Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Centennial Period International Air Mail Post Card Rates

Dozens of posts dealing with the Canadian Centennial definitive issue (1967 - 1973) have been published in the nearly four years Postal History Corner has been on-line. The original post dealing with international air mail post card rates was published on June 10, 2010. 

[Note: U.S. rates are not included in this article]  

The international air mail post card rate to all countries was 10 cents, a rate which had been introduced on January 1 1966. The air mail post card rate remained unchanged during the Centennial period. On July 1, 1971, the surface post card rate to all destinations was increased to 10 cents, the same rate as that for air mail service, eliminating the surface post card rate.

1. To June 30, 1971

Senders had the option of transmitting their post cards by surface mail (link) or by air mail.


German Federal Republic


Toronto to Munich, October 5, 1967
10 cents air mail post card rate

 Austria

Halifax to Vienna, September 28, 1967
10 cents air mail post card rate

Belgium
 
Montreal to Brussels, July 2, 1967
10 cents air mail post card rate

 Netherlands
 
Montreal to Amsterdam, July 14, 1967
10 cents air mail post card rate





Iceland
 
 Montreal to Reykjavik, May 12, 1967
10 cents air mail post card rate

Switzerland

 Montreal to Zug, August 29, 1967
10 cents air mail post card rate

 New Zealand

Montreal to Wellington, Jume 1, 1967
10 cents air mail post card rate

Hong Kong

Toronto to Hong Kong, July 1969
10 cents air mail post card rate

Indonesia

 Vancouver to Palembang, May 13, 1971
10 cents air mail post card rate

 India

 Expo 67 Montreal to Madras, June 13, 1967
10 cents air mail post card rate

 Mali

 Delta to Sangha, September 26, 1969


2. From July 1, 1971

The surface post card rate to all destinations was increased to 10 cents, the same as the air mail post card rate, eliminating the surface post card service.

Great Britain

Macdonald College to York, June 27, 1972
10 cents international post card rate

 Jasper Park Lodge to Edinburgh, August 7, 1972
 10 cents air mail post card rate



Calgary to London, October 1, 1973
10 cents post card rate

 Change of Address card (5-72)


German Federal Republic

 Toronto to Munich, October 12, 1972
10 cents international post card rate

Sweden

 Quebec to Orebro, July 6, 1971
10 cents international post card rate

Italy

 Toronto to Venice, 1972
10 cents international post card rate

Norway

 Vancouver to Asmark, June 13, 1972
10 cents international post card rate

Tonga
 
 Victoria to Vava'u, April 23, 1972
10 cents international post card rate

Martinique
 
 Sorel to Trois Islets, August 1, 1974
10 cents international post card rate



Insufficiently Prepaid

 a) To June 30, 1971

Air conveyance required that at least 75% of the air mail rate was prepaid, otherwise the card was sent by surface mail.  The post card shown below was shortpaid for air conveyance. 6 cents paid 60% of the 10 cents air mail rate. Since 75% prepayment was required, the card was sent by surface mail (7 cents).

Toronto to Pavina, May 28, 1969
Shortpaid for air conveyance and sent by surface mail at 7 cent UPU surface rate
Shortpaid 1 cents and Canada tax fraction 2/12 applied
No indication that the Italian post office charged the addressee postage due


b) From July 1, 1970

On July 1, 1971 the surface post card rates were abolished. The post card rate to all destinations was now 10 cents, the same as the air mail rate. Insufficiently prepaid cards regardless of the amount prepaid were now taxed and conveyed by air.

 Pointe-Claire-Dorval to New Malden, England, August 22, 1971
10 cents international post card rate
Shortpaid 3 cents and Canada T marking 6/12
The numerator was correct, but the denominator should have been 15 
The Canadian international letter rate increased from 12c to 15c on July 1, 1971


British 2p due handstamp
2p was the minimum amount charged from February 15, 1971 to December 31, 1975


The correct T fraction was applied to the short paid post card shown below mailed in 1973.



 Wellington to South Benfleet, England, July 17, 1973
10 cents international post card rate
Shortpaid 2 cents and correctly taxed 4/15
Charged the minimum 2p by the British Post Office


 Czechoslovakia

 Minett to Prague, July 1973
10 cents international post card rate
Shortpaid 2 cents
The Canadian post office did not apply a T fraction (T4 indicated that 4 cents was due)
The Czechoslovak post office charged 2 Kcs postage due

Hong Kong

 Winnipeg to Hong Kong, October 13, 1972
10 cents international post card rate
Shortpaid 5 cents
Canada Tax Fraction 10/15