The Small Queen Era
1875 -1897
Domestic Postage Rates
1875 -1897
Domestic Postage Rates
On October 1, 1875, the use of stamps to prepay letter rates became compulsory. This post considers the principal domestic postage rates in effect during the post-stampless letter period to 1897, the year the Small Queen issue was replaced.
1. Letters To Places Within the Dominion
a) To May 7, 1889
The letter rate, introduced on April 1, 1868, was 3 cents for each one-half ounce.
St. John to Dorchester, October 28, 1880
3 cents letter rate
Ottawa to Prescott, December 15, 1885
3 cents letter rate
Welland Railway Mail Car postmark on letter to Hamilton,August, 14, 1886
3 cents letter rate
Welland Railway Mail Car
Quebec to Tadoussac, July 16, 1883
6 cents paying the one ounce letter rate (double weight)
b) From May 8, 1889
The letter rate was changed to 3 cents per ounce.
Halifax to Guysboro, June 4, 1889
3 cents letter rate for one ounce
Welland to Hamilton, January 23, 1897
3 cents letter rate for one ounce
Halifax to Upper Stewiacke, July 31, 1896
3 cents letter rate for one ounce
Ottawa to Toronto, November 18, 1896
3 cents letter rate for one ounce
Imperial machine flag cancellation
2. Drop (Local) Letters
a) To May 7, 1889
The drop letter rate was 1 cent per half-ounce.
Toronto local letter, July 17, 1876
1 cent drop letter rate
Toronto local letter, February 11, 1887
1 cent drop letter rate
Letter Carrier Mark
February 12, 1887
Welland drop letter
1 cent drop letter rate
January 22, 1879
b) May 8, 1889
The rate for non-carrier delivered drop mail was 1 cent per ounce. A new rate, the carrier drop letter rate, was introduced at 2 cents per ounce.
London local letter to John Labatt, Esq., May 20, 1895
2 cents carrier drop letter rate
Letter carrier mark
May 21
Hamilton local letter, September 24, 1897
2 cents carrier drop letter rate
3. Printed Matter
The miscellaneous matter rate was 1 cent for each 4 ounces.
Sherbrooke to Upper Stewiacke, March 3, 1894
1 cent rate for printed matter
4. Post Card
The post card rate was 1 cent.
a) June 1, 1871 to December 31, 1894
The Post Office Department only allowed the use of the "Canada Post Card" issued by the Department.
Port Colborne to Welland, November 16, 1878
1 cent Canada Post Card rate
House of Commons, Ottawa to Blenheim, September 12, 1891
1 cent Canada Post Card rate
London local mailing, January 3, 1894
1 cent Canada Post Card rate
b) From January 1, 1895
The use of "Private" post cards was permitted at 1 cent per card.
Toronto to Guelph, June 1, 1897
1 cent private post card rate
The 1895 regulations allowing non-governmental cards required that the term "PRIVATE POST CARD" be printed on the address side of the card:
4. Registration
a) To May 7, 1889
The registration fee was 2 cents.
Arthur to Toronto, April 6 1876
3 cents letter rate + 2 cents registration fee
b) From May 8, 1889
The registration fee increased from 2 cents to 5 cents.
Mitchell to Toronto, September 29, 1890
3 cents letter rate + 5 cents registration fee.