1st class vs 1st-class mail

1st class and 1st-class mail both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
1st class	Yes	No	No	No
1st-class mail	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, 1st class and 1st-class mail are synonyms defined as:

1st class and 1st-class mail: mail that includes letters and postcards and packages sealed against inspection

Other synonyms of 1st class include first-class mail, first class.

1st class (noun)	1st-class mail (noun)
mail that includes letters and postcards and packages sealed against inspection	mail that includes letters and postcards and packages sealed against inspection