1912 - 1928
Rates to Great Britain and the British Empire
The following rates and fees are shown in this post:
1. Letters
a) To April 14, 1915
b) April 15, 1915 to September 30, 1921
c) October 1, 1921 to June 30, 1926
d) From July 1, 1926
2. Post Cards
a) To April 14, 1915
b) From April 15, 1915
3. Printed Matter
4. Registration
a) To July 31, 1924
b) From August 1, 1924
1. Letters
a) To April 14, 1915
The letter rate was 2 cents for each ounce.
St. Thomas to London, December 14, 1912
2 cent letter rate to Great Britain
Toronto to Lauriya, India, March 8, 1915
2 cents letter rate to India
"PASSED BY POSTAL CENSOR CALCUTTA"
b) April 15, 1915 to September 30, 1921
Effective April 15, 1915, a 1 cent War Tax was imposed on all Empire first class letter rates.
Norwich to London, November 14, 1916
2 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Great Britain
1T¢ stamp paying the 3 cents rate
British censor tape
Vancouver to Bombay, July 16, 1917
2 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to India
"PASSED CENSOR BOMBAY"
Ottawa (Clerk of the House of Commons) to London, August 24, 1921
2 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Great Britain
Toronto to Reading, February 1, 1921
2 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Great Britain
c) October 1, 1921 to June 30 1926
On October 1, 1921, the Empire letter rate was increased from 2 cents to 3 cents per ounce. Since the War Tax was still in effect, the total rate for a one ounce letter was 4 cents.
Victoria to Dublin, September 19, 1922
3 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Ireland
House of Commons, Ottawa to Liverpool, March 26, 1926
3 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Great Britain
Vancouver to Paignton, July 27, 1925
3 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Great Britain
Brampton to New Town, Tasmania, Australia, June 22, 1926
3 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Australia
Windsor to Hong Kong, October 27,1925
3 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Hong Kong
Insufficiently Prepaid
Montreal to Burnley, May, 1923
3 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax to Great Britain
Shortpaid 1 cent and taxed 2 cents
Canada Post office converted 2 cents to 10 centimes ( 1 cent = 5 centimes) :
British Post Office charged 1 1/2d. :
Postage due labels affixed and cancelled at Burnley, June 9, 1923. The letter was redirected to Danven and the postage due labels handstamped:
CHARGE NOT COLLECTED
FRESH LABELS REQUIRED
Fresh postage due labels were attached at Darwen and cancelled June 11, 1923
Redirected Domestic Letter to England
Redirected letters were taxed at single the rate difference.
Freeman to Oakville, Ontario, November 3, 1924
3 cents domestic letter rate (2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax)
Redirected to Norwich, England. The rate was 4 cents and the amount due was 1 cent (the rate difference)
The Canadian marking T/5 (centimes) was written in pencil:
T5 = 5 centimes
The British charge 1 1/2 d was the minimum amount to be collected:
Postage due labels were cancelled at Norwich, November 17, 1924
d) From July 1, 1926
The War Tax was removed on letters to Great Britain and the Empire. The letter rate was 3 cents for each ounce.
Collingwood (Hamilton & Meaford RPO No. 3) to London, July 8, 1927
3 cents letter rate to Great Britain
Insufficiently prepaid
Winnipeg to London, December 6, 1926
3 cents letter rate to Great Britain
Shortpaid 1 cent and taxed double the deficiency.
Canada Post office converted 2 cents to 10 centimes ( 1 cent = 5 centimes) :
The British Post Office charged 1 1/2d.:
Via U.S. Airmail (July 1, 1926 to December 24, 1928)
Canadian letters could receive air mail service in the United States is the U.S. air mail rate of 10 cents per one-half ounce was prepaid in U.S. postage in addition to Canadian surface postage.
Vancouver to Inverness, Scotland, February 24, 1928
3 cents Canadian letter rate to Great Britain + 10 cents U.S. air mail fee
"AIR MAIL FROM SEATTLE" in manuscript
The air mail stamp received Blaine & Seattle RPO cancellation
New York Transit:
February 27, 1928
2. Postcard
a) To April 14, 1915
The post card rate was 1 cent.
[Not shown]
b) From April 15, 1915
A 1 cent War Tax was imposed on post cards addresses to Empire destinations.
Carstairs to Bombay, February 4, 1918
1 cent post card rate + 1 cent War Tax to India
"PASSED BY CENSOR BOMBAY"
St. John to East London, South Africa
1 cent post card rate + 1 cent War Tax to South Africa
Niagara Falls to Stonehaven, Scotland, July 30, 1926
1 cent post card rate + 1 cent War Tax to Great Britain
Repaired at Montreal Dead Letter Office (DLO)
The card below was torn in transit and repaired at the Montreal DLO.
Montreal to London, March 3, 1916
1 cent post card rate + 1 cent War Tax to Great Britain
(1 cent overpayment)
Received at Montreal in Montreal (DLO in red ink)
in Damaged Condition
Repaired and cancelled Montreal No. 473, March 3, 1916
3. Printed Matter
The printed matter rate was 1 cent per two ounces.
Montreal to Huddersfield, December 26, 1913
1 cent printed matter rate for 2 ounces to Great Britain
4. Registration
a) To July 31, 1924
The registration fee was 5 cents.
Winnipeg to London, April 11, 1913
2 cents letter rate + 5 cents registration fee to Great Britain
"ORIGINAL NUMBER" handstamp
In 1907, UPU regulations required that postmasters at the office of origin encircle the original number given to a registered article to distinguish it from numbers added in transit. Canadian postmasters were issued "Original Number" handstamps in 1907.
Kamloops to Dover, September 23, 1919
2 cent letter rate + 1 cent War Tax + 5 cents Registration fee
Undelivered and Returned
Not known at the address and returned. Instructional marking stamped on the back of the envelope:
Undelivered for reason stated To be returned to sender at the address shown on the cover, _ from Returned Letter Section, London
b) From August 1, 1924
The registration fee was increased from 5 cents to 10 cents.
Canadian Carbonate Company, Calgary to Wincanton, England, August 6, 1924
3 cents letter rate + 1 cent War Tax + 10 cents registration fee