Towns > Edinburgh > 1846-1975 - Post Office Edinburgh and Leith directory > 1887-1888

POSTAL DIRECTORY-CRATES.
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articles. But a packet for a country in the Postal
Uniou may have enclosed in it any of the articles
designated as ' Commercial Papers ' if the rate
applicable to such be paid for the whole packet.
Samples of saleable value must not be sent to
any foreign country, or to any British possession
included in the Postal Union. Samples of eider
down, raw or thread silk, woollen or goats' hair
thread, vanilla, saffron, carmine, or isinglass, are
considered to fall under this rule if they weigh
more than three ounces.
Such articles as scissors, knives, razors, forks,
steel pens, nails, keys, watch machinery, m(;tal
tubing, pieces of metal or ore, inay be sent, pro-
vided that they be packed and guarded so as to
afford complete protection to the contents of the
mail bags and the officers of the Post Office, while
at the same time they may be ensily examined.
Ijiquids, glass, anything of a greasy nature, indigo,
explosives, and powders of all kinds are strictly
prohibited.
The limit of weight is not the same to all
countries. See Table of Colonial and Foreign Post-
ages (p. 725).
INLAND PARCEL POST.
In order that a packet may go liy Parcel Post,
it must be tendered for transmission as a parcel,
and should bear the words 'Parcel Post' clearly
written in the left-hand top corner.
The size allowed for an Inland Postal Parcel is —
Greatest length, . . . . 3 ft. G in.
Greatest length and girth combined, 6 ft. in.
For example: — A parcel measuring 3 ft. 6 in.
in its longest dimension, may measure as much as
2 ft. 6 in. in girth, or, if shorter, may be thicker.
The rates of postage are, —
3d.
4id.
6d.
Not exceeding 1 lb. in weight,
Exceeding 1 lb. and not exceeding 2 lbs.,
2 lbs. „ „ 3 lbs..
And so on at the rate of IJd. for every additional
lb. up to 11 lbs., which is the liriiit of weight.
The postage must, in all cases, he paid in advance,
and the postage stamps affixed by the sender.
In posting a parcel it should be handed over the
counter, and care taken to let the officer who
accepts it know that it is intended for transmission
by Parcel Post. In no case should the parcel be
posted in a letter box.
Compensation will be given for loss or damage
to an amount not exceeding £1; but if paid the
insurance fee of Id., to the extent of £o; and if
paid the insurance fee of 2d., to the extent of £10.
When no insurance fee is paid, but compensation
is desired, the sender should obtain a certificate
of posting from the officer receiviug the parcel.
This certificate must be filled up by the sender,
and date stamped by the officer receiving the
parcel. To insure a parcel, the insurance fee must
be prepaid, and a certificate of posting obtained
on the prescribed form filled up by the officer
receiving the parcel.
General Conditions. — No compensation will be
given in respect of either damage or loss of a
parcel containing anything which, according to
the regulations for the time being, may not be
sent by the Inland Parcel Post, or containing
monej'. Unless an insurance fee is paid, no com-
pensation will be given in respect of either damage
or loss of a parcel containing a watch or jeweller^'.
No compensation will be given in respect of
damage to a parcel containing liquid or semi-
liquid, eggs, or any other article of an exceptionally
fragile nature, soft fruit, or any other article which
cannot with reasonable safety be sent by post, or
a parcel containing any perishable article where
the damage arises from natural decay, and has not
sustained undue delay.
The compensation will in no case exceed the
value of the article lost or damage sustained. The
compensation given in case of damage will be in
proportion to that which would have been given
had the parcel been lost.
The Postmaster- General will, in every case^
either of loss or damage, if ho think fit, re-instate
the contents of a parcel , instead of giving pecuniary
compensation.
If a packet bearing the words 'Parcel Post' is
not posted in accordance with the regulations, it is
treated as a letter or book packet, if it is fully pre-
paid at the rate proper to either, and is otherwise
in accordance with the letter or book post regula-
tions ; but if not fully prepaid at the letter or book
post rate, it will be treated as a parcel, and charged
on delivery with a fine of 3d.
Parcels which bear on the outside any writing
or drawing of an indecent or offensive nature, or
within which any contents of a like nature may
be observed, and parcels containing gunpowder,,
cartridges, lucifer matches, or anything explosive
or liable to sudden combustion, bladders contain-
ing liquid, live animals, grossly offensive or filthy
matter, ; nd anything in a condition likely to
iojure other parcels, or any officer of the Post
Office, are prohibited.
Parcels containing fish, game, meat, eggs, etc.,
or razors, scissors, needles, knives, forks, or other
sharp instruments, are not accepted unless securely
packed so as to guard against risk of injury toi..
other parcels. Liquids or semi-liquids, such as
jellies, pickles, paint, varnish, etc., are not accepted
unless in bottles or cans securely stoppered ; nor
powders, unless so packed that they cannot escape
in transmission. Bottles or glass in any form cau
be accepted only when so packed as to be secure
from breakage.
A customs declaration must be made in the ease
of parcels for the Channel Islands.
To offices where letters may be addressed ' to
be called for,' parcels may also be so addressed ;
such parcels are liable to a demurrage charge of
Id. a day after the first.
COLONIAL AND FOREIGN PARCEL POST.
Dimensions. — The dimensions allowed are : —
For British Colonies, Egypt, and Foreign Posses-
sions generally : Same as for inland parcels.
For Jamaica : Not exceeding 2 feet by 4 feet.
For Belgium, Germany, Holland, Norway,
Siceden, and Switzerland : Not exceeding 2 ft.
in any direction.
Weight. — The weight must not exceed 7 lbs.
The postage must in all cases be paid in advance,
and the postage stamps affixed by the sender.
Each parcel should bear the words ' Parcel
Post' in the upper left-hand corner, the name and
address of the sender and date of posting, and
presented .at the counter as in the case of inland
parcels.
Customs Declaration. — Parcels will be liable to
customs duties and regulations, and the sender of
each parcel will be required to make a customs
declaration furnishing — upon a special form pro-
vided for the purpose — an accurate statement of
the contents and value, the date of posting, and
the sender's signature and place of abode. In the
case of parcels for the Continent of Europe,
the sender will also be required to enter on
the customs declaration form the net weight of
the contents of the parcel. Customs duties will