Postcard Size Pieces Bearing Attachments

REVISED January 2017

PS-020 (201.1.2)

This CSR discusses whether a postcard mailed at the card price may bear an attachment.

To qualify for mailing at the card price, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 201.1.2* states that postcards (i.e., cards not supplied by the USPS), must be rectangular in shape and not less than 0.007 of an inch thick. Other requirements for the minimum and maximum length and height dimensions apply as stated in DMM 201.1.2. Postcards must be of uniform thickness and made of unfolded and uncreased paper or card stock of approximately the same quality and weight of stamped cards. Postcards may be formed of one piece of paper or card stock, or two pieces of paper that are permanently and uniformly bonded together.

Postal standards provide that matter which is in the form of a card, but does not conform to the physical standards for the First-Class Mail card price, may not be mailed at the card price. Such nonconforming matter is subject to postage at the applicable price for matter other than cards (i.e., letters, flats, parcels).

A question was raised about a card that had a photograph held to it under a plastic cover by a laminating process. Cards so prepared do not qualify for mailing at the First-Class Mail card price because they bear attachments, they are not prepared entirely of paper or card stock, and they are not of a uniform thickness. Pieces that do not qualify for the card price are subject to the applicable First-Class Mail or USPS Marketing Mail prices. The USPS Marketing Mail prices may only be claimed if the content of the mailpiece is eligible for the applicable USPS Marketing Mail price as specified in DMM 243*.

*See also DMM 101.6.2.

Sherry Suggs

Manager

Mailing Standards

Headquarters, US Postal Service

Washington, DC 20260-3436