Towns > Greenock > 1847-1912 - Post-office Greenock directory > 1894-1895

8 APPENDIX.
sending a letter, other than a circular letter, through the post for a
postage of a halfpenny, except by means of a Post Card.
It is sometimes supposed, because a Post Card may have a letter
written or printed upon it, any card whatever, and even any piece of
paper, if only it be open to inspection, may be sent through the post
with a letter upon it for a postage of a halfpenny.
It is well, therefore, to explain for the guidance of the public —
1. That the letter-rate of postage must be prepaid for any communi-
cation of the nature of a letter, whether it be posted without a
cover or in an envelope or in an open cover, unless a Post Card
be used for the purpose, or unless the letter be a circular letter.
2. That cards having merely a halfpenny adhesive stamp affixed
to them must not bear any communication of the nature of a
letter, unless it be 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 or printed on Post Cards.
INLAND PATTERN AND SAMPLE POST.
1. Trade Patterns and Samples of Merchandise may be sent between
places in the United Kingdom at the following rates of postage :—
For a packet weighing not more than 4 oz. , . . . .id.
For a packet weighing more than 40Z. but not more than 6 oz. , i^d.
For a packet weighing more than 6oz. but not more than 8 oz., 2d.
2. No packet may exceed 8 oz. in weight. The limits of dimensions
are 12 in. by 8 in. by 4 in. If either of these conditions be infringed,
the packet will not be forwarded, but will be returned to the sender.
3. If a packet be posted wholly unpaid, it will on delivery be charge-
able with double postage ; a packet posted insufficiently paid will be
chargeable with double the deficient postage.
4. The Post is intended for the transmission of bona-fide Trade
Patterns and Samples of Merchandise, and packets may consist only of
such Patterns and Samples, with or without any document which is
admissible by Book Post. No article sent for sale, or in execution of
an order (however small the quantity), or sent by one private individual
to another, will under any circumstances be admissible ; and if any such
packet be posted prepaid at the pattern-rate only, it will be charged
with double the deficient postage, at the letter rate, together with a fine
of 6d.
5. Patterns and Samples must be sent in wrappers (marked "Pattern
Post "or " Sample Post ") open at the ends or in unfastened envelopes,
and must be so packed that they may, to the satisfaction of the
Postmaster General or his Officers, be easily withdrawn for examination ;
but samples of seeds, flour, drugs, and such-like articles, which cannot
be sent in open wrappers or envelopes, may be enclosed in boxes (in
such a way as to admit of easy examination) or in bags of linen or other
materia], tied at the neck. Closed bags, even if transparent, will not
be allowed. In all cases where the requirements in regard to the mode