"Compiled from Official gazette. Beginning with 1876, the volumes have included also decisions of United States courts, decisions of Secretary of Interior, opinions of Attorney-General, and important decisions of state courts in relation to patents, trade-marks, etc. 1869-94, not in Congressional set." Checklist of U. S. public documents, 1789-1909, p. 530.

Early volumes consisted of rules with a separate publication for text. Later volumes consist of text and rules, (at first, the official rules, later the "read-easy" rules.) Vols. for 1976-78 do not include rules.