1949 - 1953
International Rates
Part 2 Air Mail and Special Services
In this final installment dealing with international rates (excluding mail to the United States) during the George VI Wilding period, 1949 - 1953, the topics are air mail rates and special services.
A. Air Mail
1. Fifteen cents (15¢) each quarter ounce destinationsB. Special Services
2. Ten cents (10¢) each quarter ounce destinations
3. Twenty-five cents (25¢) each quarter ounce destinations
4. Canada Air Letters
a) Ten cents (10¢) destinations
b) Fifteen cents (15¢) destinations
1. Registration
a) To April 1, 1952
b) From April 2, 1952
2. Special Delivery to Great Britain
A. Air Mail
1. Fifteen cents (15¢) each quarter ounce destinations
The 15 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate applied to the following destinations:
Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Europe (including Azores, Corsica, Crete, Dodecanse Islands, Gibraltar, Iceland, and Malta), Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands and Madeira.
Toronto to London, England, November 1, 1951
15 cents air mail rate to Great Britain
London "diamond" cancellation applied to count incoming mail for UPU census
Head of Jeodore, N.S., to Greet Bahm, England, April 8, 1952
30 cents one-half ounce air mail rate to Great Britain ( 15 cents per quarter-ounce)
Shortpaid 23 cents and rated 138 centimes due
No indication that the letter was taxed in Great Britain
Initially taxed as a 15 cent letter
8/16/48 = 8 cents due, 16 cents double deficiency, 48 centimes
Edmonton to Tolworth, England, April 1950
75 cents three-quarter ounce air mail rate to Great Britain (15 cents per quarter-ounce)
Winnipeg to Gunzenhauzen, Germany, April 8, 1950
15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Toronto to Oldenburg, Germany, September 7, 1952
Post card @ 15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
House of Commons, Ottawa to Tunbridge Wells, England, November 15, 1949
15 cents air mail rate to Great Britain
George VI Wilding series first day of issue
House of Commons stationery
Windsor-Walkerville to Rattvik, Sweden, May 21, 1951
Post card @ 15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Quebec to Ashford, England, October 12, 1952
Post card @ 15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Great Britain
Shortpaid 8 cents and taxed 48 centimes
No indication that the British post office taxed the card
Canadian Charge
Tax 48 gold centimes
Halifax to Stockholm, Sweden, March 29, 1953
Post card @ 15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Shortpaid 6 cents and taxed 36 centimes
No indication that the Swedish post office taxed the card
Canadian charge
Tax 36 gold centimes
Toronto to Hamburg, November 21, 1950
15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Letter opened and sealed with currency control tape
German Currency Control
Blenheim to Brussels, Belgium, July 5, 1952
Uprated postal stationery paying the 15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Montreal to Arnhem, Netherlands, January 10, 1953
15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
4 cent booklet pane of three stamps + 3 cent single booklet stamp
Montreal to Laren, Netherlands, April 12, 1952
30 cents one-half ounce rate to Europe ( 15 cents per one-quarter ounce)
Shortpaid 15 cents
Canadian tax : 90 gold centimes
Dutch tax : 120 cents
Canadian tax marking
Port Credit to Vienna, Austria, April 1950
15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Opened by Austrian censor and sealed with brown tape
Austrian censor handstamps
Toronto to Salzburg, Austria, January 17, 1950
15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Opened and sealed with "Salzburg" printed on the tape
Salzburg sealing tape
C. Douglas Wilson & Co., Toronto to Munchenstein, Switzerland, July 25, 1950
15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
1 cent original design (no postes postage) coil stamp
Vancouver to Lugano, Switzerland, January 3, 1952
$1.05 one and three-quarter ounce air mail rate to Europe ( 7 x 15 cents one-quarter ounce rate)
$1.05 paying the 1 3/4 ounce air mail rate to Europe
Ottawa to Berne, Switzerland, December 15, 1949
30 cents one-half ounce rate to Europe (15 cents per one-quarter ounce)
Lethbridge to Goteborg, Sweden, August 10, 1950
15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Ottawa to Stockholm, February 22, 1951
30 cents one-half ounce rate to Europe (15 cents per one-quarter ounce)
Montreal to Linkoping, Sweden, August 8, 1952
15 cents one-quarter ounce rate to Europe
Shortpaid 8 cents
Canadian Tax : 48 gold centimes
Swedish Tax : 85 ore
"Tx/48"
Canadian tax 48 gold centimes
Hamilton to Copenhagen, Denmark, December 13, 1950
30 cents one-half ounce rate to Europe (15 cents per one-quarter ounce)
2. Ten cents (10¢) for each quarter ounce destinations
The 10 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate applied to the following destinations:
Bermuda, Central America (including Panama Canal Zone, Cuba, Mexico, West Indies)
South America- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, British Guiana, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Netherlands Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela
Toronto to Talara, Peru, July 24, 1950
10 cents one-quarter ounce air mail rate to Peru
House of Assembly, Toronto to Nassau, Bahamas, October 30, 1951
10 cents one-quarter ounce air mail rate to the West Indies
Montreal to Bridgetown, Barbados, March 22, 1951
10 cents one-quarter ounce air mail rate to the West Indies
Shortpaid 2 cents
Canadian Tax : 12 gold centimes
Barbados Tax : 4 cents
Canadian tax marking
Montreal to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 25, 1952
60 cents one and one-half ounce air mail rate ( 6 x 10 cents per one-quarter once)
3. Twenty-five cents (25¢) for each quarter ounce destinations.
The 25 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate applied to the following Asian, African and Oceanian destinations:
Montreal to Tel Aviv, Israel, March 28, 1951
25 cents one-quarter ounce air mail rate to Israel
Montreal to Tel Aviv, Israel, August 26, 1950
$1.00 one ounce air mail rate to Israel ( 4 x 25 cent per one-quarter ounce rate)
Opened for customs examination
Posts, Telegraphs, & Communications
Opened for Customs examination and duly closed again at the Post Office
Montreal to Haifa, Israel, March 11, 1953
25 cents one-quarter ounce air mail rate to Israel
Hamilton to Tel Aviv, Israel, January 21, 1951
25 cents one-quarter ounce air mail rate to Israel
Shortpaid 10 cents
Canadian tax : 60 centimes
Israel tax : 72 protas
Canadian Tax marking
60 centimes
Israel Tax marking
72 protas
Toronto to Hong Kong, July, 1950
50 cents one-half ounce air mail rate to Hong Kong (2 x 25 cents one-quarter ounce rate)
Ste-Anne-de-la-Pocatiere to UPU Conference, Heliopolis, Egypt, January 29, 1951
25 cents one-quarter ounce air mail rate to Egypt
U.P.U. Cairo Conference cancellation
February 3, 1951
Milverton to Subiaca, Australia, December 9, 1953
25 cents one-quarter ounce air mail rate to Australia
Toronto to Adelaide, Australia, July 23, 1952
50 cents one-half ounce air mail rate to Australia ( 2 x 25 cents per one-quarter ounce rate)
Calgary to Melbourne, March 18, 1953
50 cents one-half ounce air mail rate to Australia ( 2 x 25 cents per one-quarter ounce rate)
Shortpaid 22 cents
Canadian Taxation : 138 gold centimes
No indication that the Australian post office taxed this letter
Canadian Tax handstamp
West Summerland to Nelson, New Zealand, June 19, 1950
75 cents three-quarter ounce air mail rate to New Zealand ( 3 x 25 cents per one-quarter ounce rate)
4. Canada Air Letters
a) Ten cents (10¢) destinations
The ten cents Canada Air Letter rate applied to Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and all places to which the regular 10 cent per quarter ounce rate applied.
Cowansville to , November 26, 1953
10 cents Canada Air Letter rate
b) Fifteen cents (15¢) destinations
The 15 cent Canada Air Letter rate applied to all other countries where the 10 cent Canada Air Letter rate did not apply.
Vancouver to Arosa, Switzerland, January 19, 1952
15 cents Canada Air Letter rate
B. Special Services
1. Registration
a) To April 1, 1951
The registration fee to all destinations was 10 cents.
Farnham to Arequipa., Peru, February 19, 1951
4 cents letter rate to South America + 10 cents registration fee
Manuscript " Passed for export by Postmaster at Farnham, Quebec"
Victoria to London, England, February 26, 1951
4 cents letter rate to Great Britain + 10 cents registration fee
"Passed for export" handstamp
Swan River, Man., to Quezon City, Philippines, March 8, 1951
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate + 10 cents registration fee
Stenen, Sask., to Enebyberg, Sweden, February 11, 1950
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate + 10 cents registration fee
Montreal to St. Lucia, British West Indies, October 26, 1950
10 cents air mail rate + 10 cents registration fee
Petawawa to Sydney, Australia, October 2, 1950
75 cents three-quarter ounce air mail letter rate ( 25 cents each quarter ounce) + 10 cents registration fee
Manuscript "Passed for export"
b) From April 2, 1951
The registration fee was increased to 20 cents.
Department of Veterans Affairs, Vancouver to Bloemfontein, South Africa, December 9, 1952
4 cents letter rate to Commonwealth destination + 20 cents registration fee
Three types of "Official" stamps affixed to the cover:
$1.10 paying the 1 1/2 oz. air mail registered letter rate to Europe
90 cents air mail ( 6 x 15 cents/1/4 oz.) + 20 cents registration fee
Winnipeg to Stockholm, Sweden, June 23, 1952
30 cents one-half ounce air mail rate (15 cents each quarter ounce) + 20 cents registration fee
Toronto to Trieste, Italy, March 20, 1952
60 cents one-ounce air mail rate (15 cents each quarter ounce) + 20 cents registration fee
Registered post card
Lethbridge to Budapest, Hungary, May 23, 1953
15 cents air mail rate + 20 cents registration fee
b) Special Delivery to Great Britain
The special delivery fee to Great Britain was 10 cents. The regulation relating to Special Delivery service to England read as follows:
Special delivery letters for Great Britain prepaid with Canadian postage stamps may be accepted for onward transmission. These must bear a Canadian Special Delivery stamp or be prepaid 10 cents in Canadian postage in addition to the surface or air mail postage rate applicable. The "Special Delivery" sticker (No. SD-8) obtainable at all post offices should be affixed in the upper left-hand corner of the address side or the word "Special Delivery" Should be legibly written in the same position.
Montreal to Windsor, England, December 21, 1951
15 cents air mail rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
SD-8 sticker affixed to upper left-hand corner
British "Express Fee Paid" handstamp