marked. (See § 146.5(a) of this chapter for postage on mail to be canceled with a special cancellation.) After they are postmarked they may be either dispatched or handed back to the person presenting them. This paragraph (d) does not apply to any arrangements made by the Department under §§ 145.3 and 145.5.

(e) Holding the mail. Postmasters will not hold mail to comply with patron's requests that the mail be postmarked on a particular date, except as provided for under §§ 145.3 and 145.5.

§ 145.5 Inaugural covers.

(a) First flights-(1) Cachets authorized. (i) The Post Office Department recognizes events such as new air service by applying cachets on inaugural covers. Official cachets of distinctive commemorative design are authorized, by publication of a notice in the Postal Bulletin, if notification is received from the carrier at least 20 days before the scheduled date of the new service.

(ii) Cachets are authorized for:

(a) All stop points on a new airmail route.

(b) New stop points on an existing route or on an additional segment.

(c) Events of national aviation interest.

If

(b) Intermediate points. Cachet will be applied to covers dispatched to the actual inaugural flights in each direction. Directional service is not applicable to events of national aviation interest. service is inaugurated in only one direction, cachet will not be used when service is established in the other direction at a later date.

(3) Preparation of covers. (i) Covers must be individually addressed to a post office.

(11) Covers must bear postage at the airmail letter rate.

(iii) Each envelope should contain a uniform enclosure of the approximate weight of a postal card to assure a good impression.

(iv) A space should be provided on the address side, at least 4 inches to the left of the right end of the envelope and 11⁄2 inches to the left of the innermost stamp to permit a clear impression of the postmark.

(v) A clear space 21⁄2 by 21⁄2 inches must appear to the left of the postmark and address area for application of the cachet. If this clear space is not provided, the cachet will not be applied.

(4) Submission of covers. (i) Send the items for inaugural cachets under cover to the postmaster or superintendent, airport mail facility, at the point where service is to be inaugurated. Envelope enclosing items for cachet should bear endorsement "First Flight Covers or Philatelic Mail."

(ii) Include a letter requesting the holding of the covers for the inaugural service and stating the cachet desired.

(iii) Indicate directional service desired, if applicable. (See subparagraph (5)(i) of this paragraph.)

(5) Compliance with collectors requests (i) Directional covers.

Requests

of collectors for dispatch in a particular direction will be complied with to the greatest extent practicable. No directional service is available for events of national aviation interest.

(ii) Point-to-point covers. Requests of collectors for point-to-point covers will not be observed. Request that a dispatching office send one each of several covers to each stop point will not be honored.

(iii) Direction not specified. In the absence of specific requests, covers will be dispatched on the actual first flight, regardless of direction.

(iv) Incomplete instructions. If the collector's request is not clear, covers will be dispatched in accordance with the judgment of the dispatching office.

(v) Color of ink. Requests for the use of a color of ink other than that authorized by the Post Office Department can not be complied with. The authorized color of ink will be used in applying the cachet to all covers.

(vi) Position of cachet. Cachets will be applied legibly and neatly to left portion of address side of cover. Cachets will not be applied to:

(a) Covers for immediate return to sender; covers must receive dispatch on first flight.

(b) Covers bearing a previous official or unofficial cachet.

(c) Covers lacking sufficient clear space for application of cachet without obscuring the address.

(d) Double postal or post cards intended for return reply purposes.

(e) Covers received after first flight. (f) Covers on which postage is not fully prepaid.

(g) Anything other than an inaugural cover.

(vii) Backstamping. All inaugural covers will be backstamped at a designated post office and forwarded to address destination. Requests for additional or special backstamping will not be honored.

(b) First highway post office trips(1) Announcement of service. The Post Office Department recognizes events such as new HPO service by applying special postmarks to inaugural covers. A notice that new service will be established is published in the Postal Bulletin when the decision to establish service is made, far enough in advance of the beginning date so that the notice will reach most subscribers in time to permit them to send covers for dispatch on first trips.

(2) Special postmark. No official cachets are applied to first-trip covers, but when time permits procuring distinctive first-trip postmarking stamps for each trip, impressions of them are used to postmark all covers carried on the first trips.

(3) Preparing covers. Prepare covers as described in paragraph (a) (3) of this section except postage will be at the firstclass rate.

(4) Submitting covers. Patrons should send first-trip covers to the postmaster at the initial terminal of the trip on which the covers are to be carried, with a letter or note instructing the postmaster to dispatch covers on the desired trip.

(5) Complying with collectors' requests. (i) All covers received at the initial post office or by the crew en route will be carried to the end of the run and dispatched to addressees from that point. Requests for different dispatch will not be honored. No backstamps will be applied to first-trip HPO covers.

(ii) The first-trip stamp is evidence that the cover was carried on the trip indicated.

§ 145.6 Stamp exhibits.

(a) Loan exhibits. The Post Office Department has a set of valuable stamp

exhibit frames which are available for display at stamp exhibitions and conventions. These are sent upon request to national and international exhibits as well as to the conventions of the larger stamp societies. Requests should be addressed to the Director, Division of Philately, Post Office Department, Washington, D.C. 20260.

(b) Philatelic exhibit. The Office of the Special Assistant to the Postmaster General maintains a comprehensive exhibit of U.S. postage stamps, containing die proofs of all domestic stamps since 1847. There are also approximately 40,000 stamps of other countries in this exhibit, from every postal administration in the world. Equipment used in the production of postage stamps, such as a plate and transfer roll, is shown to illustrate methods of manufacture. Philatelic publications are on file for the benefit of students and collectors.

Special canceling machine die hubs may be authorized for use in place of the regular die hubs at designated post offices. When authorized, the special die hubs are placed on canceling machines through which a large volume of letter mail is canceled.

[26 F.R. 11569, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 30 F.R. 6436, May 8, 1965. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 146.2 How sponsors obtain special cancellations.

(a) Requirements for use-(1) When. (i) Permission for use of special cancellations is granted for advertising purposes in the following cases only:

(a) Where the event to be advertised is for some national purpose for which Congress has made an appropriation; or (b) Where the event to be advertised is of general public interest and importance, to endure for a definite period of time, and is not to be conducted for private gain or profit.

(ii) Special cancellations are not authorized for:

(a) Events of interest primarily to a particular local group.

(b) Fraternal, political, religious, commercial, or trade organizations.

in adapting canceling machines for its use or for installing the hub. The cost of a die hub is usually $55 to $65. The organization or persons assuming the cost of manufacturing the die hub are billed by the manufacturer.

(c) Campaigns or events promoting the sale or use of private products or services.

(d) Idea or slogan promotion not directly connected with an event of general public interest and importance.

(b) Wording. The space available for the wording is shown in the illustration below. The wording must be limited to 3 lines of not more than 20 letters, numbers, or spaces each, so that the wording may be in type large enough to be legible. The wording must relate direct to the event. Illustrations or designs should

(e) Events which occur during a period when all canceling machines in the post office have already been scheduled for the use of other special cancellation die hubs.

(2) Where. The cancellation may be used only in a first- or second-class post office.

(3) Period of time. The special cancellation may not be used longer than 6 months, plus the duration of the event.

NEW

(4) Cost. The sponsor must pay the cost of manufacturing the special cancellation die hub and any costs incurred

N. Y

ORK

U.S. CUSTOMS 175th ANNIVERSARY 1789-1964

not be used because of the limited space available on the die hub.

(c) Application(1) Where to apply. If the event to be advertised meets the conditions in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, submit the application in writing to the postmaster at the post office where the cancellation die hub is to be used, so that the postmaster can furnish the Department certain necessary information.

(2) When to apply. The application should be submitted to the postmaster at least 2 months before the date the cancellation die hub is to be placed in operation.

(3) Information needed. The application must provide the following information:

(1) Complete description and schedule of the event to be advertised, including evidence that it is not being conducted for private profit.

(ii) Wording of the proposed cancellation.

(iii) Name of the post office where the cancellation is to be used.

(iv) Period of use desired.

(v) Number of die hubs desired. (vi) Name and address of the sponsor who will be billed for the cost.

machine that is to use the special cancellation die and the name of the manufacturer and model of the canceling machine on which the special die hub will be used, and must specify whether the machine is new or old (square or round type ring die). If the canceling machine is a Model Flier, M, or G, the postmaster must state the correct die hub part number from the Operating Instruction Book (1207 or 1207-G for Flier and M Machines, and 218 or 218-A for G Machines). No die hub part number is required for Models D, K, H.D.2, and Mark II. The postmaster must also state the effect the approval would have on the use of special cancellations already approved for his office.

(e) Authorization. The sponsor will be informed through the postmaster of the approval or denial of the application. If the application is approved, the Department will arrange for the manufacture of the die hub, and instruct the postmaster as to its use.

[26 F.R. 11569, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 30 F.R. 6436, May 8, 1965; 31 F.R. 11101, Aug. 20, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

(a) After use. Sponsors may not obtain from postmasters die hubs that have been used. A die hub may not be transferred to another post office. Hubs not retained by the postmaster for future use shall be sent by him to the Procurement Parts Unit, Mail Equipment Shops, 2135 Fifth Street NE., Washington, D.C. 20260 as soon as the period of use is completed.

(b) Unserviceable die hubs. (1) Replacement parts for a die hub retained for use during an event which recurs each year may be requisitioned from the Procurement Parts Unit, Mail Equipment Shops, if the die hub can be repaired by the postmaster. Die hubs that cannot be repaired by the postmaster should be sent to the Procurement Parts Unit, Mail Equipment Shops, 2135 Fifth Street NE., Washington, D.C., 20260, together with a memorandum requesting their disposal. No facilities are available at the Shops for the repair of these die hubs.

(2) When the special cancellation die hub must be replaced, the postmaster will immediately notify the local sponsor so that the sponsor may, if he desires,

make application for a replacement through the local postmaster.

[26 F.R. 11570, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 30 F.R. 6436, May 8, 1965; 31 F.R. 11102, Aug. 20, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966]

§ 146.4 Revocation.

Authorization to use any special cancellation die hub may be curtailed or revoked when necessary to use special postmarking dies for Government purposes.

[26 F.R. 11570, Dec. 6, 1961. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 146.5

Mail submitted for special cancellations.

(a) Postage. Mailers requesting that their mail be canceled with a special cancellation must affix first-class postage to the mail. The mail must bear a complete address. Stamps issued by foreign countries must not be placed on the mail.

(b) Holding the mail. Postmasters will not hold mail to comply with requests of patrons that the mail be postmarked with the special cancellation on a particular date.

(a) Prepayment required. Postage on all mail must be fully prepaid at the time of mailing, with the following exceptions:

(1) Business reply mail, see § 131.2(c) of this chapter.

(2) Federal Government and free mail, see Part 137 of this chapter.

(3) Certain mail for the blind, see Part 138 of this chapter.

(4) Mail sent by members of the Armed Forces, see § 131.5 of this chapter.

(5) Letters and printed matter carried or delivered by vessels not regularly employed in carrying mail, see § 131.6 of this chapter.

(6) Keys and identification devices returned to owners, see § 134.1 of this chapter.

(b) Insufficient prepayment. (1) Mail of any class, including that for which special services is indicated (except registered mail-see § 161.3 (a) of this chapter) received at either the office of mailing or the office of address without any postage or without sufficient postage will be:

(i) Marked to show the total deficiency of postage and fees.

(ii) Dispatched promptly to the addressee by means of the regular or special service indicated.

(iii) Delivered to addressee on payment of the charges marked on the mail. As an exception, when quantity mailings of 10 or more pieces are received at the office of mailing without any postage or without sufficient postage, the mailer will be notified, without charge, preferably by telephone, in order that the postage charges may be adjusted before the mail is dispatched.

(2) When the addressee refuses to pay the deficient postage, and when the mail is undeliverable for any other reason, it shall be handled as follows:

(i) First-class mail, including airmail, bearing a return address shall be returned to the sender and delivered on payment by him of the deficient postage.

(ii) Mail other than first class bearing a return address will be returned to the sender and delivered on payment by him of the total of the deficient postage, the forwarding postage, if any and the return postage.

(iii) All mail that does not bear a return address will be disposed of in accordance with § 158.5 of this chapter.

(c) Postage on mail insufficiently prepaid. Postage stamps stuck to mail are canceled when the mail is first received in the post office. Postage stamps or meter stamps originally affixed to insufficiently prepaid mail will, when it is again presented for mailing, be accepted in payment of postage to the amount of their face value.

[26 F.R. 11570, Dec. 6, 1961, as amended at 27 F.R. 2687, Mar. 22, 1962; 30 F.R. 6436, May 8, 1965; 31 F.R. 11102, Aug. 20, 1966. Redesignated at 31 F.R. 15350, Dec. 8, 1966] § 147.2

Refunds.

(a) Conditions that justify refund. (1) When postage or special service fees have been paid on mail for which no

service is rendered, or collected in excess of the lawful rate, a refund may be made.

(2) The Postal Service is considered to be at fault and "no service is rendered" in cases involving returned articles improperly accepted in both domestic and international services because of excess size or weight.

(3) Mailers who customarily weigh and rate their mail are expected to be familiar with basic requirements and the Postal Service is not considered to be at fault when these mailers are required to withdraw articles from the mail prior to dispatch.

(4) See paragraphs (c) (2) and (f) of this section for special provisions for refunding the postage value of unused meter stamps.

(b) Application. Submit an application on Form 3533 (Application and Voucher for Refund of Postage and Fees), in duplicate, to the postmaster together with the envelope or wrapper, or the portion thereof having names and addresses of sender and addressee, canceled postage and postal markings, or other evidence of payment of the amount of postage and fees for which refund is desired.

(c) Amount of refund allowable. (1) Refund of 100 percent will be made: (i) When the Postal Service is at fault.

(ii) For the excess when postage or fees have been overpaid the lawful rate. (iii) When service to the country of destination has been suspended.

(iv) When postage is fire-scarred while in the custody of the Postal Service, including fire in letter box, and the mail is returned to sender without service.

(v) When special-delivery stamps are erroneously used in payment of postage, and the mail is returned to the sender without service.

(vi) When fees are paid for special delivery, special handling and certified mail, and the article fails to receive the special service for which the fee has been paid.

(vii) When surcharges are erroneously collected on domestic registered mail or collected in excess of the proper amount, or represented by stamps affixed to matter not actually accepted for registration.

(viii) For fees paid for return receipts or for restricted delivery when the failure