Ok, this is a long and inexcusably wordy document, but I spent about 6 hours going through our oldest files at work and found that one book was stopped at the Post Office as “unmailable” due to its sinful topic (psychosexual analysis). Here’s the law they had back in 1940, which prohibited literature about naughty bits AND abortion-by-mail. What?! Anyway, in addition to crossed eyes, papercuts, and a nasal passage full of dust, sometimes I find some interesting things in those old files. (PS. All typos are sic, which means I am still an untaintable grammar nazi). This is all very Patriot Act-y, in my opinion.

POST OFFICE, NEW YORK, N.Y.

SECTION 598, POSTAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS, 1940

Every obscene, lewd, or lascivious and every filthy book, pamphlet, picture, paper, letter, writing, print, or other publication of an indecent character, and every article or thing designed, adapted, or intended for preventing conception or producing abortion, or for any indecent or immoral use; and every advertised or described in a manner calculated to lead another to use or apply it for preventing conception or producing abortion or for any indecient or immoral purpose; and every written or printed card, letter, circular, book, pamphlet, advertisement, or notice of and kind giving information, directly or indirectly, where, or how, or from whom, or by what means any of the hereinbefore-metioned matters, articles, or things may be obtained or made, or where or by whom any act or operation of any kind for the procuring or producing of abortion will be done or performed, or how or by what means conception may be prevented or abortion produced, whether sealed or unsealed; and every letter, packet, or package, or other mail matter containing any filthy, vile, or indecent thing, device, or substance; and every paper, writing, advertisement, or representation that any article, instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing may, or can be, used or applied for preventing conception or producing abortion, or for any indecent or immoral purpose; and every description calculated to induce or incite a person to use or apply any such article, instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing, is hereby declared to be nonmailable matter and shall not be conveyed in the mails or delivered from any post office or by any letter carrier. Whoever shall knowingly deposit, or cause to be deposited for mailing or delivery, anything declared by this section to be nonmailable, or shall knowingly take, or cause the same to be taken, from the mails for the purpose of circulating or disposing thereof, or of aiding in the circulation or disposition thereof, shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars, or imprisoned not more than five years, or both.
2. And the term “indecent” within the intendment of this section shall include matter of a character tending to incite arson, murder, or assassination.
3. Any person who knowingly and willfully deposits or causes to be deposited for conveyance in the mail or for delivery from any post office or by any letter carrier any letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of or to inflict bodily harm upon the President of the United States, or who knowingly and willfully otherwise makes any such threat against the President, shall upon conviction be fined not exceeding $1,000 or imprisoned not exceeding five years, or both.