The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-21 00:00:00

POSTAL INSTRUCTIONS.

Post-office Department., Washington, Aug. 20, 1867.
Whereas Article 5 of the new Postal Convention, con-
chided between the United States of America and the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, on the Bth
day of July, A.D. 1867 provides, that " international news-
papers, book packets (including printed papers of all kinds,
maps, plans, prints, on gravin gs,drawings, photographs,litho-
graphs, sheets of music, &c.), and patterns and samples of
merchandise (including seeds and grain), shall be transmis-
sible by either office at such charges (not less than threepence
in the United Kingdom, or six cents in the United States
per four ounces on book packets and patterns or samples
of merchandise), and under such regulations as the de-
spatching office may from time to time lay down ;" and
whereas the provisions of the said Article aro to be carried
into effect in each country on the let of October, A.D.
1867 :

It is hereby ordered that the rates of postage to belevied
and collected in the United States on and after the Ist of
October, 1867, upon the international newspapers, printed
matter, and other postal packets enumerated in the said
Article, posted in the United States and addressed to the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, shall be as
follows,

Newspapers and unsealed circulars, two cents each.
Pamphlets and periodicals, when not exceeding two
ounces in weight, two cents each.
Pamphlets and periodicals over two ounces in weight,
and other printed matter, except books, including printed
papers of all kinds, maps, plans, prints, engravings, draw-
ings, photographs, lithographs, sheets of music, and so
forth, four cents per four ounces or a fraction of four
ounces.

Books, six cents per four ounces or a fraction of four
ounces.

Patterns and samples of merchandise, ei h t cents per
four ounces or a fraction of four ounces.

And it is further ordered that the regulations to be ob-
served and enforced in the United States, with respect to
the printed papers of all kinds and other postal packets
enumerated in the said Article, shall be the following, viz.:
1. The postage charges herein established must in all
cases be fully prepaid at the office of mailing in the United
States, by means of United States postage stamps affixed
outside tho packet or its cover. if not so prepaid the
packet cannot be forwarded.

2. Newspapers, circulars, pamphlets, periodicals, books,
or other printed papers, including maps, plan; prints, en-
graving; drawings, photographs, lithographs, sheets of
music, &c., must bo wrapped or enveloped in covers open
at the sides or ends, so as to admit of the enclosures being
removed for examination.

3. No nowspapor, pamphlet, periodical, or article of
printed matter (other than book packets) may contain any
word or communication, whether by writing, printing,
mark or signs upon the cover or wrapper thereof, except
the name and address of the person to whom it is sent, the
printed title of the publication, the printed name of the
publisher or vendor who sends it; or, in case of news-
papets or other regular publications, when sent to sub-
scribers direct from the office of publication, tho printed
dato when subscription expires. It must not contain a
letter or any communication in writing, or other en-
closure.

4. No book packet may contain anything that is sealed
or otherwise closed against inspection, nor must there bo
any letter, nor any communication of the nature of a
letter, whether separate or otherwise, unless the whole of
such letter or communication be printed. But entries,
merely stating from whom or to whom the packet is sent,
shall not bo regarded as a letter.
5. No book packet must exceed two feet in length or ono
foot in width or depth.
6. Any book packet which is not open at the sides or
ends, or has any letter or communication in the nature of
a letter written in it, or upon its cover, cannot be received
or forwarded in the mail ; and it is the duty of postmasters,
whenever they have ground for suspecting an infringe-
ment of any of the above conditionF, to open and examine
book packets, patterns, samples, or other postal packets
posted at or passing through their offices.
7. Patterns or samples of merchandise must not be of
ihtriasic value ; which rule excludes from the mails all