tration which is prepaid for air service and which the sender has failed to mark properly.

(2) Numbering. Write or stamp registration number just below the "Registered" endorsement, or to the right of the letter R on small articles.

(3) Special marking on valuable mail. Add the letter X after the registry number of all articles with a declared value in excess of $400 (see § 242.2(c)).

(4) Postmarking. Postmark letters twice on the back, on the crossing of the upper and lower flaps or, if paste-on return receipts are used, postmark partially on the receipt and partially on the flaps of the letter. Postmark packages sealed with paper strips across opposite edges of the strips. Postal Union AO mail (required to be unsealed-see § 242.2(b) (2)) and letter mail sealed on the address side must be postmarked on the address side.

(b) All offices. (1) Recording and dispatching. Record and dispatch.

(2) Articles found in ordinary mail. (i) Articles that have obviously been registered by the Postal Service shall be restored to the registered mail.

(ii) Articles endorsed to show registration is desired, as distinguished from an article formally registered) and fully prepaid shall be registered and receipt mailed to the sender stating that mail to be registered must be presented at the post office for that purpose. If not fully prepaid, return article to sender, if known, after indicating thereon that it is shortpaid and must be presented for registration. If article bears no return address, cross out sender's registry endorsement and dispatch as ordinary mail. § 242.8 Post office processing of incoming mail.

(a) Office of address-(1) Backstamping. Backstamp on receipt.

(2) Delivery. Record and deliver. (3) Articles unaccounted for after assignment for delivery. Make appropriate record of available facts when registered mail assigned for delivery is not properly accounted for and file papers pending receipt of possible inquiry. If inquiry is received from sender, ascertain from addressee whether the article was received in regular course. If article was not received, make full report promptly to the appropriate postal inspector in charge.

(b) Articles found in ordinary mail. All offices shall restore to the registered mail articles obviously already regis

tered by the Postal Service. Cross out sender's registry endorsement and dispatch as ordinary any article that is without evidence of formal registration. The following registry indicia appear on incoming registered mail, according to the language of the country of origin, and Shall Be Used as the Determining Factor As To Whether an Article Found in the Ordinary Mail Is Registered: (1) "Certificado." (2) "Einschreiben." (3) "R or Registered." (4) "Raccomandata." (5) "Recommandé."

(6) "Registo or Registrado" (used occasionally).

NOTE: A number alone on mail is not sufficient evidence of registration.

the country items in the Directory of International Mail. Parcels may not be insured for more than the declared value of the contents or for more than the maximum amount of indemnity payable in connection with insured parcels for the country concerned. However, if desired, parcels may be insured for a portion of the value of the contents, in which case only the fee covering the amount of insurance desired will be charged.

§ 243.5 Marking.

(a) By sender-(1) Contents. Parcels containing fragile or perishable articles must be marked "Fragile, Perishable, Glass, or Eggs," as appropriate.

(2) Insured Value. Indicate in United States currency (figures only) in the appropriate space on the customs declaration (Form 2966) the amount for which the parcel is insured. See § 243.4.

(b) By post office of mailing—(1) Endorsements and Insurance Number. (i) On each parcel place the word "INSURED" on the address side, preferably to the left and directly beside the country of destination.

(ii) Serially number each insured parcel immediately below the "INSURED" endorsement. All international insured parcels must be numbered.

(ii) To most countries, the insured value of the parcel must be shown on the wrapper and on the dispatch note (Form 2972). See subcaption "Insurance" under individual country items in the appendix to this subchapter. Mail as to the type of marking to be shown. Rubber stamp, item R-1300-284, may be used for this purpose. In some instances the insured value must be shown also in gold francs. Conversion of U.S. currency into gold francs is made on the basis of 33 cents (approximately) equals 1 gold franc. To determine the gold franc equivalent, multiply the amount in U.S. currency by 3. For example, $5.25 is equal to 15.75 gold francs.

(iv) Place the insurance number in the appropriate space on the customs declaration (Form 2966) and on the dispatch note (Form 2972) when the latter form is required.

(2) Postmarking. Postmark at the time of acceptance. Postmark at all breaks (cuts or torn edges) of any gummed paper strips used in sealing parcels.

(a) Issuance. The postal clerk will issue a receipt for a parcel accepted for insurance. Each receipt will bear the insurance number. The sender should enter the name and address of the addressee on the receipt and must submit it if a claim or an inquiry concerning the parcel is subsequently made.

(b) Post office procedure. (1) Use the same forms as those prescribed for domestic insured mail, except that Form 3813 shall not be used, because all international insured parcels and receipts therefor must be numbered.

(2) Fill out the original receipt only with ink or indelible pencil and issue to the sender.

(3) Indicate applicable fee, according to amount of insurance requested, for parcels presented for insurance by Government agencies pursuant to § 221.2(d) (2) (i) of this chapter.

(ii) "Asegurado or Valor Declarado." (iii) "Assicurato or Valore Dichiarato."

(iv) "Valeur Déclarée."

(v) "V or V D" (meaning valeur déclarée).

(vi) "Wertangabe or Wertpaket."

(2) The determining factor as to whether a parcel is insured is not the appearance of a number alone, but the insurance indicium, which appears very near the insurance number. Ordinary parcels from other countries usually bear numbers also.

(b) Delivery. Deliver international insured parcels as prescribed in 364.312 of the Postal Manual.

(b) How paid. Senders may prepay the special delivery fee by special delivery stamps, ordinary postage stamps, or meter stamps. Airmail stamps may be used if the article is to be sent by air. Special delivery stamps may be used only for the payment of the special delivery fee. The special delivery fee must be prepaid in addition to the regular postage.

(c) Shortpayment. See § 223.2(a) (1) of this chapter.

§ 245.4 Processing.

(a) Outgoing. (1) Employees at post office windows are to be supplied with the "Exprès (Special Delivery) Label 57, which is to be given to patrons who desire to use the special delivery service. The labels must be supplied to special delivery dispatching desks also; and when articles placed in post office drops or street boxes are observed to be prepaid for special delivery but do not bear the "Exprès" label or endorsement, the clerks must place labels on the articles.

(2) Special delivery mail is to be dispatched to the appropriate U.S. exchange office.

(b) Incoming. (1) Foreign special delivery articles are to be delivered as prescribed in Part 354. These articles will bear a label, printed in red or on a red background, containing the word "Exprès" or bear the notation "Exprès or Special Delivery” in bold letters.

(2) Articles bearing U.S. special delivery stamps sufficient to cover the domestic special delivery fee are to be delivered as special delivery mail even though the article does not bear the "Exprès" label or endorsement.

than 10 pounds

246.3 246.4

Marking. Treatment.

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 246 issued under 5 U.S.C. 301, 39 U.S.C. 501, 505.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 246 appear at 33 F.R. 4465, March 13, 1968, unless otherwise noted.

United States. If the article has been dispatched from the United States, but not delivered to the addressee, withdrawal or change of address may be effected if:

(a) The country of destination of the article is willing to allow the withdrawal or change of address (see § 247.5);

(b) The article has not been confiscated or destroyed by the authorities of the country of destination as being prohibited importation; or

(c) The article has not been seized under provisions of the domestic legislation of the country of destination. § 247.2 How to apply.

If the article was mailed in a post office, station, or branch, make application there. If it was mailed in a street letterbox, apply at the main post office. The mailer must identify himself and submit a written request giving a complete description of the article and the date of mailing. Form 2926, "Sender's Request for Recall or Change of Address of International Mail," may be used at first- and second-class post offices. A single request may be used for two or more articles which have been mailed together by the same sender to the same addressee, in which case only one fee is charged. For post office processing of sender's request see § 247.6.

(a) Search at office of mailing. If the article has not been dispatched from the immediate point of mailing, it may be returned or its address may be changed without charge. Otherwise a search can be made at the main post office or other concentration point: Provided, The mailer pays a fee of 20 cents in stamps, whether the search is successful or not. The post office will change the address without charge, but if the article is returned to the mailer, domestic postage will be charged except in the case of letters or post cards, which are returned free of postage. If the mailing office is also the dispatching exchange office, the conditions stated in paragraph (b) of this section will apply.

(b) Search at exchange office. The mailer may have a search made for the article at the U.S. dispatching exchange office if he requests it and pays the fee of 20 cents, unless he has already paid it. (See paragraph (a) of this section.) If the mailer desires such search to include opening made-up sacks, he must guarantee payment of the cost of opening,