| Description | Rix explains that the Royal Society have recently dispatched packets of their publications by Parcel Post to scientific societies in France and Germany. These were accompanied by the proper 'Custom declaration note' and a 'dispatch note', which were, in the absence of any regulation to the contrary, completed in blue or red crayon pencil; Rix incloses duplicate examples [not included].
The authorities at Burlington House Post Office have accepted 104 such parcels, but today have objected to a batch of 60 parcels on the grounds that the customs and dispatch notes should be written in ink. However, the officials were unable to point to any specific regulations of the Post Office which make this a requirement. The Society have a further 22 parcels for the Post Office, and in order to avoid such difficulties, inconvenience, risks of ink in the packing room, and the greater rapidity with which permanent pencil can be used, they ask whether their regulations are prohibitive of permanent crayon-pencil being used for such notes. |