Postal History Corner: Centennial Period Special Delivery Services : 1967 -1973

Dozens of posts dealing with the Canadian Centennial definitive issue (1967 - 1973) have been published in the nearly four years Postal History Corner has been on-line. This is the first in a series of revamped Centennial posts. The original post dealing with Centennial period Special Delivery mail was published on June 9, 2010.

Special Delivery mail was given priority handling and was delivered in a manner that provided the most expeditious service.

Organization

1. Special Delivery Labels

2. Special Delivery Rates for Letters

(a) November 1, 1963 - May 31, 1967........................ 25 cents

(b) From June 1, 1967..................................................40 cents
3. Insufficiently Prepaid Special Delivery Letters
4. Registered Special Delivery Letters

1. Special Delivery Labels

Letters for special delivery were to be legibly endorsed "Special Delivery" on the address side. The Post Office supplied labels for this purpose.

SD-8 : 23-10-61 print order

SD-8 : 3-66 print order

Maple Leaf Special Delivery Sticker

S.D.1 parcel sticker (5-68 print order)

2. Special Delivery Fees for Letters (in addition to ordinary postage)

(a) November 1, 1963 - May 31, 1967........................ 25 cents

(b) From June 1, 1967..................................................40 cents

(a) 25c Rate Period

Montreal to Quebec, February 20, 1967

5 cents forward letter rate + 25 cents special delivery fee

Mixed franking commonly see in early Centennial period

Fredericton to Port Burwell, May 18, 1967

5 cents forward letter fee + 25 cents special delivery fee

Windsor- Walkerville to Quebec, March 2, 1967

5 cents forward letter fee + 25 cents special delivery fee

Free Mail : House of Commons

Domestic letter mail was free to or from Members of Parliament (10 days before or after a sitting). Payment was required for other services such as registration and special delivery.

Member of Parliament Alfred Hales (Wellington South) to Guelph, May 16, 1967

Free postage + 25 cents special delivery fee

(b) 40c Rate Period : From June 1, 1967

5 cents forward letter rate : To October 31, 1968

Kenora to Toronto, June 19, 1967

Cameo 5 cents stationery (forward letter rate) + 40c special delivery fee

Toronto to Midland, October 20, 1967

5 cents forward letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

Souris to Ottawa, August 9, 1968

5 cents forward letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

Halifax to Toronto, May 17, 1968

8 cents paying the 2 oz. forward letter rate (5c 1st oz. + 3c next oz.) + 40 cents special delivery fee

Halifax, May 17, 1968

6 cents domestic letter rate : November 1, 1969 - June 30, 1971

Chilliwack to Rexdale, October 23, 1969

6 cents letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

St. Catharines to Toronto, April 2, 1969

6 cents letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

Little Current to Toronto, November 28, 1970

30 cents 7 oz. letter rate (6c first oz. and 6 x 4c for each additional oz.)

30 cents letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

7 cents domestic letter rate : July 1, 1971 - December 31, 1971

Ottawa to Toronto, August 27, 1971

7 cents letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

Vancouver to Toronto, October 15, 1971

7 cents letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

8 cents domestic letter rate : From January 1, 1972

Buckingham to Noranda, March 16, 1972

8 cents letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

Thurso to Noranda, May 17, 1972

8 cents letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

Free Mail : House of Commons

Member of Parliament Ed Broadbent to Oshawa, February 21, 1972

Free postage + 40 cents special delivery fee

3. Insufficiently Prepaid Special Delivery Letters

Letters endorsed for special delivery but without sufficient postage to cover the special delivery fee and the ordinary postage were to be specifically delivered subject to collection on delivery of double the total deficiency as regards postage and special delivery fee.

Toronto local correspondence, February 7, 1968

4 cents local letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee (44 cents)

Shortpaid 15 cents and taxed 30 cents

Manuscript instructional marking : "A fine is double the missing amount"

Edmonton to Toronto, April 23, 1970, endorsed for Special Delivery service

46 cents to be prepaid : 6 cents letter rate + 40 cents special delivery fee

Only 24 cents affixed, thus shortpaid 22 cents

Taxed double deficiency : 44 cents

Amount due paid and 44 cents Toronto Postage Due meter label affixed

Toronto (149981) Postage Due meter

Montreal to Port Burwell, October 17, 1969

40 cents prepaid

Shortpaid 6 cents and taxed 12 cents

4. Registered Special Delivery Letters

Registered mail did not always reach its destination as quickly as unregistered mail because of the additional security handling required. Registered special delivery articles could therefore experience delays not faced by unregistered articles.