Letter/Post Card Rates to the United States : 1972 - 2000

Letter (first weight step) and post card rates to the United States increased from 8 cents to 55 cents in the last quarter of the twentieth century. This post looks at the first weight step rate changes from 1972 to 2000.

A. Surface - Air Mail Period

8 cents Surface Rate : January 1, 1972 - February 29, 1976

The surface letter rate was 8 cents for the first ounce.


Calgary to Buffalo, May 3, 1974
8 cents surface letter rate for one ounce


10 cents Air Mail Rate : November 1, 1968 - February 29, 1976

The air mail rate was 10 cents for the first ounce. The 10 cent air mail rate had been introduced on November 1, 1968.


Red Deer to Port Chester, N.Y., April 28, 1975
10 cents air mail letter rate for the first ounce


B. All-Up Service

The surface/ air mail rate distinctions were abolished. All letter mail to the United States was forwarded the most expeditious way.

10 cent All-Up Service : March 1, 1976 - March 31, 1977

The rate for all letter mail to the United States was 10 cents.



Richmond, B.C., to Jackson, Miss., January 17, 1977
10 cents all-up letter rate



Aylmer West to Portland, Oregon, April 22 1976 (7:00 am cancellation)
8 cents affixed originally, thus shortpaid 2 cents
The letter was returned to the sender for additional postage:



2 cents added (Macdonald definitives) and cancelled at Aylmer West, August 22 1976 (10 p.m. cancellation)


12 cents: March 1, 1977 - March 31, 1978

Lachine to Milwaukee, October 11, 1977
12 cents letter rate



14 cents : April 1, 1978 - March 31, 1979


Kapuskasing to New York, July 31, 1978
14 cents letter rate for the first ounce


17 cents (up to 1 ounce) :
April 1, 1979 - June 30, 1979


Mississauga (L4W 1T0) to Sun City, Ca., May 1, 1979
17 cent letter rate for one ounce


17 cents (up to 30 grams) :
July 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981

Letter weights were now measured in grams.


Macamic to Holland, Mich., November 21, 1981
17 cents letter rate for 30 grams


35 cents : January 1, 1982 - January 14, 1983


Toronto (M4L 3T0) to Tamarac, Florida, September 17, 1982
35 cents letter rate for 30 grams


37 cents : January 15, 1983 - June 23 1985


Kazlo to Daly City, July 6, 1984
37 cents letter rate for 30 grams


39 cents : June 24, 1985 - March 31, 1987


Kingston, N.S., to Arlington, Va., December 4, 1986
39 cents letter rate
Forwarding label affixed


42 cents : April 1, 1987 - December 31, 1987


Meteghan River, N.S. to Mount Clemens, Mich., December 10, 1987
42 cents letter rate


43 cents : January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1988


Toronto to San Diego, August 21, 1988
(Change of Address Card)
43 cents letter/post card rate


44 cents : January 1, 1989 - December 31, 1989


Salmon Arm to Anderson, In., July 4 1989
44 cents letter rate


45 cents : January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1990


Scarborough to Clearwater, May 19, 1990
45 cents letter rate


46 cents : January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1991


Comox to Palmyra, N.Y., December 23, 1991
46 cents letter rate

48 cents : January 1, 1992 - December 31, 1992


Port Colborne to Buffalo, November 9, 1992
48 cents letter rate

49 cents : January 1, 1993 - February 28, 1994


Beauvallon, N.B., to Indianapolis, July 16, 1993
49 cents letter rate


50 cents : March 1 1994 - July 31 1995


Nanaimo to Longview, Wash., April 11, 1995
50 cents letter rate


52 Cents : August 1, 1995 - December 31, 1998


Toronto to Chicago, May 1, 1998
52 cents letter rate


55 cents : January 1999 - December 31 2000


Saint John to Chicago, December 1, 2000
55 cents letter rate to end the 20th Century

1964 Charlottetown Conference

The Charlottetown Conference was held in Charlottetown, P.E.I., for representatives from the colonies of British North America, Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, to discuss Canadian Confederation. The conference took place between September 1-9 1864.


National Archives of Canada

On June 1, 1935, the Canada Post Office issued a 13 cent definitive stamp featuring the above photograph of the Charlottetown Conference delegates.


National Archives of Canada
To mark the 100th Anniversary of the Charlottetown Conference, the Canada Post Office issue a 5 cent commemorative stamp on July 29, 1964.

Stamp Essays


National Archives of Canada
Philip Weiss


National Archives of Canada
Philip Weiss


National Archives of Canada
Ernst Roch
The seed that grew into a maple tree!

Approved Design


National Archives of Canada
Harvey Thomas Prosser

The stamp design was described as follows in the Post Office Department Press Release:

The stamp illustrates the new Fathers of Confederation Memorial which has been constructed in Charlottetown to mark the centenary of the historic meeting. At the left is the Provincial Building, site of the original conference. The new complex contains many public buildings including a library and an auditorium, all of modern design in contrast with the traditional structure of the Provincial Building immediately adjacent to it. The stamp was detailed and engraved by the Canadian Bank Note Company Limited, based on suggestions put forward by Philip Weiss of Ottawa, designer of many Canadian postage stamps.

First Day Covers

Canada Envelope Company




Schering Corporation

Schering Corporation and Canada Envelope Company used the same cachet for its advertising mailings























Royal Trust Company

(Not in author's collection)

Usages

Domestic Forward Letter


Montreal to Woodstock, August 24, 1964
5 cents forward letter rate

1964 World Peace

Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth) was the a papal encyclical issued by Pope John Paul XXIII on April 11, 1963. The encyclical did not address Catholics only, but also "all men of good will". The encyclical was written in response to the tensions arising from the Cold War.

The Canadian Post Office's "Pacem in Terris" stamp was released on April 8, 1964. It is interesting to note that the Post Office made no reference to the papal encyclical in its press releases.

Essays






First Day Covers
































Canada Post Office Announcement Cover


Canadian Post Office first day cover. The CPO used "Rosecraft" envelopes to announce the release of the Peace stamp. This announcement was mailed to Jamaica.







Usages

Domestic Forward Letter


Royal Swedish Embassy, Ottawa to Lakefield, April 21, 1964
5 cents forward letter rate



Calgary to Vancouver, April 27, 1963


Domestic Special Delivery


Montreal local letter, May 5 1964
Local postage 4 cents unpaid
Special Delivery fee 25 cents paid
Taxed 8 cents, double the deficiency


International Air Mail

Kelowna to Uusikaupunki, Finland, May 4, 1964

15 cents paying the half ounce air mail letter rate to Europe

Index

Post-Centennial Period (1972 - 2000)

1.Domestic Letter/Post Card Rates
2. International Letter Rates
3. Taxation International Lausanne Handling Charge  
4. U.S. Letter Rates