POSTMASTER SAYS NO TO CHRISTMAS CARDS WITH MICA OR GLASS PASTED ON ENVELOPES
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On December 22, 1924, The Evening Star reports "Christmas cards which attempt to vividly depict snow and ice by having small pieces of mica or glass pasted thereon will never reach their destination."
This dire warning comes from Postmaster William M. Mooney.
The reason...the small chips of mica/glass come off the cards and get imbedded in the fingers of postal clerks and result in blood poisoning.
All such cards are now being sent to the Dead Letter Office*.
*Dead Letter Office is where undelivered mail is processed within the postal system. Dead letters cannot be delivered to the addressee or returned to the sender.
JFK+50 NOTE
If the small pieces of mica or glass were placed inside the envelope, then the Post Office would deliver it to the addressee.
SOURCE
"Tinseled Postals Barred Unless in Sealed Envelopes," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 22, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
