The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-11-26

The First Assistant Postmaster General has
decided that in addition to the name and address
of the person to whom matter of the second class
shall be sent and index figures of subscription
book, the printed title of publication, the printed
name and address Of the publisher or sender of
the same, and written OF printed words figures.
or both, indicating the date on which the sub
scription to such III, ter will end publishers may
also print upon the wrapper of such matter, Il
request, that if the same be not called for i'll a
limited time, it may be delivered to any one of a
class of persons named.
This ruling is believed to be in aid of the
purpose contemplated by the statute permitting
the sending of sample copies to secure subscribers
and is also a matter of convenience to pOstmas-
tiers.
The Postmaster-G General has issued the follow
ing order:
1T is hereby ordered that section III of the
Postal Regulations, providing for the redemption
of postal cards that may be spoiled while in the
hands OF private parties, by printing or otherwise
be revoked, to take effect on the 1st of February
1882. After that date postmasters must not
redeem postal cards under any circumstances
whatever. In order to obtain credit for cards
redeemed up to the date named, p0Stmasters
should forward them to the Department before
the 31st of March, 1882, after which no allowance
of credit for the redemption of postal cards will
be made"
1t has been decided by Acting Postmaster
General HattOn that matter produced by the
hand-stamp, the type writer or the copy press
are all prima fdcie within the intent of section
219, Postal Laws and Regulations 1879, proyid-
ing that reproductions upon paper having the
character of an actual personal correspondence
shall not be included in the term printed mat
ter"
1t is reasonable to assume when the matter is
produced by one not engaged III the business of
printing, and but one copy can be produced by
the process adopted, that the matter is intended
for use only between two persons upon subjects
personal to themselves
This presumption may be removed by an ex-
ANIMATION OF the subject-matter produced by the
process adopted
The presumption against the matter produced
by the hand-stamp is less violent than against
matter produced by the other methods, because
the reproduction is much more readily accom-
plished, and without any resetting of the type,
and its use IN general business transactions COW
erlng interests common to many persons is recog-
nized.
No rule Of absolute universal application can
be stated with regard to the matter thus produced,
but the following suggestion is made: When the
hand-stamp Is used upon the matter nclOsed, or
upon tag or circular accompanying the matter,
and 1T refers to the matter itself-its price width
weight, or quality-it will usually appear that
the reproduction by the hand stamp may properly
be classed as printed matter the reference to the
thing inclosed generally excluding the idea of
personality. But when the reproduction refers
to something not accompanying it and furnishes
information regarding the same, it will probably
consist OF matter personal to the party using or
receiving it. Thus the use of hand-stamp upon
merchandise consisting of paper or upon tags
attached to other merchandise will be held to
relate to the article itself and be intended that
all into whose hands the merchandise may come
shall receive the information conveyed, and such
information will therefore constitute printed
matter. On the other hand, where the thing to
which the reproduction relates is not inclOsed
but information is given regarding its contents,
as when the maker endorser of a note is advised
by the holder of the date when the note falls DUE
by stamping the date on the printed notice, the
matter will be held personal.
These illustrations are given as tests by which
cases of like character, but differing in detail
may be determined.