Postal Deadlines, Rates Announced For Holiday Mail

Boston Post Office Department officials today released a notice urging the public to mail their Christmas cards and packages early this year. Special days have been set aside for handling mail to various areas of the country.

Unsealed Christmas cards may be sent by surface transportation for two cents, but it is nevertheless urged that senders pay the regular rate (three cents), as the reduced price will not take care of forwarding or return service.

In order to reach their destination in time, air-mail letters to the West Coast should be posted before December 19, to the Middle West and South before December 21, and to New England also before December 21.

Deadlines on surface and air parcel post and surface letters are from 12 to 4 days earlier.

Post office officials in Cambridge suggested that students from the East hand in home addresses so that mail and packages can be forwarded lest it pile up here during the Christmas vacation.