New Mailing Standards for Wallet-Style Booklets
Posted by Greg Kathol on Wed, Oct 07, 2009
There are new standards for simple spine wallet-style booklets as announced by the USPS. A wallet-style booklet is described as being 4" high and between 5" and 8" long and mailed as automation and machinable letters. It's also important to note that a booklet must be bound in some why; meaning it is saddle stitched, glued or bound in a method that creates a uniformly thick permanent piece.
If you are mailing these types of mail pieces at discounted rates, you'll need to place tabs (1.5" tabs for mail pieces under a 2 oz. and 2" tabs for 2 oz. to 2.5 oz. mail pieces) on the leading and training edges. There are also placement and weight requirements for the tabs. Please consult your lettershop on the specific booklet design and sealing standards.
Other sealing options include tabbing the booklet on three sides or sealing it with a glue line. All tabs must be non-perforated and meet the Postal Services minimum material requirements for tabs. For more specific information on this revision, check the Domestic Mail Manual, exhibit 201.3.15.4 on the postal explorer website at pe.usps.com.
For more info on tabbing other size booklets, see our blog post "Tabs - Holding the World Together"
By Greg Kathol