2¢ / 3¢ Printed "Drop Rate" ?

Is the corner just stating what it would be for a local drop rate?

Also, why 2¢ / 3¢ when the post card rate at the time was 1¢??

Was mailed on first day allowed by form.

Thanks,
pat

You possess only part of the original mailing. See the reference to do not tear off or fold and the indication to fill out below when there is no longer a "below."

In original condition, the card was too large to qualify as a postal or post card and thus was sent at the letter rate.

However, once received, the "below" was removed to have the names and addresses need to process the request(s).

Only stated "Do Not Fold" on both sides!

Did not put 2&2 together.

This is the rule today; was it the same then?
"Maximum Allowable Postcard Size: 4.25 x 6 Inches If the width is greater than 6 inches or the height is greater than 4.25 inches, the postcard must be mailed as a letter"



Thanks,
pat

You are on the right track about size regulations, however they differed over the years. Thus from the 1940 Postal Laws & Regulations volume:


To illustrate parcelpostguys' reply: The card (as mailed) is indeed oversized, thus requiring the letter rate. Here is a fairly similar 3-part blank application form for a member of the military (intended to be mailed with free frank, thus no need to differentiate the 2 or 3 cent rate), rather than a civilian, but the illustration of the entire form serves the same purpose here.

A small tab is retained by the applicant, the middle section serves to get it to the OPA Mailing Center (with stamp and postmark), and the third portion is torn off and retained by the OPA Mailing Center for their records.





I believe the central third accompanied the new 3rd ration book back to the applicant, with the handwritten address peeking out through a window envelope, which also explains the large number of these "middle portions" surviving.

Rate description. With San Francisco having carrier service, I would lean toward calling the 2 cent option as a "local" letter rate.

Here is a pair of cards addressed to Indianapolis showing both the local and the inter-city letter rates (with the Danville card being mailed slightly before the June 1-10 mailing period opened, but apparently without any penalty):

Great cards, showing an interesting rate change for the same item, before/after use.

The full printed text on both sides is "DO NOT FOLD OR TEAR OFF"

During the war, it may have been tempting to fold or tear to save one or two cents postage.

P.S. If I was as organized as John Becker, some of his images would not have been necessary. However, I offer a nice thank you to John Becker.