sheets for the benefit of individual purchasers. Plate blocks may be laid aside, however, as sheets are broken for regular sale purposes and may be sold as an accommodation to local stamp collectors. (3) Outside sales of commemorative stamps. Postmasters shall not accept mail orders for postage stamps from patrons outside the limits of the area served by their post office, and any such requests shall be returned to the sender calling attention to the services provided by the Philatelic Sales Agency, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C., 20260. [26 F.R. 11567, Dec. 6, 1961] § 35.2 The philatelic sales agency. The (a) Establishment and purpose. Philatelic Sales Agency was established on November 25, 1921, to make available to stamp collectors United States postage stamps of selected quality. Stamps sold by the Agency are the best available, having been selected for good centering, and freedom from tears and other flaws. (b) Stamps available. In addition to stamps of the ordinary series, the Agency has for sale commemorative, airmail, special delivery, special handling, postage-due, and migratory-bird hunting stamps. To get a list of items available for sale, send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request to the Philatelic Sales Agency, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C., 20260. The list is revised when a new stamp is announced or an old one withdrawn. (c) Order for stamps. (1) All stamps are for sale at face value plus postage and handling charges listed below, for mail orders where domestic rates apply: 1-49 stamps.. ----- $0.10 .20 .30 .50 .80 1.50 3.00 4.50 6.00 9.00 15.00 Any order in excess of 100,000 stamps will be a flat rate of $20.00. (2) A flat charge of 60¢ will be made on each order for registration, regardless of registry value, where this protection is desired. All mail orders will be returned by official permit mail, and postage stamps will not be affixed to cov (b) First-day sale. A post office selected because of some historical connection with the person or event commemorated is authorized to have exclusive sale of a new stamp on its first day of sale. All other post offices may sell the stamp the following day. (c) First-day covers. (1) First-day covers are envelopes bearing a new stamp canceled on its first day of sale with a special die reading First Day of Issue, and a pictorial cancellation adding an interpretation of the meaning of the stamp, as illustrated below. If a first-day cancellation of a new stamp is desired, send addressed envelopes to the postmaster in the city where the new stamp is to be placed on sale, with remittance to cover the cost of stamps. (See § 35.2(d).) (2) Cover envelopes should be of ordinary letter size and each must be properly addressed. Place an enclosure of postal card thickness in each envelope, and either turn in the flap or seal it. Endorse the envelope, enclosing the covers to the postmaster, First-Day Covers. Put a pencil notation in the upper right corner of each cover to show the number of postage stamps to be stuck there. (3) With orders for first-day covers, do not include requests for uncanceled stamps. (4) The Philatelic Sales Agency does not service first-day covers. [26 F.R. 11568, Dec. 6, 1961] § 35.4 Cancellations for philatelic pur poses. (a) How stamps are canceled. Postmasters will cooperate with stamp collectors by furnishing clean and legible postmarks, and they will give special attention to mail bearing an endorsement that it is of philatelic value or to a request for a light cancellation. Stamps must be canceled sufficiently to protect the postal revenue but this should be accomplished without excessive defacement, and with a minimum number of impressions. (b) Plain cards or slips of paper. Postmarks will not be placed on plain slips of paper or plain cards submitted for philatelic or other purposes. (c) Picture post cards (maximum cards). Picture post cards with the stamp stuck on the face of the card rather than on the address side are known as maximum cards. Postmasters may cancel these cards and hand them back to the person presenting them. Maximum cards are considered to be collectors' items and must be given special care in cancelling. Post (d) Preparation requirements. cards, postal cards, and envelopes submitted for philatelic or other purposes must bear complete addresses, and postage at the applicable rate, to be postmarked. See 36.5(a) of this chapter for postage on mail to be canceled with a special cancellation. After they are postmarked they may be either dispatched or handed back to the person presenting them. This paragraph does not apply to any arrangements made by the Department under §§ 35.3 and 35.5. (e) Holding the mail. Postmasters will not hold mail to comply with patron's requests that the mail be postmarked on a particular date, except as provided for under §§ 35.3 and 35.5. (39 U.S.C. 2507, 2508) [26 F.R. 11568, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 2687, Mar. 22, 1962] § 35.5 Inaugural covers. (a) First flights—(1) Cachets authorized. (i) The Post Office Department recognizes events such as new air service by applying cachets on inaugural covers. Official cachets of distinctive commemorative design are authorized, by publication of a notice in the Postal Bulletin, if notification is received from the carrier at least 20 days before the scheduled date of new service. (ii) Cachets are authorized for: (a) All stop points on a new airmail route. (b) New stop points on an existing route or on an additional segment. (c) Events of national aviation interest. (2) Where cachets may be used. (i) Official cachets are authorized for use at post offices and airport mail facilities on covers actually dispatched on the inaugural flights. (ii) One or more of the following points may be authorized to use official cachets: (a) Terminal points. Cachet will be applied to covers dispatched on the actual inaugural flight. (b) Intermediate points. Cachet will be applied to covers dispatched to the actual inaugural flights in each direction. If service is inaugurated in only one direction, cachet will not be used when service is established in the other direction at a later date. (3) Preparation of covers. (i) Covers must be individually addressed to a post office. (ii) Covers must bear postage at the airmail letter rate. (iii) Each envelope should contain a uniform enclosure of the approximate weight of a postal card to assure a good impression. (iv) A space should be provided on the address side, at least 4 inches to the left of the right end of the envelope and 11⁄2 inches to the left of the innermost stamp to permit a clear impression of the postmark. (v) A clear space 21⁄2 by 21⁄2 inches must appear to the left of the postmark and address area for application of the cachet. If this clear space is not provided, the cachet will not be applied. (4) Submission of covers. (i) Send the items for inaugural cachets under cover to the postmaster or superintendent, airport mail facility, at the point where service is to be inaugurated. Envelope enclosing items for cachet should bear endorsement "First Flight Covers" or "Philatelic Mail". (ii) Include a letter requesting the holding of the covers for the inaugural service and stating the cachet desired. (iii) Indicate directional service desired, if applicable. (See subdivision (i) of paragraph (a) (5) of this section). (5) Compliance with collectors requests—(i) Directional covers. Requests of collectors for dispatch in a particular direction will be complied with to the greatest extent practicable. No directional service for events of national aviation interest. (ii) Point-to-point covers. Requests of collectors for point-to-point covers will not be observed. Request that a dispatching office send one each of several covers to each stop point will not be honored. (iii) Direction not specified. In the absence of specific requests, covers will be dispatched on the actual first flight, regardless of direction. |