Third. It must be formed of printed paper sheets, without board, cloth, leather, or other substantial binding, such as distinguish printed books for preservation from periodical publications.

Fourth. It must be originated and published for the dissemination of information of a public character, or devoted to literature, the sciences, arts, or some special industry, and having a legitimate list of subscribers: Provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to admit to the second-class rate regular publications designed primarily for advertising purposes, or for free circulation, or for circulation at nominal rates.

Regular publications, designed primarily for advertising purposes, within the intendment of the preceding paragraph, are defined to be

First. Those owned and controlled by one or several individuals or business concerns, and conducted as an auxiliary, and essentially for the advancement of the main business or calling of those who own or control them.

Second. Those which, having no genuine or paid-up subscriptions, insert advertisements free, on the condition that the advertiser will pay for any number of papers which are sent to persons whose names are given to the publisher.

Third. Those which do advertising only, and whose columes are filled with long editorial puffs of firms or individuals who buy a certain number of copies for distribution. Fourth. Pamphlets containing market quotations, and the business cards of various business houses opposite the pages containing such quotations.

Whenever a postmaster is in doubt as to the character of a publication offered for mailing at the second-class rate, he will submit a copy of the same to the First Assistant Postmaster General, and accompany it with a statement of such facts as he may be in possession of respecting its publication, and the reasons for his inability to decide as to its character. The First Assistant Postmaster General will also decide any appeal from the decision of a postmaster by publishers, whose publications have been excluded from the second class by the action of the postmaster.

Publications of the second class, except as provided in the next paragraph, when sent by the publisher thereof, and from the office of publication, including sample copies or when sent from a news-agency to actual subscribers thereto, or to other news agents, shall be entitled to transmission through the mails at two cents a pound or fraction thereof, such postage to be prepaid, as now provided by law.

Publications of the second class, one copy to each actual subscriber residing in the county where the same are printed, in whole or in part, and published, shall go free through the mails; but the same shall not be delivered at letter-carrier offices, or distributed by carriers, unless postage is paid thereon at the rate prescribed in the preceding paragraph: Provided, that the rate of postage on newspapers (excepting weeklies), and periodicals not exceeding two ounces in weight, when the same are deposited in a letter-carrier office for delivery by its carriers, shall be uniform at one cent each; periodicals weighing more than two ounces shall be subject, when delivered by such carriers, to a postage of two cents each, and these rates shall be prepaid by stamps affixed.

Periodical publications on their receipt at the office of mailing shall be weighed in bulk, and postage paid thereon by a special adhesive stamp to be devised and furnished-by the Postmaster General, which shall be affixed to such matter, or to the sack containing the same, or upon a memorandum of such mailing, or otherwise as the Postmaster General may, from time to time, provide by regulations.

Publishers and news-agents must tender their newspapers and periodicals intended to be sent through the mails at the office of mailing, so that they may be weighed in bulk. The postage thereon must then be prepaid, according to the weight of the matter to be mailed, by special adhesive stamps known as newspaper and periodical stamps, which are furnished by the Department to postmasters for that purpose. Ordinary postage stamps cannot be used for such matter, nor can the newspaper and periodical stamps be used for any other purpose. After weighing the mail-matter thus received, and collecting the proper amount of postage thereon, the postmaster will give a receipt to the party mailing from a book of forms to be furnished by the Department. The stamps will then be affixed to the stub of the receipt, and at once effectually canceled. The stub books are to be kept permanently in the post office, ready to be produced whenever demanded by the Department. The stamps attached thereto must never be removed, nor the books disposed of otherwise than as directed by the Department.

Postmasters will also be required to render promptly at the close of each quarter, on blank forms furnished for the purpose, a statement of postage collected from each publisher or news-agent during the quarter.

The special adhesive stamps, or newspaper and periodical stamps, as they have been termed, will be charged to postmasters and accounted for in the same manner as ordinary postage stamps issued for sale to the public.

The weights of the sacks usually employed for this purpose (transmitting newspapers and periodicals from the office of publication to the post office) have been ascertained, by actually weighing them, to be as follows:

Postmasters are authorized to deduct the weights of the sacks as fixed above.

POSTAGE ON SECOND-CLASS MATTER AT FREE-DELIVERY POST OFFICES.

Mailable matter of the second class, deposited in a letter-carrier post office for local delivery, shall be delivered through boxes or the general delivery on prepayment of postage at the rate of two cents per pound, but when delivered by carriers the following rates must be prepaid by postage stamps affixed: On newspapers (except weeklies), one cent each, without regard to weight; on periodicals not exceeding two ounces in weight, one cent each; on periodicals exceeding two ounces in weight, two cents each. The rate on weekly newspapers of the second class, deposited by the publisher in a letter-carrier post office for local delivery, is two cents per pound, whether the same are delivered by carriers or through boxes or the general delivery.

Second-class matter for city delivery, where the carrier system is established, should be separately made up at the office of publication, that for delivery by the carriers of a post office being put in one package or bundle, - each article of mail-matter therein properly stamped, and that for delivery through the boxes of the post office by itself. If the separation is not made at the office of publication, each paper or periodical not properly stamped must be placed in the boxes or at the general delivery for delivery therefrom.

Postmasters at other than letter-carrier post offices are obliged to receive and deliver local (free county) publications from the boxes or general delivery of their offices free of postage, provided the same are properly dried, folded, and addressed.

Sample copies of any publication cannot be mailed free in the county; they must be prepaid at the rate of two cents per pound. Whether to be mailed in or out of the county, they should be put up in single wrappers, and each package addressed to a person or firm should be plainly marked, in printing or writing, SAMPLE COPY.

Mailable matter of the second class shall contain no writing, print, mark or sign thereon, or therein, in addition to the original print, except as herein provided, to wit, the name and address of the person to whom the matter shall be sent, and index figures of subscription book, either written or printed, the printed title of the publication, the printed name and address of the publisher or sender of the same, and written or printed words or figures, or both, indicating the date on which the subscription to such matter will end.

THIRD-CLASS MATTER.

Mail-matter of the third class embraces books (printed and blank), transient newspapers and periodicals, circulars, and other matter wholly in print, proof-sheets and corrected proof-sheets and manuscript copy accompanying the same, prices current with prices filled out in writing, printed commercial papers filled out in writing (provided such writing is not in the nature of personal correspondence), such as papers of legal procedure, deeds of all kinds, way-bills, bills of lading, invoices, insurance policies and the various documents of insurance companies, hand-bills, posters, chromo-lithographs, engravings, envelopes with printing thereon, heliotypes, lithographs, photographic and stereoscopic views with title written thereon, printed blanks, printed cards; and postage shall be paid thereon at the rate of one cent for each two ounces or fractional part thereof.

Upon matter of the third class, or upon the wrapper inclosing the same, the sender may write his own name or address thereon, with the word "from" above and preceding the same, and in either case may make simple marks intended to designate a word or passage of the text to which it is desired to call attention. There may be placed upon the cover or blank leaves of any book or of any printed matter of the third class a simple manuscript dedication or inscription that does not partake of the nature of a personal correspondence.

The "nature of a personal correspondence" referred to in the preceding section cannot be ascribed to the following, viz: 1st. To the signature of the sender or to the designation of his name, of his profession, of his rank, of the place of origin, and of the date of dispatch. 2d. To a dedication or mark of respect offered by the sender. 3d. To the figures or signs merely intended to mark the passage of a text, in order to call attention to them. 4th. To the prices added upon the quotations or prices current of exchange or markets, or in a book. 5th. To printed commercial papers, filled out in writing, circulars, hand-bills, etc. 6th. To instructions or requests to postmasters to notify the sender in case of the non-delivery of matter, so that he may send postage for its return. 7th. Lastly, to annotations or corrections made upon proofs of printing or musical compositions, and relating to the text or to the execution of the work.

All packages of matter of the third class must be so wrapped, with open sides or ends, that their contents may be readily examined by postmasters.

Third-class matter may be registered. See chapter on Registration.

The limit of weight of packages is four pounds, except in cases of single volumes of books in excess of said weight, and books and documents published or circulated by order of Congress, or official matter emanating from any of the Departments of the Government, or from the Smithsonian Institution.

FOURTH-CLASS MATTER.

Mailable matter of the fourth class embraces blank cards, card-board and other flexible material, flexible patterns, letter envelopes and letter-paper without printing thereon, merchandise, models, ornamented paper, sample cards, samples of ores, metals, minerals, seeds, cuttings, bulbs, roots, scions, drawings, plans, designs, original paintings in oil or water colors, and any other matter not included in the first, second, or third classes, and which is not in its form or nature liable to destroy, deface, or otherwise damage the contents of the mail-bag, or harm the person of any one engaged in the postal service. Postage rate thereon, one cent for each ounce or fractional part thereof.

Other articles of the fourth class which, unless properly secured, might destroy, deface, or otherwise damage the contents of the mail-bag, or harm the person of any one engaged in the postal service, may be transmitted in the mails when they conform to the following conditions: 1st. They must be placed in a bag, box, or removable envelope made of paper, cloth, or parchment. 2d. Such bag, box, or envelope must again be placed in a box or tube made of metal or some hard wood, with sliding, clasp, or screw lid. 3d. In case of articles liable to break, the inside box, bag, or envelope must be surrounded by sawdust, cotton, or spongy substance. 4th. In case of sharp-pointed instruments, the points must be capped or encased, so that they may not by any means be liable to cut through their inclosure; and where they have blades, such blades must be bound with wire, so that they shall remain firmly attached to each other. 5th. The whole must be capable of easy inspection. Seeds, or other articles not prohibited, which are liable from their form or nature to loss or damage, unless specially protected, may be put up in sealed envelopes, provided such envelopes are made of material sufficiently transparent to show the contents clearly, without opening.

Upon any package of matter of the fourth class the sender may write or print his own name and address, preceded by the word "from," and there may also be written or printed the number and names of the articles inclosed; and the sender thereof may write or print upon, or attach to any such articles, by tag or label, a mark, number, name, or letter, for purpose of identification.

The limit of weight of packages is four pounds.

POSTAL CARDS.

The object of the postal card is to facilitate letter correspondence and provide for the transmission through the mails, at a reduced rate of postage, of short communications, either printed or written in pencil or ink. They may, therefore, be used for orders, invitations, notices, receipts, acknowledgments, price-lists, and other requirements of business and social life; and the matter desired to be conveyed may be either in writing or in print, or partially in both.

In their treatment as mail-matter, they are to be regarded by postmasters the same as sealed letters, and not as printed matter, except that in no case will unclaimed cards be returned to the writers or sent to the Dead Letter Office. If not delivered within sixty days from the time of receipt, they will be burned by postmasters; but they may be forwarded at the request of the party named in the address, the same as letters.

The postage of one cent each is paid by the stamp impressed on these cards, and no further payment is required.

Postal cards are issued exclusively by the Department. Cards issued by private parties, which contain any written matter having the nature of personal correspondence, other than the address, cannot be passed through the mails at less than letter postage, as they are not " postal cards" within the meaning of the law.

In using postal cards, be careful not to write or have anything printed on the side to be used for the address, except the address; also be careful not to paste, gum (except an address tag or label), or attach anything to them. They are unmailable as postal cards when these suggestions are disregarded.

UNMAILABLE.

Liquids, poisons, explosive and inflammable articles, fatty substances easily liquefiable, live or dead animals (not stuffed), insects, and reptiles, fruits or vegetable matter, confectionery pastes or confections, and substances exhaling a bad odor; and every letter upon the envelope of which, or postal card upon which, indecent, lewd, obscene, or lascivious delineations, epithets, terms, or language may be written or printed, and all matter concerning lotteries, so-called gift concerts, or other similar enterprises offering prizes, or concerning schemes devised and intended to defraud the public, or for the purpose of obtaining money under false pretenses.