The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-24
PRIVATE POST CARDS.
Many of Them DO Not Conform 10 the
Governments Requirements.
Kansas City Star.

Kansas City Star.
The experience of the Postoffice Depsrt-
ment shows that few people have correct
idea as TO how private mailing card or
post card should be prepared in order 10
be entitled 10 transmission i'm the mails
with L cent postage prepaid thereon. The
statute (act of May 10. 1899 authorizing the
use of private mailing cards reads as fol-
lows:
lit shall be lawful to transmit by mail at
the postage rate of a cent apiece. payable
by stamps TO be affixed by the sender, and
under such regulations as the postmaster
general may prescribe. written messages ON
private mailing cards, such cards 10 be
sent openly in the mails. TO be no larger
than the size fixed by the convention OF
the Universal Postal Union. ard TO be app
proximately OF the same form, quality and
weight the stamped postal card now in
general use i'm the United States"
The regulations Of the Postofiice Depart
ment established under this statute pro-
vide that each card must be an unfolded
piece of cardboard, substantially OF the
quality of the government postal card. not
smaller than ? 15-16 by asa inches. and not
exceeding 9-16 by 9-16 inches In size. at
the top of the address side of which the
words Post Card" or the words Private
Mailing Card, authorized by act of Con-
gress May 49, 1885, must be placed IN such
manner as not to interfere with perfectly
distinct address and postmark. Ii is imms-
terial whether such words be written, print
ed or hand stamped upon the card.
Many persons have an idea that any card
bearing a written message upon the adj
dress dress size of which are placed the words
Special Mail Card" Private Postal or
other similar term, may be sent I'm the
mails for cent postage, but such Is not
the case.
Unless a private card bearing a written
message conforms to the requirements
above stated IL Is chargeable, when mailed,
with postage at the letter rate-two cents
an ounce or fraction thereof. III mailed with
only one cent postage prepaid thereon IL
is held at the mailing office and. IL the
of the office, returned TO him for proper
postage. III the sender be not known the
addressee Is notified that upon the receipt
of one cent additional postage the card
will be forwarded TO him. Should the adj
dressee, when notified. fall TO remit the
postage, the card is sent 20 the Dead Letter
Office.
The words post card are authorized
only on cards which conform to the condi-
tions as 10 form. size and quality above de-
scribed; other cards bearing these words, or
otherwise purporting TO be issued under the
authority of the act of May -. 1895.
chargeable with postage at the letter rate.
whether the message be written or printed.
Many thousands of cards sold by sta
tionery dealers and others purport to be
private mailing cards or post cards. but are
not such in fact. and will not be dispatched
when mailed with only one cent postage
prepaid thereon.
Post cards and private mailing cards con-
forming TO the conditions above set forth
may be sent In the mails 10 Canada. Mexi-
co and Cuba for one cent postage each. the
same though mailed for delivery In the
United States. Post cards mailed 10 other
foreign countries are subject 10 two cents
postage. Cards bearing the words Private
Mailing Cards, Authorized by Act of Con-
gress May ~. 1855. are rendered admissible
10 the foreign mails al the postage rate OF
two cents each by the addition OF the words
Postal Card-Carte Postaie."
Advertisements and illustrations I'm any
color may be printed upon either or both
sides of post card or private mailing card
provided they do not interfere with a per-
fectly distinct address and postmark.