POSTAGE (a) Envelopes-(1) Color. Use any light color that does not interfere with legible address and postmark. Do not use brilliant colors. (2) Quality. Use paper strong enough to withstand normal handling. Highly glazed paper, or paper with an overall design, is not satisfactory. (3) Size, shape, and ratio. Envelopes of standard sizes and shapes are essential to the economical handling of mail, both by machine and manual methods. The following standards apply to envelopes: (i) Envelopes less than 3 inches in width (height) or 44 inches in length are nonmailable. (ii) Envelopes more than 9 inches in width (height) or 12 inches in length are not recommended. (iii) Envelopes having shapes other than rectangular are nonmailable. (iv) Envelopes having a ratio of width (height) to length of less than 1 to 1.414 (1 to the square root of 2) are not recommended. (4) Window envelopes. Window envelopes, or open panel envelopes, may be used under the following conditions: (i) The address window must be parallel with the length of the envelope. (ii) The proper place for the address window is in the lower portion of the address side. (iii) Nothing but the name, address, and any key number used by the mailer may appear through the address window. (iv) The return address should appear in the upper left corner. If there is no return address and the delivery address does not show through the window, the piece will be handled as dead mail. (v) The address disclosed through the window must be on white paper or paper of a very light color. (vi) When used for registered mail, they must conform with the conditions in § 161.3(c). (vii) Window envelopes, but not open panel envelopes, may be used for business reply mail provided: (a) All of the address side except the portion which will show through the window is prepared as required by § 131.2 (c) (4). (b) An address prepared by any of the processes and in the style provided for by § 131.2(c) (4) is furnished by the distributor for use as an enclosure to return the envelope. (c) The window covering is of such texture as to allow maximum transparency. (b) Plain stamped envelopes-(1) Envelopes available at post offices. NOTE: Limit requisitions to a 6-week supply. A minimum quantity of 500 plain stamped envelopes must be ordered even though this may cause some post offices to exceed the 6-week stock level. results in sales of 500 and multiples thereof out of the main stock or fixed credits being made at a discount. (ii) Recording discount. A record shall be kept of each bulk sale of 500 lots of plain regular and airmail envelopes. Use Form 3220, Stamped Envelope Sales at Discount. As each sale is made record the date, purchaser's name, and quantity sold. The selling employee will obtain the purchaser's name from the check used for payment or by asking when payment is by cash. Do not refuse sales to those who decline to identify themselves. State purchaser declined identification in the name column. Enter the quantity in the proper size and denomination column. (iii) Reporting discount. Employees selling 500 lots may complete Form 3220 as often as necessary, but at least each accounting period at first-class offices and each postal quarter at other classes of offices in time for the discount to be included in a regular requisition submitted during the same period or quarter. The total amount of the discount claimed must be included in the total amount of the regular requisition for stock. Submit this requisition to the custodian of the main stock. The station superintendent or an employee in a similar capacity must verify the computations on Form 3220, enter his initials and submit the form direct to the director, office of finance, chief accountant or employee maintaining the cashbook as specified in Handbook F-1. (4) Precanceled envelopes. Only nonprofit organizations or associations covered in § 134.5 may purchase 1.7-cent precanceled envelopes. Sales are made in full box lots only. 6-- 9-- 10___ 15-- 12___ Description Cut Single Cards: Domestic regular single (available Domestic commemorative single. Foreign regular single, 31⁄2" x 51⁄2' Domestic regular reply (6 cents each half). All domestic (regular and airmail) postal cards are precanceled. Postal cards in sheets for use in printing must be cut to regulation size, 34 x 51⁄2 inches so that the stamp appears in the upper right corner. However, domestic regular and domestic airmail cards may be cut to 3 x 5 inches. Cases of sheet postal cards may be broken for sale. Return addresses are not printed on postal cards by the Postal Service. Domestic regular and airmail postal cards are not acceptable for foreign mailings. Only cards which measure 32 x 51⁄2 inches may be used. (d) Aerogrammes. 15 cents each. (See Publication 42, International Mail.) [35 F.R. 19446, Dec. 23, 1970, as amended at 37 F.R. 17830, Sept. 1, 1972] (5) Window envelopes. Window envelopes are sold in full box lots only. All windows are 1% inches wide and 434 § 141.2 Printed stamped envelopes (special request). (a) Printed stamped envelopes available. 1 Minimum order-Please note that the price for 500 only is more than 1⁄2 of the per-thousand price. CAUTION: ILLEGIBLE OR INCORRECT ORDERS DELAY RECEIPT OF ENVELOPES (b) How to order printed stamped envelopes. Prepare Form 3203, "Order for Printed Stamped Envelopes," as illustrated below. Submit the order through the post office named in the return address. However, if undeliverable letters are to be returned to the main office of a firm in another city, envelopes may be ordered at the post office where they will be mailed. (c) Style of printing return addresses. (1) The line with the name of sender and the line with the city, State, and ZIP Code are printed in capital letters. The local address (street address, post office box number, etc.) and any lines of postal instruction are printed in capitals and lower-case letters. (2) Sample style of printing: JOHN DOE, 1234 Fifth Avenue, (d) Required printing-(1) Local address. The printed address must include the local address. The adequacy of the address, to insure return of undeliverable mail, will be determined by the postmaster. Only one of the following may be used: (i) Street address. (ii) Post office box number. (iii) Rural route number and box number. (iv) Name of building and room number, including street address. (2) Name of post office. The printed return address must include the name of the post office or branch post office, State and ZIP Code. (e) Optional printing—(1) Name. (i) 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. (ii) 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. (iii) The name of a branch or department of a business may be printed only when the other branches or departments are located at the same post office address, to insure return of undeliverable mail. (2) Postal instructions. Only the postal instructions in this section may be included as part of the printed return address. "The request to return" endorsement in § 141.2(e) (2) (i) shall appear above the name and address. All other postal endorsements shall appear below the line with the city, State, and ZIP Code. A combination of endorsements may be used. (i) Request to return. A request to return undelivered mail after a specified number of days (not less than three and not more than 30) may be printed. If a return request is included on envelopes for third-class mail the words "Return Postage Guaranteed" must also be used. Sample printing: After 5 days, return to: (ii) Address correction. A request for address correction service may be printed on mail of any class. The new address of addressee or the reason why the piece is undeliverable will be furnished. See § 159.2(d) (3) for the charge. Sample printing: Address Correction Requested: (iii) Third-class mail. On single piece rate third-class mail which is sealed (see also § 134.8), the following must appear: Third Class: (iv) Return of undelivered third-class mail. A request may be made to return undelivered third-class mail. See § 159.2 (d) (1) for the charge. Sample printing: Return Postage Guaranteed: (v) Forwarding third-class mail. A request to forward third class mail to a new address may be made. If addressee refuses to pay forwarding postage, the mail will be returned, and both forwarding and return postage will be collected from the sender. See § 159.2(d) (2) for charges. Sample printing: Forwarding and Return Postage Guaranteed: (f) Prohibited printing. No matter may be printed other than that permitted by paragraphs (d) and (e) of this section. Advertising is prohibited, as are phone numbers and Esq. Names like druggist, attorney at law, and C.P.A. are not classed as titles but represent business or professional names and may not be used. (g) Rejection of envelopes. Specialrequest envelopes may be rejected because of defective manufacture, or mistakes in printing, denomination, 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. [35 F.R. 19446, Dec. 23, 1970, as amended at 37 F.R. 17830, Sept. 1, 1972] I Will be discontinued when stock is exhausted. (b) Use. (1) Use stamps of the highest suitable denomination. (2) Fix stamps firmly in the upper right corner of the address side of the mail cover. (3) Any stamp partly concealed by an overlapping stamp may not be counted as postage. (4) Postal employees (other than rural carriers as prescribed in § 156.4(a)) ale not required to fix stamps to mail. (5) Airmail postage stamps may be used to pay fees for special services on airmail articles. (6) The $1 airlift stamp may be used to pay the airlift fee on PAL parcels (see § 126.1(d) (3)) or it may be applied as payment, in whole or in part, of the amount of the postage charges or fees for special services on airmail articles. (c) Perforating. Postage and special delivery stamps may be perforated with an identifying mark if the holes do not exceed one thirty-second of an inch in diameter and if the space taken by the mark is not larger than 1/2-inch square. (d) Reuse prohibited. Reuse of stamps with intent to cause loss to the Government is punishable by fine and imprisonment. § 142.2 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 customer wants a receipt for purchases and has prepared the receipt in advance, the postal employee will stamp it upon payment. If the customer has not prepared but wants a receipt for purchases, a Form 1096, Cash Receipt, will be used for postage and other services for which verification of payment is not already provided. The postal employee will fill in the total amount of the purchase and will stamp the form upon payment. (c) Postage due. Postage due must be paid in cash. Postage-due stamps may not be used for paying postage. [35 F.R. 19446, Dec. 23, 1970, as amended at 37 FR 15304, July 29, 1972] § 142.7 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 U.S. 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, aerogrammes, or postal cards. (c) Stamps covered or coated in such manner that the canceling or defacing marks cannot be imprinted directly on the stamps. (d) Nonpostage stamps (migratorybird hunting stamps, U.S. saving and thrift stamps, etc.). 97-024-73- -13 |