Beginner's - ArtTrader Magazine

Art TRADER
m a g a z i n e
Addressing “Address”-ing
Every country has specific rules regarding how mail is to be addressed, but those rules don’t always make sense
and they aren’t always obvious, so do your homework. Even though my own handwriting is particularly legible,
for example, I’ve had my envelopes “returned to sender” when I didn’t scribe the recipient’s address using ALL
CAPS. Hmph! Another time, just one wrong zip code digit was all it took to turn my mail around and land it back
on my doorstep, instead of my swap host’s.
A comprehensive listing of domestic and international mail regulations and address formats is beyond the scope
of this article, so let me instead suggest that you simply ask your swap host or trade partner all address formatting
questions before shipping. Foresight will prevent your envelopes from U-turning en route; a circumstance that
might render you ineligible to complete your swap. And that’s an outcome nobody wants.
Cost
Postage is generally determined by a rate-per-weight formula. At the time of this writing, for example, US Postal
Service pricing for First Class letter mail is 42 cents (rate) per ounce (weight).
Be aware, however, that packaging dimensions add a layer of confusing complexity to pricing formulas and MAY
increase postage costs. For instance, in the US, First Class letter mail is defined as:
• Rectangular
• At least 3.5 inches high x 5 inches long x .007 inches thick
• No more than 6 1/8 inches high x 11.5 inches long x 1/4 inch thick
• Maximum weight is 3.5 ounces
• Letters considered non-machinable are subject to surcharge
• Length is the dimension parallel to the address
Meaning that, in the US:
• If your envelope is less than 5 inches long, even though that’s smaller than a standard size envelope, it will
cost more to send than a standard size envelope
• Hand-cancelled mail can cost more to send than machine processed mail
• No matter what the perimeter dimensions, envelopes thicker than 1/4 inch are considered “packages” and not
“letters,” and will require extra postage
And so on.
As you can see, determining correct postage can be tricky. So consult your local postal service, or go online,
for specifics. Or even better, hand-deliver your envelopes to a post office near you, where a knowledgeable
employee can determine the correct postage for you, without any possibility of error.
-53-