Towns > Glasgow > 1828-1912 - Post-Office annual Glasgow directory > 1876-1877

20
POST OFFICE EEGULATIONS.
G. No Book-packet may be above 5 lbs., nor above
1 ft. C in. in length, 9 in. in width, or 6 in. in depth, un-
less it be sent to or from one of the Government Offices.
7. When, owing to a great and unutual influx of
letters, books, &c., the transmission or delivery of the
letters would be delayed if the whole mail were dealt
with without distinction, book-packets may be kept
back till the next despatch, or delivery.
(6.) Abuse of the Halfpenny Booh Post.
It seems to be but imperfectly understood, that
there is no legal way of sending a written letter
through the post for a postage of a halfpenny, except
by means of a post card.
A notion appears to prevail that, because a post
card, which is open to inspection, may have a letter
written upon it, any card whatever, and even any
piece of paper, if only it be placed in an open wrapper,
may be sent through the post with a letter written
upon it for a postage of a halfpenny.
It seems necessary, therefore, to explain for the
guidance of the public —
1. That the letter rate of postage must be prepaid
for any communication of the nature of a letter, not
wholly printed, whether it be placed in a closed
envelope or in an open cover, unless a post card be
used fur the purpose, or unless the letter be a circular
letter according to the definition of a circular contained
in Rule 3, Section 5.
2. That cards having merely a halfpenny adhesive
stamp affixed to them must not bear any communica-
tion of the nature of a letter, unless it be wholly
printed, or unless it he a circular letter.
Large numbers of letters, not being circular letters,
are from time to time found in halfpenny wrappers,
contrary to the express provisions of the book post ;
and, as the officers of the department are instructed
to surcharge all such letters with additional postage,
it will save not only trouble to the Post Office but
annoyance to the public, if care be taken always to
pay letter postage for letters other than circular
letters, unless they be written on post cards.
(7.) Inland Card Post.
1. Post Cards, whether official or private, having
a halfpenny stamp impressed upon them (adhesive
stamps not being accepted in payment of the post-
age), may be transmitted between places in the
United Kingdom with letters written upon the back.
2. The front (or stamped) side is intended for the
address only, in addition to the printed words " Post
Card " and " The address only to be written on this
side." There must be nothing else written, printed,
or otherwise impressed on it, nor must there be any
writing or printing across the stamp. On the reverse
side any communication, whether of the nature of a
letter or otherwise, may be written or printed. Nothing
whatever may be attached ; nor may the card be
folded, cut, or otherwise altered. If any one of these
lules be infringed, the card will be charged Id. on
delivery.
3. When, owing to a great and unusual influx of
letters, books, &c., the transmission or delivery of the
letters would be delayed if the whole mail were dealt
with without distinction. Post Cards may be kept
back until the next despatch or delivery.
4. No card other than one of those issued by the
Government, or a private card impressed with a
halfpenny stamp at the Office of Inland Revenue,
Somerset House, or at the Stamp Offices at Liver-
pool and Newcastle-on-Tyne, will pass under a half-
penny stamp, if it bear on it a written communica-
tion of the nature of a letter.
5. For information as to the conditions under which
private cards are impressed with a halfpenny stamp, ap-
plication raustbemadetothe Office of Inland Eevenue.^
The official " stout " Post Cards are sold at the rate
8d. for 12 cards, or 4d. for 6 cards, the "thin" cards
are sold at the rate of 7d. for 12 cards, or 3jd. for 6
cards. Neither the " stout " nor the " thin " cards arfr
sold singly.
(8.) Foreign Card Post.
Post Cards intended for transmission to foreign
countiies compiised within the General Postal Union
are sold at the rate of 1 ^d. each.
(9.) Articles not allowed to be sent by Post.
1. It is forbidden f o forward by post any indecent
or obscene print, painting, photograph, hlhograph,
engraving, book or card, or any other indecent or
obscene article, or any letter, newspaper, publica-
tion, packet, or card having theteon any words,
marks, or designs of an indecent, obscene, libellous,
or grossly offensive character. Anything posted
coiiitaiy to this prohibition will be stopped and sent
to tha Returned Letter Office.
2. Postmasters are instructed not to receive any
lettter which there is good reason to believe contains
anything likely to injure the contents of the mail
bag, or to do bodily harm to any officer of the Post
Office. If such a packet be posted without the
Postmaster's knowledge, or if at any time before its
despatch he should discover any such packet, he is
directed not to forward it, but to report the case,
with the address of the packet, to the Secretary.
The following are examples of the articles referred
to:—
A glass bottle, or glass in any form ; leeches,
game, fi^h, meat, fruit, or vegetable; bladders or
other vessels containing liquids ; gunpowder, lucifer
matches, or anything which is explosive or liable to
sudden combustion; razors, scissors, needles, forks,
or other sharp instruments are also forbidden, except
when set't in packets of samples to the foreign
countries mentioned in Rule 6, Section 7.
3. According to the regulations of Germany, no
letter exceeding 250 grammes in weight (a little
more than 8^ oz.), can, if containing any other
enclosure than paper, be allowed to circulate by the
post. Any such letters, therefore, forwarded in the
Mail to Germany, will be liable, on their arrival at
the German frontier, to be stopped, and sent to the
Custom House for delivery as freight.
4. The transmission of letters containing gold or
silver money, jewels, or precious articles, or any thing
liable to Customs duties, through the post to any
country of the General Postal Union is forbidden.
The laws of Costa-Rica and Peru also forbid the
transmission by the post within those countries of letters
or other packets containing coin, watches, jewellery,
or other articles of value which are liable to Customs
duties; and any such packets, if forwarded, are liable
to confiscation. Packets containing jewellery or
other articles of value for the Cape of Good Hope,
Canada, Queensland, or Victoria (Australia), are liable
to be detained and not delivered to the addressees
until the Customs duties have been paid.