1877 195,148,116 1883 315,315,725 1889 406,252,198 The administration are given power to delay the despatch or transmission of packets of ordinary printed matter should circumstances render that course desirable. In 1827 a special rate of 5 centimes for those delivered locally, and 10 centimes for others, was conceded to certain formal printed documents, such as notifications of births, marriages, or deaths. In 1856, to these were added prospectuses, catalogues, prices current, and _cartes de visite_. These documents must be sent under band or in open envelopes. The special rates on these classes of packets have been continued. Under an order of the 26th November 1909 the rate for _cartes de visite_ was made 2 centimes when sent under band, but formulas of courtesy must not appear on the cards. _Cartes de visite_ sent in open envelopes are still charged 5 centimes. * * * * * GERMANY In Prussia the order of 1712 did not provide a special rate for ordinary printed matter sent by letter post. A reduced rate of two-thirds that for ordinary merchandise was, however, provided for books and other similar matter,[474] under the name of _Schriften- und Aktentaxe_, when sent by parcel post.[475] In 1821 special rates were prescribed for various classes of printed matter sent under band (_Versendung unter Kreuzband_), viz. books, music, catalogues, prospectuses, prices-current, printed circulars, as follow-- For each ordinary sheet of printed matter or for eight sheets small octavo size 8 pf. For a half sheet 5 pf. " quarter sheet 4 pf. " sheet of music 10 pf. " half sheet " 5 pf.[476] The sheets were to be sent under band, and the name of the sender and the number of sheets were to be written on the outside. The sending of written matter in such packets was forbidden, under penalty of a fine of ten times letter postage on a packet of the same size. In 1824 the rate for matter sent under band (printed lottery winning lists, etc., were now included) was made a quarter letter rate, and, like other rates, was made chargeable according to direct distance of transmission. When, in 1850,[477] the rates for letters were revised and reduced, the rate for matter sent under band was continued at a quarter letter rate, and became (for 1 loth Zollgewicht = 1-1/8 loth Prussian)-- Up to 10 German miles 1/4 sgr. 10 to 20 " 1/2 sgr. Over 20 " 3/4 sgr. With the exception of the name and address of the addressee no writing was permitted on these packets, but by the order of the 29th May 1848 the writing of the name and address of the sender and the date was permitted.