Christmas: Send Cards and letters to friends, IRS, etc for 2¢

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Bob Hurt

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Dec 11, 2006, 3:39:18 PM12/11/06

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Christmas: Send Cards (and other letters) for 2¢ per ½ ounce.

A month or so ago I sent an announcement about the method by which you can send mail for 2¢ per half-ounce. I send it again with a couple of additions.

United States Statutes at Large entitle us to send First-Class, Non-Domestic drop letters for 2¢ per half ounce. Because normal first-class mail costs 39¢ per half-ounce, you need to remind the US Postal Service of the applicable statutes by printing them on the envelope:

In a box in black ink beneath the stamp area of envelope:

12 Statutes-at-Large Chapter 71 Section 23
81 Statutes-at-Large 613

Red block letters “First Class Mail, Non-Domestic” upper center of envelope.
I address the letter to the recipient by spelling out the state name as you would a country name, and putting the zip code, prefaced by the word “Near” on the next line down. Consider the theory behind this.

Using a two-letter acronym for the state, and using the naked zip code without “Near” means you send it domestically inside the federal, corporate United States where postage costs 39¢ per half ounce.
By contrast, “Near” means “I’m not sending it to a domestic federal address, but to a non-domestic state address near (overlaying) that federal zip code area.”

I put the same recipient address in the RETURN address area at the upper left corner of the envelope. Obviously, if the Postal Service folks decide wrongly to return the letter for want of postage, they will instead send it to the intended recipient.

I have attached three documents to assist you during this heavy-mail season:

2-cent letter to Bob – Address the letter in the TO and RETURN areas precisely as shown (I have shown my address as an example. You may send me mail if you like).
Labels 8160 Drop Letter 2 cents – a page of Avery 8160 labels containing the statute notification – 60 per sheet
Labels 8160 First Class Mail Non Domestic – a page of Avery 8160 labels containing the red block letters “First Class Mail, Non-Domestic” – 30 per sheet

I have purchased from Staples or Office Depot packs of 10 sheets of Avery 8160 label stock with 10 rows of 3 labels = 30 labels each. I have purchased large sheets of two-cent stamps and printed out the label sheets for my Christmas Cards and other letters.

By the way, so far all 2¢ letters I have sent have reached their intended destinations.

Truly, sincerely, and without prejudice,