| SECONDCLASSMAIL | They're not first-rate, these letters (6-5,4) |
| SOLEMN | Serious single chap, but not first rate (6) |
| SECONDBEST | Not first rate, but could be a decent boss (6,4) |
| BADINAGE | Amusing repartee is second-rate these days and in decline |
| PASTON | History on record is found in these letters (6) |
| LOCALLEVEL | *Like community government (Hint: Note the letters that bookend both words of each starred clue's answer ... and what these letters collectively spell) |
| ANIMAL | With 44- Across, Nintendo series hinting at the letters where the starred clues' answers intersect (Bonus: Read these letters clockwise) |
| CROSSING | Nintendo series hinting at the letters where the starred clues' answers intersect (Bonus: Read these letters clockwise) |
| WISECRACK | Make a witty comment, or a phonetic hint to what the indicated letters do (Bonus: Note what these letters spell) |
| USHERETTE | True, these letters are for the leading lady |
| SHEET | These letters can appear in paper (5) |
| EPISTLES | For a change politeness might be seen on these letters |
| ROMANNUMERALS | These letters could add up to something (5,8) |
| ANAGRAM | A ragman forms another word from these letters (7) |
| THETHREERS | All the same, these letters give a basic education (3,5,2) |
| EASE | Sounds like these letters will let you down gently (4) |
| LOWERCASE | Like most of these letters |
| ODD | These letters of Scot are so curious |
| CAPS | FEATURE OF THESE LETTERS |
| ITIS | These letters appear to indicate disease found in filthiest regulars |
