Letter
rates from Canada to the United Kingdom as well as to British Empire
destinations are the subject of this post. In the first section of this
article, colonial and early Dominion rates to the United Kingdom from
1859 to 1898 are explained. The preferred letter rates to the United
Kingdom did not apply to all its colonies, protectorates and the
Dominions until the introduction of the uniform Imperial letter rate on
December 25, 1898. The second section of this article covers the 1898
to 1971 period.The preferential rates were abolished in 1971 and
replaced with a uniform international letter rate.
A. Letter Rates to the United Kingdom : 1859 - 1898
Steamship Packets : Samuel Cunard and Hugh Allan
Samuel Cunard
Samuel Cunard commemorative stamp, Canada Post Corporation 2004
R.M.S. Persia, Cunard Line
1856
Hugh Allan
In 1855, the government of the Province of Canada awarded a contract to
Hugh Allan to operate a line of ocean steamers to carry the mail between
Liverpool and Québéc or Montreal in the summer, and Portland, Maine and
Liverpool in the winter. By 1859, service was on a weekly basis.
Hugh Allan commemorative stamp, Canada Post Corporation, 2004
Canadian, 1855
1. June 1859 - December 31, 1867
Prior
to Confederation, letters could be sent by Canadian packet (Allan Line)
at 12 1/2 cents per half oz., or via New York (usually Cunard Line) at
17 cents per half oz. The higher rate for letters going to the U.K. via
New York was in part due to a U.S. transit fee. It is interesting to
note that the U.S. transit fee did not apply to winter Canadian packet
mail sailings from Portland, Maine. George Arfken suggests that the
transit fees were levied on winter mail but that the fees were absorbed
by the Canadian Post Office.
Canadian Packet : 12 1/2 cents
Brockville to Barnstaple, February 6, 1865
12 1/2 cents Canadian Packet rate
The use of stamps to prepay postage was not compulsory until 1875.
Kinkora to Dublin, November 22, 1962
12 1/2 cents (6d. Sterling) Canadian Packet rate
Via Canadian Line Paid
Via the United States : 17 cents
Woodstock to Cork, July 7, 1860
17 cents rate via the United States (U.S. transit fee included)
Montreal to Esher, England, January 13, 1862
17 cents rate via the United States ( U.S. transit fee included)
PAID 17 cts
8d. sterling = 10 Cy (the former Canadian monetary unit) =17 cents
2. January 1, 1868 - December 31, 1869
In
1867, the U.K. and the U.S. entered into a new postal convention which
reduced the U.S. transit fee. Effective January 1, 1868 the Cunard rate
was reduced from 17 cents to 15 cents per half ounce. The Canadian
packet fee remained unchanged at 12 1/2 cents.
Canadian Packet : 12 1/2 cents
Windsor, Nova Scotia to Lee, Kent, England, July 16, 1868
12 1/2 cents Canadian Packet rate applied
Carried from Halifax to Queenston, Ireland by the Inman Line (British) Etna
Toronto to Leek, England, October 8, 1868
12 1/2 cents (6 d. Sterling) Canadian Packet rate
6 Stg = 12 1/2 cents
Via the United States : 15 cents
(Not in author's collection)
Quebec to London, April 1869
15 cents via the United States
3. January 1, 1870 - August 31, 1875
Effective
January 1 1870, the U.K. and the U.S. agreed to slash the letter rate
to 6 cents per half oz. The rate for letters sent from Canada to the
U.K. via New York including U.S. transit was thus reduced from 15
cents to 8 cents per half oz., considerably cheaper than the Canadian
packet 12 1/2 cents rate. The Canadian Post Office responded by lowering
the Canadian packet rate from 12 1/2 cents to 6 cents also effective on
January 1, 1870.
Canadian Packet : 6 Cents
Allan Line Winter Sailing via Portland, Maine
Montreal to Liverpool, December 18, 1872
6 cents Canadian Packet Rate
(U.S. transit fee probably absorbed by Canada Post Office)
Goderich to Liverpool, July 8, 1870
6 cents Canadian Packet Rate
Via the United States : 8 Cents
(Not in author's collection)
Halifax to Rugby, England, October 10, 1871
8 cents via the United States (New York)
4. September 1, 1875 - December 24, 1898
On
September 1, 1875, Canada Post Office announced that postage rate on
letters from Canada to the United Kingdom from October 1, 1875 would be 5
cents per half ounce by Canada packet or by closed mail via the United
States. The 5 cent rate was a preferred rate matching the 5 cent General
Postal Union (later Universal Postal Union) rate.
Quebec to London, October 11, 1879
5 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom
B. Rates to the U.K. and British Empire From 1898
1. December 25, 1898 - April 14, 1915
Imperial Penny Postage
At
a conference on postage rates held in London, England, in 1898,
William Mulock, Postmaster General of Canada, proposed an Imperial one
penny letter rate. The Imperial Penny Postage came into effect on
December 25, 1898. The rate to the United Kingdom and the British Empire
consisting of Dominions, colonies and protectorates was 2 cents for
each half ounce.
To
mark the event, the Canada Post Office issued a 2 cent (equivalent to
British 1d.) commemorative stamp on December 7,
1898 which showed the vastness of the British Empire.
2 cent commemorative "Imperial Penny Postage" stamp
Issued December 7, 1898
Ancaster to London, April 17, 1899
2 cents per half oz. letter rate
(Map stamp oxidized - "muddy" oceans effect)
Halifax and St. John Mail Car to London, July 31, 1899
2 cents per half oz. letter rate
Welland to Cheltenham, February 28, 1911
2 cents per half oz. letter rate
Hamilton to Veereeniging, South Africa, October 21, 1907
2 cents British Empire letter rate for each half ounce
St. Thomas to London, December 14, 1912
2 cents per half oz. letter rate
Toronto to Lauriya, India, March 8, 1915
2 cents British Empire letter rate for each half ounce
War Tax Period I
2. April 15, 1915 - September 31, 1921
On
April 15, 1915, the letter rate was changed from 2 cents for each half
ounce to 2 cents for each ounce, a rate reduction. However, a 1 cent War
Tax was imposed on the 1st step letter rate resulting in a total of 3
cents for a one ounce letter to the U.K. or British Empire destinations.
Toronto to Reading, February 4, 1921
3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom
Vancouver to Baudra, July 16, 1917
3 cents paying 2 cents British Empire letter rate for each ounce plus 1 cent War Tax
Postage Rate Increase
3. October, 1921 - June 30, 1926
Ottawa (House of Commons) to Liverpool, March 26, 1926
4 cents paying 3 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom
Brampton to New Town, Tasmania, June 22, 1926
4 cents paying 3 cents British Empire letter rate for each ounce plus 1 cent War Tax
War Tax Removed
4. July 1, 1926 - December 24, 1928
Collingwood ( Hamilton and Meaford RPO No. 3) to London, July 8, 1928
3 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom
Rate Reduction
5. December 25, 1928 - June 30, 1931
On December 25, 1928, the letter rate to the United Kingdom was reduced from 3 cents to 2 cents per ounce.
Welland to London, March 14, 1929
2 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom
Post Office in the Province of Quebec to St. Johns, Nfdl., January 28, 1929
2 cents Empire letter rate
Montreal to Sydney Australia, December 5, 1930
2 cents Empire letter rate
War Tax II
6. July 1, 1931- March 31, 1943
Hamilton to Brisbane, Australia, October 8, 1931
3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax
Saint John, N.B., to Bombay, July 20, 1930
3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax
Quebec to Nairobi, Kenya, September 26, 1933
3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax
Toronto (House of Assembly) to Bedford, England, January 26, 1935
3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom
Toronto to Hamilon, Bermuda, March 27, 1935
3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax
Drummondville to Kew Gardens, June 25, 1936
3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom
Beauharnois to Pretoria, South Africa, February 4, 1937
3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax
Toronto to Newton-Stewart, Scotland, August 18, 1941
3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom
Hamilton to Port Louis, Mauritius, July 30, 1940
3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax Empire letter rate
Toronto to Bolton, August 4, 1942
3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom
February 1938 - September 1939 : Compulsory "ALL- UP" Service to the British Empire
While the British letter rate to Empire destinations was the same as the 1 1/2 d. inland rate, this was not the case for Canadian letters. The surface letter rate of 3 cents per ounce to British Empire destinations was abolished and replaced with a higher all-up rate of 6 cents per one-half ounce. The post card rate was increased from 2 cents to 4 cents.
The 1937-38 Official Canada Postal Guide described the service as follows:
Instructional handstamp applied by Canada Post Office on letters posted to Empire destinations
Charlo Station, N.B., to Aden Camp, March 1, 1938 (2nd day of Empire Mail Scheme)
6 cents per half ounce Empire Air Mail Scheme rate
Shortpaid 3 cents but not taxed
Montreal to Pretoria, South Africa April 25, 1938
6 cents per half ounce Empire Air Mail Scheme rate
Winnipeg to India, June 2, 1939
6 cents per half ounce Empire Air Mail Scheme rate
The 1 ounce cover shown below to South Africa shows how the rates to Empire destinations increased when the compulsory scheme was in effect. Prior to February 1938, the surface rate for 1 oz. to South Africa was 3 cents. The 1 oz. letter rate jumped to 12 cents under the Empire Mail Scheme.
Kentville Sanitorium to Bloemfontein, South Africa, November 15, 1938
12 cents paying the 1 oz. (double weight) Empire Air Mail Scheme rate
Postage Due
Lunenburg to Pretoria, July 14, 1938
6 cents per half ounce Empire letter rate
Shortpaid 1 cent and taxed 10 centimes by the Canada Post Office
The amount due in South Africa was 1 d.
War Tax III
7. April 1, 1943 - June 30, 1951
Toronto to London, June 29, 1943
4 cents paying 2 cents postage + 2 cents War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom
Wygard to Georgetown, British Guiana, April 18, 1944
4 cents paying 3 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax Empire letter rate
Toronto to St. Helena, February 11, 1949
4 cents paying 3 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax Empire letter rate
War Tax Incorporated Into Letter Rate
8. July 1, 1951 - March 31, 1954
Decolonization and the Commonwealth
Soon after the war, Britain began the process of decolonization, granting independence to its colonies and protectorates. Most former British colonies and protectorates joined the British Commonwealth of Nations (now the Commonwealth of Nations) which was constituted in 1949. Canada Post Office replaced the term "British Empire" when referring to rates with "British Commonwealth of Nations, British Colonies and Protectorates".
Campbell River to Alnwick, July 6, 1953
4 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom
Ottawa to Port Moseby, Papua, February 6, 1954
4 cents Commonwealth letter rate
(Forwarded to Australia)
9. April 1, 1954 - October 31, 1968
On
April 1, 1954, the letter rate to the United Kingdom increased to 5
cents for the first ounce and 3 cents for each additional ounce.
Kingston to Ipwich, November 25, 1954
5 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom
Ottawa to Matamata, New Zealand, December 15, 1954
5 cents Commonwealth letter rate
Montreal to London, February 16, 1963
5 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom
Revelstoke to Linstead, Jamaica, March 24, 1966
5 cents Commonwealth letter rate
Victoria to Cambridge, February 28, 1967
5 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom
Burlington to Sydney, Australia, October 16, 1968
5 cents Commonwealth letter rate
10. November 1, 1968 - June 30, 1971
On
November 1, 1968, the letter rate to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth destinations was increased
to 6 cents for the first ounce and 4 cents for each additional ounce.
Lakefield to Crowden, December 19, 1969
6 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom
Winnipeg to Canberra, Australia, December
6 cents Commonwealth letter rate
1971 UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL LETTER RATE
The
preferential letter rates to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth had been the
same as the domestic forward letter rates since 1931. On July 1, 1971
the preferential rate to Britain was abolished and replaced with the 15
cents per ounce "all-up"international letter rate.
Whitehorse to Westminster, August 1971
15 cents per ounce international letter rate
The covers below are examples of letters to the United Kingdom franked incorrectly at the domestic letter rate after the 15 cents international letter rate came into effect.
7 cents domestic rate : July 31, 1971 - December 31, 1971
Vancouver to Westcliffe on Sea, November 29, 1971
15 cents international letter rate
7 cents affixed (domestic letter rate) thus short paid 8 cents
Canadian Tax Fraction : 16/15
British charge : 5p postage due
Canadian Tax Fraction : 16/15
British charge : 5p postage due
The tax fraction system for international short paid mail is explained HERE.
8 cents domestic rate : from January 1, 1972
St. Stephen to Bradford, January 15, 1972
15 cents international letter rate
8 cents affixed (domestic letter rate) thus short paid 7 cents
Canadian Tax Fraction : 14/15
British charge : 3p postage due
Arfken, George and Pawluk, William, A Canadian Postal History 1897 - 1911 The Maple Leaf, Numeral, and King Edward Era, British North American Philatelic Society, 2006
Canadian Tax Fraction : 14/15
British charge : 3p postage due
References
Arfken, George and Pawluk, William, A Canadian Postal History 1897 - 1911 The Maple Leaf, Numeral, and King Edward Era, British North American Philatelic Society, 2006
Handbook on Transatlantic Mail, J.C. Arnell, Editor, Handbook Number 1, Transatlantic Study Group, British North American Philatelic Society, 1987
Canadian Letter Rates to the UK, the US Transit Fee and the Cunard Surtax (Part 1), George B. Arfken, Maple Leaves , Vol 20 , Aug 1987, pp 264-68
Canadian Letter Rates to the UK, the US Transit Fee and the Cunard Surtax (Part 2), George B. Arfken, Maple Leaves , Vol 20, Oct 1987, pp. 293-299
Smith,R.C. and Wawrukiewicz, A., Canada Domestic and International Postal Rates and Fees 1870-1899, The Press for Philately, Snow Camp, N.C., 2000
