Defining Postal Regulations

Sometimes it seems like the postal restrictions and requirements are burdensome (or cumbersome- and often changing), but since we do so much mailing of various sizes of mail, it's good too know what is expected of us, and how to facilitate the safe/timely delivery of our wonderful mail art.

I just paid $3.50 to bail out a brown Kraft envelope with art in it, being held behind the postal counter.  My friend the postmistress was surprised that the envelope, which only had one 55-cent First Class Stamp on it, had arrived and wasn't returned to sender with the rubber stamped message "Suspicious Mail."

This is what the pertinent US Postal sticker/label above says:

ATTENTION MAILING CUSTOMER
We regret to inform you that your mail was not collected or is being returned to you due to heightened security concerns.
The following must be presented by the customer to a retail service associate at a Post Office location for shipment:

• Any mailpiece over one-half inch thick that uses POSTAGE STAMPS
• Any mailpiece that weighs more than 10 oz. and uses POSTAGE STAMPS
• Any mailpiece with a customs declaration form that was not completed and submitted online
• Any mailpiece that requires a customs declaration form and uses POSTAGE STAMPS                                                     DDD2 September 2019

Useful information?
Honi