1937 - 1942
International Mail
Part 2 : Air Mail Rates
The 1937 - 1942 period international air mail rates were numerous and complex. This post provides an outline of the Mufti period international rates during the prewar (1937-39) and war (1939-42) years.
(Military Mail will be the subject of future posts)
A. Pre-War Years : 1937 -1939
1. "Clipper Service" to the Pacific
Air mail to the United States has been discussed in an earlier post, but air mail to its Pacific territories such as Hawaii have yet to be considered. Pan American Airways (PAA) had introduced its Trans-Pacific "Clipper" service in 1936. Air mail from Canada to Hawaii could be despatched by the Clipper service from San Francisco at a rate of 25 cents per half-ounce. Clipper service was also available to Guam and Fiji (50 cents/half ounce), the Philipinnes (75 cents/half ounce), Macau, and Hong Kong (90 cents/half ounce).
Ottawa to Honolulu, December 17, 1938
25 cents for each half-ounce
Vancouver to Honolulu, April 3, 1939
50 cents paying the one ounce double weight step trans-Pacific Clipper rate
Toronto to Honolulu, December 16, 1937
25 cents Clipper rate
Shortpaid 10 cents and taxed 20 cents
2. Great Britain
Trans-Atlantic mail service was not available until 1939. Air mail service to Great Britain before this was for air mail conveyance within Canada only. The rate was 6 cents for the first ounce and 5 cents for each additional ounce.
Vancouver to Huddersfield, England, June 30, 1938
6 cents air mail rate to Great Britain for air mail service only in North America
Victoria to Cheltenham, England, July 27, 1939
6 cents air mail rate to Great Britain for air mail service only in North America
Saskatoon to Coventry, England, April 22, 1939.
6 cents air mail rate to Great Britain for air mail service only in North America
Trans-Atlantic Service
In June 1939, Trans-Atlantic air mail service was inaugurated. The rate for mail to Britain from Canada was 30 cents for each half ounce.
Montreal to London, August 10, 1939
30 cents trans-Atlantic air mail rate
3. Europe
Air service to Europe consisted of air mail conveyance within North America, ship to Europe, then air within Europe. The rate was 10 cents for each half ounce.
Vancouver to Le Havre, France, August 24, 1938
10 cents rate for air service in North America and Europe only
Vancouver to Chalon-sur-mer, December 14, 1938
10 cents rate for air service in North America and Europe only
Shortpaid 4 cents
Canadian Tax - 40 gold centimes
French charge - 2.4 francs
Montreal to Lahti, Finland, April 8, 1938
10 cents rate for air service in North America and Europe only
Vancouver to Arnhem, Netherlands, April 4, 1939
10 cents rate for air service in North America and Europe only
Vancouver to Neustadt, Germany, November 10, 1938
10 cents rate for air service in North America and Europe only
4. Empire Air Mail Scheme Countries (From February 28, 1938)
The Empire Air Mail Scheme was a British plan to convey all ‘first class’ mail within the British Empire by air at no extra cost. The scheme was completed in stages from June 1937 to July 1938. On February 28, 1938, the Empire Air Mail Scheme was inaugurated in Canada. First class mail posted in Canada for specified Empire countries was conveyed to Britain by ship then carried exclusively by air BEYOND ENGLAND under the Empire Air Mail Scheme.
Empire Air Mail Route
(African Routes not shown)
The rate for letters was 6 cents per half ounce and 4 cents each for postcards. The 1937-38 Official Postal Guide had the following description of the service:
Montreal to Pretoria, South Africa, April 25, 1938
6 cents per half-ounce Empire Air Mail Scheme
Kentville Sanatorium to Bloemfontein, South Africa, November 13, 1938
12 cents paying the 1 ounce, double weight, Empire Air Mail Scheme rate (2 x 6 cents/1/2 ounce)
Toronto to Cairo, Egypt, September 16, 1938
Sender affixed 11 cents postage which was insufficient for this 2 1/2 ounce (5th weight step) letter. The rate was 30 cents (5 x 6 cents/half-ounce). The letter was shortpaid 19 cents.
Canadian Tax : 190 gold centimes
Egyptian charge : 76 milliemes
Instructional handstamp advising of the Empire Air Mail Scheme rate:
PLEASE ADVISE YOUR CORRESPONDENTS THAT
THE LETTER RATE FROM CANADA IS 6 CENTS
PER HALF OUNCE
5. Africa and Asia
The air mail rate to Africa and Asia (except for PAA Clipper service and to places served by the Empire Air Mail Scheme) was 25 cents for each ounce.
Toronto to Johannesburg, South Africa, April 11, 1937
25 cents for each half ounce air mail rate to South Africa
(Pre-Empire Air Mail Scheme rate)
Toronto to Durban, South Africa, November 8, 1937
$1.75 paying the 3 1/2 ounce rate (7 x 25 cents/half ounce)
(Pre-Empire Air Mail Scheme rate)
6. Australasia
Mail to Australasia (via England) prior to the introduction of the Empire Air Mail Scheme was 35 cents for each half ounce.
7. Bermuda
Until direct PAA Clipper service to Bermuda was introduced in 1938, the air mail rate of 6 cents per ounce only provided air service from Canada to the United States.
Winnipeg to Shelly Bay, Bermuda, January 18, 1938
6 cent air mail rate to Bermuda +10 cents registration fee
(2 cents overpayment)
Pan-Am clipper, Baltimore to Bermuda
(Not in author's collection)
FAM 17 Baltimore-Bermuda First Flight
March 16, 1938
With the inception of Clipper service to Bermuda, the rate for air mail service from Canada to Bermuda was set at 15 cents per quarter ounce.
8. West Indies and British Guiana, Mexico, Cuba and Central America
Until December 14, 1937, the air mail rate to the West Indies and British Guiana, Mexico, Cuba and Central America was 25 cents for each half ounce. Rates to these destinations were reduced to 10 cents for each quarter ounce on December 15, 1937.
Hamilton to Georgetown, British Guiana, December 5, 1938
10 cents for each quarter ounce rate to British Guiana
9. South America
There were two rate groups for South America:
a) Northern rate group : Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Dutch Guiana
i) To December 14, 1938 : 50 cents for each half ounce
ii) From December 15, 1938: 25 cents for each quarter ounce
b) Southern rate group: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
i) To December 14, 1938 : 70 cents for each quarter ounce
Montreal to Buenos Aires, Argentina, September 18, 1937
70 cents for each half ounce air mail rate to Argentina
ii) From December 15, 1938 : 35 cents for each quarter ounce
Registered, air mail letter, Toronto to Montevideo, Uruguay, August 29, 1939
70 cents for double weight step half ounce rate to Uruguay ( 2 x 35 cents/quarter ounce) + 1o cents registration fee
B. The War Years : 1939 - 1942
International air mail service and rates became even more complicated during the war years with the suspension of routes and the introduction of new services.
This section is organized as follows:
1. Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Eire, and Europe
2. Western Hemisphere Countries
3. War-time Empire Air Mail Scheme
4. Trans-Pacific via Pan American Airways
5. South Atlantic Routes via Pan American Airways (From December 1941)
1. Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Eire, and Europe
The Trans-Atlantic air mail rate to Great Britain and Europe was 30 cents for each half ounce. Air mail from Canada to most European countries was discontinued by June 1940.
London, Ont., to London, England, October 31, 1939
30 cents for each half ounce air mail rate to Great Britain
Truro to London, June 23, 1941
60 cents double weight step air mail rate for 1 ounce ( 2 x 30 cents/half ounce)
Toronto to London, October 29, 1942
60 cents double weight step air mail rate for 1 ounce ( 2 x 30 cents/half ounce)
Montreal to London, November 3, 1939
90 cents triple weight step air mail rate for 1 1/2 ounce ( 3 x 30 cents/half ounce)
Stratford to Maidstone, England, February 13, 1940
60 cents double weight step air mail rate for 1 ounce ( 2 x 30 cents/half ounce)
Port Hope to Sleaford, England, January 8, 1940
60 cents double weight step air mail rate for 1 ounce ( 2 x 30 cents/half ounce)
Shortpaid 30 cents (Double deficiency 60 cents)
Canadian Tax - 300 gold centimes (60 cents x 5 gold centimes/cent)
British Charge - 2s. 6d.
Shortpaid 30 cents (Double deficiency 60 cents)
Canadian Tax - 300 gold centimes (60 cents x 5 gold centimes/cent)
British Charge - 2s. 6d.
Hamilton to Dublin, Eire, February 28, 1942
30 cents for each half-ounce air mail rate to Eire
Montreal to Paris, September 30, 1939
30 cents for each half-ounce air mail rate to Europe
Montreal to Paris, April 25, 1940
60 cents for double weight step 1 ounce air mail rate to Europe (2 x 30 cents/half ounce)
Hamilton to Lisbon, Portugal, October 10, 1940
30 cents for each half-ounce air mail rate to Europe
North Bay to Budapest, September 10, 1940
30 cents for each half-ounce air mail rate to Europe
Sweden
Air mail service to Sweden had been cancelled by June 1940. However, service resumed in May 1942. The rate was 40 cents for each per half ounce. This included air conveyance from Canada across the Atlantic.
The cover below was mailed in October, 1942, a few months after the War Issue stamps replaced the Mufti series.
Toronto "Little Norway" to Hoglandstorget, Sweden, October 5, 1942
40 cents for each half ounce rate to Sweden
"Onward Air Transmission" handstamp, London
2. Western Hemisphere Countries
a) Bermuda
The air mail rate to Bermuda remained at the pre-war rate of 15 cents for each half-ounce.
b) West Indies and British Guiana, Mexico, Cuba and Central America
The air mail rates to the West Indies and British Guiana, Mexico and Central America remained at 10 cents for each quarter ounce.
Toronto to New Amsterdam, British Guiana, August 18, 1942
10 cents for each quarter ounce rate to British Guiana
Hollyburn to St. Anne's Bay, Jamaica, April 20, 1940
20 cent for double weight step half ounce air mail rate to West Indies (2 x 10 cents/quarter ounce)
Montreal to Scarborough, Tobago
30 cents for triple weight step three-quarter ounce air mail rate to West Indies ( 3 x 10 cents/quarter ounce)
c) South America
The pre-war rates were unchanged to the two South American rate groups:
i) Northern rate group : Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, French Guiana, Dutch Guiana
The rate was 25 cents for each quarter ounce
Montreal to Cartagena, Colombia, May 29, 1941
25 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate to Colombia
Vancouver to , Venezuela, March 11, 1940
25 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate to Maracaibo,Venezuela
Ste-Anne-de-Beaupre to Caracas, Venezuela, December 11, 1940
25 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate to Venezuela
ii) Southern rate group: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay
35 cents for each quarter ounce
Montreal to Santiago, Chile, October 18, 1941
35 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate to Chile
St. John to Buenos Aires, July 13, 1940
35 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate to Argentina
Montreal to Bello Horizonte, Brazil, December 26, 1940
35 cents for each quarter ounce air mail rate to Brazil
3. War-Time Empire Air Mail Scheme
On September 3, 1939, the Empire Air Mail Scheme which provided for the conveyance of all first class mail by air(6 cents/half ounce for letters and 4 cents for postcards) was suspended. A new Empire Air Mail Scheme was introduced which provided air mail service by the British Empire routes connecting Great Britain to Africa, Asia, and Oceania at 30 cents per half ounce.
Vancouver to Bombay, India, September 8, 1939
30 cents for each half ounce rate to India
An early Empire Route rate cover
Vancouver to Bombay, January 27, 1940
30 cents for each half ounce rate to India
Mailed : January 27, 1940
Received : February 2, 1940
Transit Time : 6 days
Vancouver to Bombay, April 17, 1949
30 cents for each half ounce rate to India
Mailed : April 17, 1940
Received : May 8, 1940
Transit Time : 18 days
Horseshoe RouteIn June 1940, the Italy declared war on Great Britain and the Empire route across the Mediterranean was cancelled, breaking the British routes to Australia and South Africa. A new route, known as the "Horseshoe Route", was established. Mail was conveyed by steamer to Durban, South Africa then flown north to Cairo. Mail was then conveyed via India and Singapore to Australia.
Horseshoe Route 1940 - 1941
Following the Japanese invasion of Southeast Asia in December 1941, the Horseshoe route to Australia was temporarily broken but resumed in February 1942 with the introduction of the Ceylon-Australia route.
Horseshoe Route from 1942
Ceylon- Australian route in red
The rate remained at 30 cent for each half ounce for the duration of the war, but service was very slow as shown below.
To Nigeria
Mail for Nigeria was sent by steamer to Durban then north to Cairo via the Horseshoe Route. From Cairo, the mail was flown across Africa to Lagos, Nigeria, using a route that began operation in August, 1940.
Montreal to Ibadan, Nigeria, November 16, 1940
30 cents Empire Route rate for each half-ounce rate to Nigeria
Horseshoe Route to Cairo then air to Nigeria
Mailed : November 16, 1940
Received : January 13, 1940
Transit Time : 58 days
India
Vancouver to Bombay, India, June 20, 1940
30 cents for each half ounce rate to India
Early "Horseshoe Route" Cover
Sent: June 20, 1940
Received : August 17, 1940
Transit Time : 58 days
4. Trans-Pacific via Pan American Airways
PAA flights over the Pacific continued during the early war years. New trans-Pacific destinations were added in 1940 providing faster service than the Horseshoe Route to Empire destinations. All routes except the San Francisco to Hawaii route were cancelled in December 1941.
New Destinations from August 1940
In August, 1940, PAA service was extended to Canton Island (45 cents/half ounce), New Caledonia (60 cents/half ounce), New Zealand (75 cents/half-ounce), and Australia (90 cents/half ounce).
90 cents 1/2 ounce Clipper rate to Australia
Toronto to Melbourne, Australia, October 8, 1941
$2.70 paying the 1 1/2 ounce triple weight step Clipper rate to Australia
New Destinations June 1941
In June 1941, PAA service was extended to Singapore with connections to India, the Middle East, and Egypt via BOAC. The rate to each destination was 90 cents/half-ounce.
Toronto to Calcutta, India, September 5, 1940
90 cents for each 1/2 ounce trans-Pacific Clipper rate
Vancouver to Singapore, Straits Settlements, September 5, 1941
$1.80 paying the 1 ounce double weight step Clipper rate to Singapore
4. South Atlantic Route (From December 1941)
In December 1941, Pan American Airways was awarded the South Atlantic air mail route (FAM 22) from Miami via Natal, Brazil to Bathurst, Gambia.
Air Mail service from Canada over the South Atlantic Route was introduced in early 1942 to African, Middle East and Asian destinations.
India
Scarborough to Palampur, India, February 6, 1942
Route requested in manuscript: "FLORIDA - BRAZIL"
$1.00 South Atlantic rate via Miami and Brazil to West Africa
The route followed would have been:
PAA FAM 22: Miami-Brazil-Africa
BOAC : Lagos, Nigeria-Khartoum-Cairo-Middle East-India