Sample of goods (mailing form)
Samples were a certain form of mailing. They could contain: Samples, specimens, small quantities of goods of little value, individual keys, cut fresh flowers, tubes of serum, pathological, natural history and other objects which, according to their packaging, shape and other properties, were suitable for mailing ; approved for domestic and international traffic. Samples of goods were already approved as a special shipment item for transport for reduced fees in many old German states . The rules of what samples are changed frequently.
Samples for reduced postage were first introduced in 1808 in the Kingdom of Westphalia , in Bavaria in 1810, Baden 1812, Württemberg 1814, Saxony 1822, Braunschweig 1832 in the form that the sample, externally recognizable as a sample, could be attached to a letter. The same procedure applied in Prussia from January 1, 1825. The postal association joined in and in 1850 raised the simple postage fee for 2 lots each , maximum weight 16 lots. Prussia adopted this tariff regulation in 1852.
On January 1, 1864, samples of goods were introduced into Prussia as a special type of shipment (without associated letter)., Maximum weight 10 lots, at 4 pfennigs each 2 1 ⁄ 2 lot, from 1871 1 ⁄ 3 silver groschen (Sgr.) Per 40 g at most 2 Sgr . 1872 1 ⁄ 3 Sgr. 50 g each. etc. There were many regulations on content and visibility etc. Approved since January 1st, 1875 under the Universal Postal Union treaties. The relevant provisions have been changed repeatedly.
As of April 1, 1993, consignments of goods will also be offered as standard, compact, large and maxi in alignment with the new letter formats. In 1995 the Bundespost was privatized.
literature
- Manual dictionary of the postal system , 2nd edition from 1953, pp. 771–772.