UPU Regulations : Underpaid Air Mail Correspondence
According to the "Universal Postal Convention" of both the Vienna Congress of 1964 and the Tokyo Congress of 1969, air mail correspondence was to be forwarded if the amount of air surcharge was paid. Countries of origin could forward by air if the amount paid was at least 75 % of the air mail surcharge:
Article 59 1. ...underpaid surcharged air-mail .... shall be treated as follows: ... (b) in the event of underpayment, surcharged air-mail correspondence shall be forwarded by air if the charges paid represent at least the amount of the air surcharge; nevertheless, the administration of origin shall be permitted to send these items by air when the charges paid represent at least 75% of the surcharge....
If at least 75% of the air mail surcharge was paid, the originating country could forward the item by air mail. Otherwise the item was sent by surface mail.
Countries with surcharged air mail systems, such as France and Italy, required the sender to pay the surface letter rate and an air mail supplement. Canada was among countries that had inclusive air mail rates, i.e. a single-component rate. The Canada Post Office's approach to the UPU rule was to require at least 75% of the inclusive rate to be prepaid for air mail service.
This article shows four examples of mail that were denied air mail transmission because they were underpaid and one example of underpaid mail that was allowed air conveyance.
A. Underpaid Air Mail Denied Air Conveyance
1. Underpaid Air Mail Letter to Europe 1968
Air mail service was requested for this letter sent from Montreal to Zurich, February 2, 1968. The air mail letter rate to Europe was 15 cents. Only prepaid 8 cents, this letter was 7 cents underpaid for air mail transmission(53% of the inclusive air mail rate), and therefore sent as surface mail. However, the surface letter rate was 10 cents, so this letter was 2c shortpaid and taxed accordingly.
Instructional Marking:
Bilingual instructional marking
Canadian Tax Fraction:
Numerator : Double the deficiency 4 (cents)
Denominator : International surface letter rate (10 cents)
Swiss Amount Due (centimes):
Calculation for this charge:
Swiss Stamp paying the charge:
2. Underpaid Air Mail Letter to Rhodesia 1969
The above letter was posted from Streetsville to Salisbury on February 3, 1969, prepaid 15 cents. The air mail rate to Rhodesia was 25 cents. Since less than 75% of the air mail rate was prepaid the letter was sent by surface mail. The surface letter rate was 12 cents.
The Canada post office initially applied a "T" handstamp, suggesting that the letter was going to be taxed, but the postal employee stamped "Short Paid For Air Conveyance" over the "T":
3. Oversized Postcard to Israel 1969
The large postcard sent from Niagara Falls to Israel on April 17, 1969, had dimensions that were contrary to regulations and was treated as a letter. The air mail letter rate to Israel was 25 cents. The card was prepaid 15 cents and was not conveyed by air because less than 75% of the air mail rate had been paid. The surface letter rate to Israel was 12 cents.
The instructional handstamp was in English only:
4. "Other Articles" Air Mail to Great Britain 1968
Printed matter and commercial papers could be sent by air mail at the "Other Articles" rate. In 1968, the other article rate to Great Britain was 15 cents for each ounce (the air mail letter rate was 15 cents for each half ounce).
This unsealed letter qualified for the 15 cents/ounce "Other Articles" rate. The letter was mailed from Downsview to Clydebank, Scotland, on November 5 1968. The letter was prepaid 10 cents, less than 75% of the "Other Articles" rate or the 15 cent per half once air mail letter rate.
The Canada post office initially applied a "T" handstamp, suggesting that the letter was going to be taxed, but the postal employee stamped "Short Paid For Air Conveyance" over the "T":
B. Underpaid Air Mail Given Conveyance
"Other Articles" Air Mail to Uganda 1969
The "Other Articles" air mail rate to Uganda was 20 cents for each ounce.
This "Other Articles" air mail cover from Toronto to Kampala, March 11, 1969, was prepaid 15 cents, 75% of the air mail rate. The Canada Post Office provided air mail service and correctly taxed the item 10 cents (double the deficiency).