Final answer:
In contract law, acceptance must typically conform to the method specified in the offer, but the mailbox rule allows for reasonableness, which may validate acceptance by first-class mail if it is deemed reasonable under the circumstances.
Step-by-step explanation:
Under contract law, an offer can specify the mode of acceptance. If a specific mode is mandated, such as overnight mail, then typically, the acceptance must conform to that requirement for the formation of a valid contract. However, under the principle of the mailbox rule, if an acceptance is properly addressed and dispatched in a manner that is reasonable under the circumstances, it may still create a binding contract, even if it's not in the exact mode specified by the offer. Sending acceptance by first-class mail may be considered reasonable and thus create a valid contract, depending on the circumstances, such as urgency and the usual business practices of the parties involved.