Revised by the New York Post Office.

There are four classes of mail matter:

First-Class Matter - All written matter, such as letters, postal cards. "post cards" and all matter in writing, whether pen-written or typewritten, and all matter sealed from inspection, constitutes "First-class Matter," and is mailable at two cents an ounce, or fraction thereof. Letters, etc., may be sent to Canada, Cuba, the "Canal Zone" at Panama, Guam, Tutuila (Samoa), Shanghai (China), Mexico, Porto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philippines. Postal cards are one cent each. Local or "drop" letters are two cents an ounce or fraction thereof, when mailed at letter carrier offices, or at offices where Rural Delivery Service has been established, addressed to patrons thereof who may be served by rural carriers, and one cent for each ounce or fraction thereof at offices where free delivery by carrier is not established or at rural-delivery offices when addressed to patrons who cannot be served by the carriers.

Note - There is no "drop" rate on third or fourth-class matter: the postage on which is uniform whether addressed for local delivery or transmission in the mails.

The following articles are included in first-class matter: Assessment notices, autograph albums, blank books, with written entries, bank checks, blank forms filled out in writing, receipts, visiting cards bearing written name, communications entirely in print with the exception of name of sender, diplomas, drawings or plans containing written words, letters or figures, envelopes bearing written addresses, imitations or reproductions of hand or typewritten matter not mailed at the postoffice in a minimum number of twenty perfectly identical copies to separate addresses, legal and other blanks, old letters sent singly or in bulk, all sealed matter, stenographic or shorthand notes, and unsealed written communications.

Second -Class Matter - This division includes newspapers and other periodicals, which are issued as often as four times a year. The rate of postage on second-class matter when sent by the publisher thereof and from the office of publication to subscribers or as sample copies, or when sent from a news agency to actual subscribers or to other news agents for sale, is one cent a pound or fraction thereof, except when deposited in a letter carrier office for delivery by letter carriers, or mailed free within the county of publication. Publishers to obtain this rate must have their periodicals entered at their local post-office.

Third-Class Matter - Embraces all printed matter generally. The rate of postage is one cent for each two ounces or fractional part thereof sent to a single address, to be fully prepaid by ordinary postage stamps affixed thereto. The following named articles are among those subject to third-class rate of postage: Almanacs, printed architectural designs, blueprints, books (printed), bulbs, calendars printed on paper, cards printed on paper, Christmas cards, catalogues, check and receipt books (blank), circulars, press clippings, school copy books, printed engravings, samples of grain, imitation of hand or typewritten matter when mailed at the postoffice window in a minimum number of twenty identical copies separately addressed, printed labels, legal blanks, lithographs, maps, music books, photographs, plants, printed tags, roots, seeds, sheet music.

Fourth - Class Matter - Embraces merchandise, samples, and in general all articles not included in the first, second or third class. The rate of postage is one cent an ounce or fraction thereof sent to a single address, to be prepaid by ordinary stamps affixed. The following are among articles included in fourth-class matter : Albums, photograph and autograph (blank), artificial flowers, billheads, blank books, blotters, botanical specimens, celluloid calendars, blank cards, celluloid, dried fruit, dried plants, electrotypes, geological specimens, maps printed on cloth, merchandise samples, merchandise sealed, metals, napkins, oil paintings, samples of cloth, samples of flour, soap wrappers, stationery.

Prohibited Articles

Many articles are excluded from the foreign mails, the regulations being different in the case of each country. Inquiries should be made of the postmaster. Many articles are also excluded from domestic mails when they are liable to destroy, efface, or injure the contents of the mail bags or the persons of those engaged in the postal service. When in doubt consult your postmaster.

Withdrawal Of Letters From The Mail

It is not generally known that a letter can be withdrawn from the mail. For good and sufficient reasons and satisfactory identification a postmaster may telegraph to a postmaster in another city, asking him to withdraw the letter, a description of which is telegraphed. Special care is then given in assorting letters, and when the letter is found it is returned to the postmaster of the city where it was mailed, who delivers it to the person mailing it on presentation of proper proof of ownership. All expenses must be borne by the person withdrawing a letter from the mail. A deposit of $5 must be left with the postmaster when the application is made. It is also possible to withdraw a for-

* Figures cover both eign letter from the mail, and in that case the deposit is $25. Any unexpended balance is, of course, returned.