During the 1967 to 1993 period, Canada Post introduced several faster than regular mail services in addition to Special Delivery. This article looks at the development of fast mail from the Centennial period to 1993, and is organized as follows:
A. Special Delivery : 1967 - 1993
B. Special Letter : 1989 - 1993
C. Xpresspost : From 1993
D. Priority Post : from 1978
A. Special Delivery : 1967 - 1993
In the late 1970s, a Canada Post promotional pamphlet said this about its Special Delivery service:
Special Delivery is an interurban Special Service that gives you our fastest service from arrival at the destination post office to the addressee.Until December 31, 1987, the Special Delivery fee was uniform for mail addressed to all Canadian destinations. This changed on January 1, 1988 when a two-tiered fee was introduced :
Special Delivery is delivered by messenger, letter carrier or lock box, whichever is the fastest service. You can use Special Delivery for $ .60 plus First Class postage. Special Delivery stickers are available at all post offices in Canada.
A. The postal codes of the post office of posting and the post office of delivery had the same first letterSpecial Delivery service was replaced by Xpresspost service on September 1, 1993.
B. The postal codes of the post office of posting and the post office of delivery did not the same first letter
1. June 1, 1967 - August 31, 1976 : 40 cents
Downsview to Guelph, March 20, 1975
8 cents letter rate + 40 cents Special Delivery fee
2. September 1, 1976 -March 31, 1978 : 60 cents
Toronto local letter,March 3, 1977
12 cents letter rate + 60 cents Special Delivery fee
3. April 1, 1978 - March 31, 1979 : 80 cents
Mississauga to Edmonton, August 14, 1978
14 cents letter rate + 80 cents Special Delivery Fee
4. April 1, 1979 - January 14, 1983 : $1.00
Islington to London, January 4, 1983
30 cents letter rate + $1.00 Special Delivery Fee
5. January 15, 1983 - June 23, 1985 : $1.06
Harystown, Nfld. to Calgary, September 23, 1983
32 cents letter rate + $1.06 Special Delivery Fee
Toronto to Member of Parliament, Ottawa, April 15, 1965
Postage free + $1.06 Special Delivery fee
$1.06 Special Delivery fee
6. June 24, 1985 - December 31, 1987 : $1.96
Toronto local letter, August 17, 1985
34 cents letter rate + $1.96 Special Delivery fee
Two-tier Special Delivery Fee Service
A. The postal codes of the post office of posting and the post office of delivery had the same first letter
B. The postal codes of the post office of posting and the post office of delivery did not the same first letter
7. January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1990
A. Same first letters in Postal Code : $1.83
St. Victoire de Beauce (G5K) to Quebec City (G7K), July 20, 1988
37 cents letter rate + $1.83 Special Delivery fee
B. Not same letters in Postal Code : $2.63
Montreal (H4E) to Quebec (G1K), April 22, 1989
38 cents letter rate + $2.63 Special Delivery Fee
8. January 1, 1991 - August 31, 1993
A. Same first letters in Postal Code : $ 1.85
North Vancouver (V7K) to Lytton (V0K), July 2, 1991
40 cents postage + $1.85 Special Delivery fee
B. Not same letters in Postal Code : $2.65
$3.07 paying 42 cents letter rate + $2.65 special delivery fee
B. Special Letter : 1989 -1993
Canada Post Special Letter pamphlet
Special Letter service guaranteed local delivery on the next business day, and two business days between most major Canadian centres. Three options were available:
1. Special Letter envelopes
2. Special Occasion envelopes
3. Special Lettermail labels
1. Special Letter Envelope (Standard)
Red envelopes were used for delivery within the sender's Postal Code area. Blue envelopes were for use anywhere in Canada outside the sender's Postal Code Area.
The small blue Special Envelope (41-016-276 (89-06)) shown below sold for $2.45 each or $12.45 for a package of 6.
Barrington, N.S. to Toronto, November 1, 1989
Accepting Office and Receiving Office cancellations
Special Lettermail Handstamp
Toronto South M4L 3T0, November 3, 1989
2. Special Occasion Envelope
Festive decorations were printed on the Special Occasion envelopes and customers were provided with stickers to customize their greeting. Special Occasion envelopes were given the same service as the standard envelopes and could be used anywhere in Canada.
It is interesting to note that Special Occasion envelopes were cheaper than standard envelopes. When first issued, the Special Occasion envelopes sold for $1.95 while the Blue Special Letter envelope sold for $2.45.
Happy Valley, Labrador to Windsor, Ont., October 11, 1991
Special Letter and Special Occasion Letter service was replaced by another guaranteed delivery service called "Xpresspost" on September 1, 1993. Xpresspost labels were applied to Special letter envelopes still in stock.
3. Special Lettermail Labels
i)Same first letter in Postal Code : $1.82
Colbourne (K0K) to Trenton (K8V), August 25, 1989
38 cents letter rate + $1.82 Special Lettermail fee
ii) Not Same First Letter in Postal Code : $2.62
Quebec City (H7H) to Montreal (G1K), December 7, 1989
38 cents letter rate + $2.62 Special Lettermail fee
b) January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1990
Not Shown
c) After January 1, 1991
Special Letternail was replaced by Special Delivery on January 1, 1991.
Calgary (T2E) to Toronto (M9W), May 10, 1991
40 cents letter rate + $2.65 Special Delivery fee
C. Xpresspost
Xpresspost sevvice was the guaranteed letter service which replaced Special Delivery service and Special Letter/Ocassion envelopes on September 1, 1993. Xpresspost included delivery confirmation through a toll-free automated telephone system. Fees were based on weight and distance. For example, there were 7 postal code delivery zones.
The service standard was within 1 or 2 business days between most major Canadian centres. If not delivered to the service standard, a replacement product was provided or shipping charges were refunded.
Frankford (Postal Code "K") to North York (Postal Code "M"), July 29, 1994
$2.50 Xpresspost fee
St. Catharines (Postal Code "L") to Scarborough (Postal Code "M"). August 31, 1995
$2.75 Xpressost fee
Xpresspost is a service still provided by Canada Post.
D. Priority Post
On May 1, 1978, Canada Post implemented Priority Post, a next day scheduled parcel post delivery service, available between designated post
officesto compete with courier services. Priority Post rates were based on the location of the addressee and the weight of the item. In 1984, Priority Post courier envelopes were introduced (not shown in this post).
Mississauga to Toronto, January 14, 1984
$7.42 Priority Post rate
$7.42 Priority Post rate
St-Leonard to Markham, September 29, 1986
$5.10 Priority Post rate
International Priority Post
Willowdale to Munich, June 13, 1986
Meter paying $29.68 Priority Post rate for 500g
In 1987, stamps or meter impressions were no longer affixed to the item as we see in the above examples. Postage was applied to that part of the Priority Post form retained by the post office.
Today, Canada Post offers "Priority" service.
