The Post-War Years
1945 - 1949
United States Rates and Fees
Rates for letters, post cards and air mail service to the United States had been in effect since April 1, 1943. Other rates and fees had been introduced prior to 1943. In January 1947, there was a reduction in the additional ounce air mail rate from 6 cents to 5 cents.
1. Letter Rates
The letter rate was 4 cents for the first ounce and 2 cents for each additional ounce.
Trois-Rivieres to Pueblo, Colorado, October 29, 1946
4 cents letter rate
Kingston to Providence, R.I., March 16, 1946
4 cents letter rate
"Authorized For Export By Foreign Exchange Control Board" handstamp
Kingston to Chicago, May 11, 1948
4 cents letter rate
U.S. "Collect 10 cents/ Customs Clearance" handstamp
Toronto to Newark, May 3, 1948
4 cents letter rate
2. Post Card
The post card rate was 3 cents.
White Horse to Juneau, Alaska, November 25, 1945
3 cents post card rate
Martyr's Shrine (Midland) to Clifton, N.J., August 17, 1947
3 cents post card rate
Shortpaid
Seaforth to Cheviot, Ohio, July 6, 1949
3 cents post card rate
Shortpaid 1 cent and taxed 2 cents
"leave in box 2c" written in pencil
Niagara Falls to Oceanside, N.Y., August 27, 1949
3 cents post card rate
Shortpaid 2 cents and taxed 4 cents
4. Airmail
The air mail rate to the United States was 7 cents for the first ounce and 6 cents for each additional ounce. In January 1947, the rate for each additional ounce was reduced to 5 cents which was the same as the Candian air mail domestic rate.
Calgary to Aurora, Ill., March 17, 1947
7 cents air mail rate
Regina to Davenport, Iowa, November 22, 1949
7 cents air mail rate
Department of Reconstruction and Supply
Ottawa to Washington, March 9, 1949
OHMS perfin
7 cents air mail rate
St. Johns, Nfld., to West New York, N.J., November 11, 1949
7 cents air mail rate
Vancouver to Cuba, N.Y., February 11, 1948
7 cents air mail rate
Mission City to Honolulu, August 29, 1947
12 cents two ounce air mail rate
Shortpaid 5 cents and taxed 10 cents
Post Card, Vancouver to Los Angeles, March 31, 1949
7 cents air mail rate
4. Printed Matter
The printed matter rate was 1 cent for each two ounces.
Elmira to Cleveland, June 1, 1948
1 cent printed matter rate
5. Second Class Matter
Second class matter consisted of newspapers and periodicals. Several rates were in effect. The example shown below is the 1 cent for each 4 ounce rate.
Seaforth (undated roller) to Onaway, Mich.
1 cent wrapper used for second class matter
"Sept. 1.48" printed on the address label is likely the expiry date of the subscription
THIS WRAPPER TO BE USED ONLY BY PUBLISHERS FOR THE SOLE
PURPOSE OF MAILING SECOND CLASS MATTER TO THE UNITED STATES
6. Registration
The registration fee was 10 cents.
Montreal to New York, April 15, 1946
4 cents letter rate + 10 cents registration fee
Fairview Station to New York, October 25, 1947
4 cents letter rate + 10 cents registration fee
U.S. Customs Fees
Letters and letter packages entering the U.S. from foreign countries which were opened by customs were to be charged 10 cents for each piece collected from the addressee. The money received was to be accounted for by the affixing of postage due stamps to each letter or letter package.
Registered 8 ounce letter, Montreal to Midlothian, Ill., December 7, 1948
16 cents letter rate + 10 cents registration fee
Registered 2 ounce air mail letter, Montreal to New York, May 14, 1949
12 cents air mail rate + 10 cents registration fee
7. Special Delivery
The special delivery fee was 10 cents
Victoria to Olympia, Wash., August 23, 1945
7 cents air mail rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
Canadian Pacific Air Lines Limited correspondence to St. Paul, Minn., August 27, 1949
7 cents air mail rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
CPR perfins
Windsor to Detroit, February 8, 1949
4 cents letter rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
Shortpaid
Shortpaid special delivery mail was taxed at double the deficiency.
Windsor to Louisville, July 17, 1947
4 cents letter rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
Shortpaid 4 cents and taxed 8 cents
Air mail, registered, special delivery. Montreal to Centerville, Miss., September 20, 1948
7 cents air mail rate + 10 cents registration fee + 10 cents special delivery
