(ii) Please Do Not Open Until Christmas, Merry Christmas, Mom & Dad, Happy Birthday, Mother, With Best Wishes, John Doe, and similar inscriptions.

(iii) Instructions and directions for the use of an article in the package.

EXAMPLE: Directions for use of prescription medicine.

(iv) Manuscript dedication or inscription not in the nature of personal correspondence.

(v) Marks to call attention to any word or passage in text.

(vi) Corrections of typographical errors in:

(a) Circulars or printed matter. Handwritten or typewritten changes or additions in the body of a circular are limited to corrections of actual typographical errors.

(b) Proof sheets. Corrections in proof sheets include corrections of typographical and other errors, alterations of text, insertion of new text, marginal instructions to the printer, and rewrites of part if necessary for correction. Corrections should be on margins or attached to the manuscript. Do not enclose manuscript of another article.

(vii) Handstamped imprints, except when the added matter is in itself personal or converts the original matter to a personal communication. In the latter case, however, the mailing at one time at the post office window or other depository designated by the postmaster of not less than 20 identical, unsealed copies will be sufficient evidence to establish that the imprint is impersonal.

(viii) Any printed matter mailable as third class.

(2) An invoice or similar document for descriptive purposes only, may be enclosed or placed in an envelope (marked "Invoice Enclosed" attached to the outside, showing any or all of the following: (i) Names and addresses of sender and addressee.

(ii) Names and quantities of articles enclosed.

(iii) Description of articles enclosed, including price, tax, style, stock number, size, and quality; and if defective, nature of defect.

(iv) Order or file number, date of order, date and manner of shipment, shipping weight, and postage paid.

(b) Special fourth-class and library rate-(1) Books. The following may be enclosed with books:

(i) Incidental announcements of books, appearing in book pages or as loose enclosures. This includes an addressed envelope or post card, a single order form, and a printed circular, each of which must relate exclusively to books. (ii) An invoice (see § 135.5(b) (2) of this chapter).

(2) Sound recordings. The following may be enclosed with sound recordings mailed at the rates in § 135.1(c):

(i) Incidental announcements of sound recordings appearing on title labels, on protective sleeves, on the carton or wrapper, or in form of loose enclosures.

(ii) An invoice. (See § 135.5 (b) (2).)

(3) All other items listed in § 135.2(a) (4) and (5). Enclosures are not permitted except as provided in § 135.5 (b) (2).

[29 F.R. 8008, June 24, 1964, as amended at 30 F.R. 7396, June 4, 1965. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 135.7 Sealing.

Fourth-class mail must be wrapped or packaged so that it can be easily examined. Mailing of sealed parcels at the fourth-class rate of postage is deemed to be the consent of the sender to postal inspection of the contents. Patrons who desire to assure that their parcels will not be opened for postal inspection, should, in addition to paying the first-class rate of postage, plainly

(a) Description. Airmail is mail carried by air and by the fastest connecting surface carriers, and given the most expeditious handling in dispatch and delivery. Airmail is not given special delivery to the addressee unless a special delivery fee is paid in addition to the airmail postage.

(b) Articles acceptable. Mail of all classes, except that which may be damaged by low temperatures or high altitudes, is accepted for airmail. § 125.8 of this chapter.)

(c) Application of rates.

(See

(1) Postage

is charged on airmail (except postal and post cards) according to weight at the rates in § 136.1 regardless of the class of mail, except that when first-class mail is enclosed in an article weighing more than 8 ounces, the rate may not in any instance be less than 8 cents for each ounce not in excess of 8 ounces plus 5 cents for each ounce or fraction of an ounce over 8 ounces.

(2) Air post cards must conform to the size and conditions prescribed for post cards. (See § 131.2(a) (7) of this chapter.)

(3) Each portion of a double air post card must be prepaid at the air card rate when originally mailed, except when the reply portion is prepared as a business reply air card. See 131.2(c) of this chapter for information regarding business reply mail.

(4) Air parcel post articles addressed to military post offices overseas (Army, Air Force, and Fleet post offices, and Naval vessels) require postage at the airmail zone rate applicable between the mailing post office and the post office shown in the address. See the exception in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph for first-class mail.

(5) Eighth zone airmail rates.

(i) The eighth zone airmail rates apply to articles mailed between:

(a) The United States and
(1) Its possessions,

(2) The Canal Zone, and

(3) The islands of the Trust Territory of the Pacific;

(b) The possessions of the United States and

(1) The Canal Zone, and

(2) The islands of the Trust Territory of the Pacific; and

(c) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and

(1) The possessions of the United States,

(2) The Canal Zone, and

(3) The islands of the Trust Territory of the Pacific.

(ii) The airmail rates according to zone apply to articles mailed between: (a) The United States and

(1) The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and

(2) The Virgin Islands, and

(b) Between the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. [26 F.R. 11553, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 1472, Feb. 15, 1963; 31 F.R. 5963, Apr. 19, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 136.3 Weight and size limits.

(a) Weight. Airmail may weigh up to 70 pounds. See Part 127 of this chapter for the exception to this limit for articles addressed to certain APO's and NPO's.

(b) Size. Airmail is limited to 100 inches in combined length and girth. See Part 127 of this chapter for the exception to this limit for articles addressed to certain APO's and NPO's and § 135.3 (b) of this chapter for instructions on how to measure parcels.

[26 F.R. 11553, Dec. 6, 1961. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 136.4 Payment of postage.

Postage on airmail may be paid by adhesive postage stamps, stamped cards or envelopes, meter stamps, or permit imprints.

[26 F.R. 11553, Dec. 6, 1961. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 136.5 Additions and enclosures.

There are no special restrictions with respect to written additions and enclosures in airmail. See § 136.2(c) (1) regarding first class mail. An airmail parcel weighing over 8 ounces, later forwarded or returned from place of original address by surface mail would be subject to the restrictions as to additions and enclosures according to the class of mail involved.

[26 F.R. 11553, Dec. 6, 1961. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 136.6 Marking, sealing, and depositing.

(a) Place the word "Airmail" prominently on the address side of flat mail preferably below the stamps and above the address, and on the top, bottom, and sides of parcels. Adhesive Label 19, available without charge at the local post office, may be used. The return address of the sender must be shown on

the address side of each air parcel mailed at zone rates of postage.

(b) Airmal may be sealed or left unsealed without affecting the air rate.

(c) Deposit airmail weighing 8 ounces or less at the post office or in a special airmail letter box or drop, if available, to insure fastest dispatch, or in any collection box. Airmail weighing over 8 ounces must be deposited at the post office, branch, or station, or handed to a rural or star route carrier.

(d) Use envelopes printed with special airmail design for airmail only. Their use for mail not intended for air transmission is not permissible.

[26 F.R. 11553. Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 28 F.R. 1472, Feb. 15, 1963. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 137 issued under R.S. 161, as amended; sec. 1303 (d), 40 Stat. 1141, as amended, sec. 1, 62 Stat. 783; 2 U.S.C. 277, 5 U.S.C. 22, 18 U.S.C. 1719, 39 U.S.C. 501, 2303, 2503, 2510, 4151-4156, 4158-4168.

§ 137.1 Members of Congress.

(a) Collection of postage. Postage on mail sent under the franking privilege by the Vice President, Members and Members-elect of Congress, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, the Secretary of The Senate, Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, and the Clerk of the House of Representatives is paid annually by a lump sum to the Post Office Department.

(b) Description. Official mail of Members of Congress bearing written signature or a printed facsimile signature instead of a postage stamp is sent Mail without prepayment of postage. accepted under frank, and the officials authorized to use franked mail, are shown in paragraph (c) of this section.