The first Canadian post card was issued on June 1, 1871.
Port Colborne to Welland, November 16, 1878
1 cent post card rate
From 1871 to October 31, 1968, domestic post card rates which were generally cheaper than the forward letter rate were in effect . On November 1, 1968, the rate for domestic post cards became the same as the letter rate.
There were four post card rate periods during the Centennial era:
To October 31, 1968 : 4 cents
The 4 cents post card rate had been in effect since April 1, 1954
Montreal to Port Hope, September 6, 1967
4 cents post card rate
Montreal to Toronto, June 12, 1968
4 cents post card rate
Dundas to Burlington, October 2, 1968
4 cents post card rate
Maximum Size
The maximum size permitted was 6" by 4". Cards not conforming to the allowed size were treated and taxed as letters.
Banff to London, September 4, 1967
4 cents post card rate
Oversized and rated as a letter at the 5 cent rate
Shortpaid 1 cent and taxed 2 cents
Unpaid or Insufficiently Prepaid Post Cards
Post cards bearing written communications (first class matter) posted unpaid or insufficiently prepaid were forwarded to destination taxed with double the amount of deficiency to be collected on delivery.
British stamp invalid in Canada
Victoria to Ottawa, July 23, 1967
Unpaid and taxed 8 cents, double the deficiency
November 1, 1968 - June 30, 1971 : 6 cents
Effective November 1, 1968, the post card rate was the same as the 1st weight step domestic letter rate.
Calgary Stampede Post Office to West Vancouver, July 5, 1969
6 cents rate
4 cent postal stationery revalued by the British American Bank Note Company
Weston to Rexdale, May 25 1970
Barrie to Toronto, August 31, 1970
6 cents post card Postal Stationery
Calgary Heritage Park, August 12, 1970
6 cents rate
Collingwood to Stayner, June 2, 1971
Ontario Hydro meter card
Delhi to Fergus, June 4, 1970
6 cents post card rate + 50 cents registration fee
Unpaid or Insufficiently Prepaid Post Cards
Peterborough to Brigden, October 221, 1970
Shortpaid 1 cent and taxed 2 cents
July 1, 1971 - December 31, 1971 : 7 cents
The post card rate was increased to 7 cents.
Parisville to Montreal, September 24, 1971
7 cents post card rate
7 cents post card rate
Winnipeg, october 22, 1971
7 cents post card postal stationery
Revalued Stationery Divider
Centennial postal stationery was revalued in 1969 because of rate increases (see above). The printers received cut stationery stock which included coloured divider cards. In the process of printing new values on the stationery, dividers could also be printed, without the original stamp of course. The post card below is an interesting usage of such a divider. The sender "uprated" the card to pay the 7 cents rate.
Vancouver local, November 19, 1971
From January 1, 1972 : 8 cents
The post card rate was increased to 8 cents. The 8 cent rate remained in effect until August 31, 1976.
Fort Smith, NWT, to Toronto, September 9, 1972
8 cents rate
Toronto to Delta, February 14, 1973
8 cents rate
Toronto, October 10, 1973 (Returned to sender)
8 cents post card postal stationery
Ontario Hydro Meter Reading Cards
Lisle to Stayner, July 21, 1972
