The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-05-10
Postal Cards.


General, E. w. Barber, has given
notice that the necessary appropria-
ton having been made for the purpose,
the Department will, on the lst of
May next, commence the issue to
postmasters of the postal cards au-
tlorized by the act Of June 8, 1872.
Fhe.card adopted is ST inches in
length and three il width, and is made
Of good, stiff paper, water-markcd
with the initials U. S. P. O. D.. in q
monogram. The face Of the card is
engraved, surrounded by border, in
scroll work, one-eighth of an inch in
width. The one cent stamp, printed
on the upper right hand corner, is
from a profile bust Of the Goddess Of
Liberty, looking to the left, and sur
rounded by a lathe work border, with
the words ''U. S. Postage " inscribed
above and the words Zone Cent"
below. On the upper left hand cor
ner are the words "United States
Postal Card" with directions to
Write the address only on this side;
the message on the other" Under
meath, and occupying the lower half
OF the card, are ruled lines Of which
to write the address, the top line be-
ing prefxed with the word "To."
The back of the card, intended for
the communication, is entirely plain,
being devoid even of ruled lines. In
color the body Of the card is light
cream, the printing velvet brown.
No variation in size, shape, or color,
or in any other particular will be
made from the regular style to accom-
modate special eases, nor will the
Department do any printing on the
cards beyond the engraving specified
in. the description. The cards will
he sold for one cent each, neither
more nor less, whether in large quan-
titles or in small.
The object of the postal cards is to
facilitate letter correspondence and
provide for the transmission through
the mails, at q reduced rate OF pos
tage, of short communications, either
printed Or written in pencil or ink.
They may therefore be used for or
ders, invitations, notices, receipts,
Acknowledgements and other require
ments OF business and social life, and
the matter desired to be conveyed
may be either in writing or in print
OF in both. In their treatment as
mail matter they are to be regarded
by postmasters the same as sealed
letters, and not us printed matter,
except that in no case will unclaimed
cards he sent to the Dead Letter Office.
An ordinary printed business card
may be sent through the mails when
prepaid by one-cent postage stamp
attached, but such card must contain
absolutely no written matter except
the address; otherwise it will be
treated as not fully prepaid, and re-
fused admission into the mails. All
cards different from those herein des-
cribed, bearing embossed or printed
postage stamps and purporting to be
United States postal cards, are coun-
terfeit; and the manufacture Of such
cards, or the attempt to use the same,
will subject the offender to fine Of
$500 and imprisonment for five wears.
(Sec. 17o Postal Code.) Postnlasters
will not under any circumstances, lie
permitted to reduce or exchange pos
tai cards that may be misdirected,
spoiled in printing, or otherwise rem
'lered unfit for use, in the hands of
private holders. The Department
will not furnish less than five hun
bred cards on the order OF a post
master. Individuals desiring postal
cards will purchase them of q post
rs in no case can they obtain
hem upon their application to the
Oepartmeut.-N. T. Tribune. t.