Customer Support Ruling

Attachments to the Covers of Unbound Periodicals Publications
REVISED May 2006

PS-311 (707.3.3.8)

This Customer Support Ruling clarifies what material may be attached to the cover of an unbound Periodicals publication without enclosing the publication in a mailing wrapper.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 707.3.3.8c provides that material composed of advertising, nonadvertising, or a combination of both that normally is allowed within the contents of a Periodicals publication may be attached to the cover or protective cover of the publication, as long as no portion of the publication’s title is obscured and the publication is enclosed in a wrapper.

The publisher of an unbound Periodicals newspaper wanted to attach a small, rectangular piece of advertising material to the front of the publication, without enclosing the publication in a mailing wrapper. However, unlike a permissible sticker under DMM 707.3.3.8a, which would totally adhere to the surface of the cover, the publisher’s planned attachment would only partially adhere; one of the edges would be glued to the cover and the other three edges would be loose.

Publishers of unbound publications may include eligible attachments that do not fully adhere to the covers of their publications (i.e., one or more of the edges are loose) and not enclose the mailed copies in wrappers, under the following conditions:

• The publication title is not obscured.

• The attachment is on an inside fold of the publication and is not visible when folded.

• The publication is prepared so that it remains folded throughout postal processing with the attachment not visible.

(Signed)
Sherry Suggs
Manager
Mailing Standards
United States Postal Service
Washington DC 20260-3436