What is media mail?

[railfancwb]

I’ve read the USPS information about media mail. There are things I don’t understand. 
 

If I buy one or several current magazines at Walmart or Kroger or Barnes & Noble I can not send them by media mail because they contain current advertising. I understand that. Likewise a current catalog is not eligible for media mail. 
 

it appears that a reprint of a Sears catalog originally issued circa 1900 is eligible for media mail, I suppose because it is no longer considered to contain advertising. 
 

Where is the line? Or is there one?

A “Guns & Ammo” published twenty years ago contains advertising relevant to its time of publication, but does that still disqualify the magazine from media mail? Should it?

I’ve asked at my local post office but not gotten a definitive answer. 

[Historian]

I think you have two things mixed up.

You can mail all the magazines, books, etc. you want under 70 pounds.   As long as you box them.

I don't think you can mail the magazine by itself...just by sticking a label on it.  I'm guessing.

 

[Walt Longmire]

You think media mail is a scam, look up 'bypass mail' in Alaska. Folks (and I use the term loosely) in the Bush, can mail a 55 gallon drum by AIR for 5 bucks. We pay the difference.

[tadbart]

12 hours ago, Historian said:

I think you have two things mixed up.

You can mail all the magazines, books, etc. you want under 70 pounds.   As long as you box them.

I don't think you can mail the magazine by itself...just by sticking a label on it.  I'm guessing.

 

please define "magazines."

 

pew, pew!

[janice6]

5 hours ago, tadbart said:

please define "magazines."

 

pew, pew!

Magazines are something that comes in various forms, but have a commonality in that liberals don't want you to have them.  Such as, Nudie mags and pew pew carriers.