Postal History Corner

Friday, April 18, 2014

Centennial Period (1967 - 1971) International Surface Letter 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 surface letter rates was published on June 9, 2010.

There were two international surface letter rate destinations (excluding the United States) in effect during the 1967 - 1971 Centennial period:

Destinations to which standard UPU rates applied

Destinations to which lower preferential rates applied : Great Britain and places within the Commonwealth, Republic of Ireland, France, Spain, countries of North, Central and South America, and West Indies.

Period 1 : to October 31, 1968

Standard UPU Rate

The standard rate international surface letter rate was 10 cents for the first ounce and 7 cents for each added ounce. The 10 cent rate had been in effect since December 1, 1966.

Sweden

Calgary to Vaenersborg, Sweden, November 30, 1967

10 cents UPU surface letter rate

Switzerland

Scarborough to Pfaffikon, Switzerland, November 13, 1971

10 cents UPU surface letter rate

Insufficiently Paid Mail

In 1966, the centimes method indicating the postage due for international mail was replaced by a "tax fraction" (Vienna Convention) system. Insufficiently paid letters were marked with a "T" and a fraction. The numerator was double the amount shortpaid, and the denominator was the country of origin's international single letter rate. The receiving office multiplied the fraction by its international letter rate to calculate the amount due in the receiving office's currency.

Sweden

Toronto to Stockholm, November 15, 1967

10 cents UPU letter rate

Shortpaid 5 cents

Canadian Tax Fraction :

Swedish Calculation and Postage Due:

The Swedish international letter rate was 70 ore which was multiplied by the tax fraction, 10/10, to obtain the amount due in Swedish ore:

Swedish postage due label and stamp paying amount due (cancelled December 12, 1967)

Netherlands

Edmonton to The Hague, July 25, 1968

10 cents UPU surface letter rate - underpaid 5 cents

Canadian tax fraction 10/10

Dutch postage due : 45 cents

s'Gravenhage postage due meter 45 cents

Denmark

Vancouver to Kalundborg February 19, 1968

10 cents UPU surface letter rate - underpaid 4 cents

Canadian tax fraction 8/10

Danish postage due : 80 ore

Switzerland

Toronto to Zurich, June 25, 1968

10 cents UPU surface letter rate - underpaid 4 cents

Canadian tax fraction 8/10

Swiss postage due : 40 cents

Ville-de-Laval to Switzerland, June 14, 1968

10 cents UPU surface letter rate - unpaid

Canadian tax fraction 20/10

Swiss postage due : 100 cents

Canadian tax fraction

Belgium

The cover below was marked "Printed Matter" but was sealed and taxed as an underpaid letter.

Oakville to Bois-d'Haim, February 5, 1968

10 cents UPU surface letter rate - underpaid 5 cents

Canadian tax fraction 10/10

Belgian postage due : 6 francs

South Africa

Victoria to Capetown, August 22, 1968

10 cents UPU surface letter rate - underpaid 5 cents

Canadian tax fraction 10/10

South African postage due : 5 cents

Preferential Rate

The international preferential surface letter rate was 5 cents for the first ounce and 3 cents for each additional ounce. The 5 cents letter rate was introduced on April 1, 1954.

Malaysia

Creston to Penang, Malaysia, August 19, 1968

5 cents preferential Commonwealth surface letter rate

Great Britain

Victoria to Cambridge, England, February 28, 1967

5 cents preferential surface letter rate to Great Britain

Australia

Burlington to Sydney, Australia, October 16, 1968

5 cents preferential Commonwealth surface letter rate

Insufficiently Paid

Great Britain

Montreal to London, March 13, 1968

5 cents preferential surface letter rate to Great Britain

Shortpaid 1 cent

Canadian tax fraction : 2/10

British Postage Due : 3d. (the minimum amount charged)

Period 2 : November 1, 1968 to June 30, 1971

Standard UPU Rate

On November 1, 1968, The UPU surface letter rate was increased from 10 cents to 12 cents for the first ounce and 7 cents for each additional ounce.

Germany

Winnipeg to Nurnberg, May 6, 1969

12 cents UPU surface letter rate

Belgium

Montreal to Brussels, January 29 1971
12 cents UPU surface letter rate

Iran

Ottawa to Rezaieh, Iran, June 26,1970

12 cent UPU surface letter rate

Insufficiently Prepaid

Austria

Vancouver to Klosterneuburg. December 30, 1968

12 cents UPU surface letter rate

Shortpaid 6 cents

Denmark

Montreal to Copenhagen, November 27, 1968

12 cents UPU surface letter rate

Shortpaid 6 cents : Canadian tax fraction 12/12

Danish postage due 90 ore

Sweden

Toronto to Stockholm, June 29, 1970

12 cents UPU surface letter rate

Shortpaid 6 cents

Canadian tax fraction

Swedish 70 ore postage due label and stamp paying amount due

German Federal Republic

Winnipeg to Nurenberg, June 16, 1970

12 cent UPU surface letter rate

6 cents shortpaid and Canadian tax fraction 12/12 applied

West German postage due 50 pfennig (blue crayon); Germany did not print postage due labels

Luxembourg

Cobourg to Remich, July 12, 1969

12 cents UPU surface letter rate

Shortpaid 6 cents

Canadian tax fraction : 12/12

Luxembourg due : 6 francs

South Africa

Peterborough to Benoni Transvaal, February 24, 1969

12 cents UPU surface letter rate

Shortpaid 3 cents

Preferential Rate

The international preferential surface letter rate was increased from 5 cents to 6 cents for the first ounce and 4 cents for each additional ounce on November 1, 1968.

Great Britain

Lakefield to Croydon, England, December 19, 1969

6 cents preferential surface letter rate to Great Britain

Australia

Winnipeg to Canberra, Australia, November 26, 1969

6 cents preferential surface letter rate to Commonwealth countries

Insufficiently Prepaid

Great Britain

Toronto to Salisbury, England, November 19, 1968

6 cents preferential surface letter rate to Great Britain

Shortpaid 1 cent : Canadian tax 2/12

British postage due : 3d. (the minimum amount charged)

From July 1, 1971 : "All-Up" air mail

On July 1 1971, the international air mail letter rate to all countries (excluding the U.S.) was set at 15 cents per ounce. More significantly, the surface and air mail rates for items up to 8 ounces to all destinations were the same, effectively eliminating the surface letter rate for items weighing up to 8 ounces.

Whitehorse to Westminster, England, August 21, 1971

The letter rate to all international destinations (except the United States) for the first ounce was 15 cents.

Surface Rates

(Up to 8 oz., letters were conveyed by air)

Rates per item:

i)1 oz. or less------------------------ .15
ii) more than 1 oz. but
not more than 2 oz.------------------.30
iii)more than 2 oz. but
not more than 4 oz.------------------.40
iv) more than 4 oz. but
no more than 8 oz.-------------------.90
v) more than 8 oz.
but no more than 1 lb.--------------1.60
vi) more than 1 lb.
but no more than 2 lbs.-------------2.65
viii) more than 2 lbs
but no more than 4 lbs.-------------4.25

Air Mail Rates

For air mail letters weighing more than 8 ounces there were two rate destinations (excluding the USA):

Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Europe, Bermuda, Mexico, Central and South America, West Indies:

v) more than 8 oz. but
not more than 12 oz.----------------2.00
vi)more than 12 oz. but
not more than 1 lb.------------------2.80
vi) each additional 4 oz.
or fraction thereof--------------------.80

All other countries

v) more than 8 oz. but
not more than 12 oz.----------------3.50
vi)more than 12 oz. but
not more than 1 lb.------------------4.50
vi) each additional 4 oz.
or fraction thereof-------------------1.40

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Air Crash : New York - Miami December 17, 1955

On December 17, 1955, a twin-engine Curtiss C-46 transport operated by Riddle Airlines carrying mail from New York to Miami, Florida crashed into farmland near Hollywood, South Carolina killing the pilot, George Lohr, and the co-pilot Richard Glendon.

C-46 similar to the plane that crashed on December 17, 1955

Crash Mail

The plane was carrying 30 - 40 bags of mail. Mail that survived the crash received a marking explaining its delay and condition as seen on the cover below from Halifax to Daytona Beach.

Halifax to Daytona Beach, December 13, 1955

DAMAGED IN PLANE CRASH

HOLLYWOOD, S.C. 12/17/55

Reference

Edward R. Joyce, Florida Postal History Journal, January, 2009

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Local (Drop) Letter Rates : 1851 - 1968

Local letters were letters posted at an office for delivery in the same city, town or place. This post deals with local letter rates in the Province of Canada prior to Confederation, and in the Dominion of Canada from 1868 to 1968.

Province of Canada

April 6, 1851 - June 30, 1859

The colony of the Province of Canada was given control of its postal system on April 6, 1851. The local letter rate was set at 1/2 d. per letter.

Toronto local letter (Toronto C.W. postmark 1853 - 1859)

1/2 d. local letter rate unpaid

July 1, 1859 - March 31, 1868

In 1859, the currency in the Province of Canada was decimalized. The 1/2d.. local rate was now 1 cent.

Quebec local letter, March 3, 1860

Unpaid 1 cent local letter rate

Dominion of Canada

On July 1, 1867, the colonies of the United Province of Canada, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia formed the Dominion of Canada. Postal services continued pursuant to colonial legislation existing prior to Confederation until April 1, 1868 when the Dominion of Canada's An Act for the Regulation of the Postal Service, (SC31 Vic. [1867], c.10) came into effect.

April 1, 1868 - September 31, 1875

The local letter rate for the Dominion of Canada was 1 cent per letter, the same rate that had been in effect in the Province of Canada.

(cover not shown)

October 1, 1875 - May 7, 1889

The local letter rate was now based on weight : 1 cent for each 1/2 ounce.

Toronto local letter, July 17, 1876

1 cent per half ounce rate

May 8, 1889 - August 7, 1908

Two local letter rates were introduced on May 8, 1899 :

a) Places without free letter delivery : 1 cent for each ounce (changed from 1 cent for each half ounce)

St. John local letter, may 6, 1898

1 cent local letter rate because there was no free letter carrier delivery

b) Places with free letter delivery : 2 cents for each ounce (a new rate category)

(See Letter Carrier Delivery Service for more information.)

London local letter, May 30, 1895

2 cents local letter rate because London had free letter carrier delivery

Toronto local letter, September 14, 1902

2 cents local letter rate because Toronto had free letter carrier delivery

August 8, 1908 - April 14, 1915

The 2 cent local letter rate for places with free letter carrier service was abolished on August 8, 1908. The local letter rate at all places in Canada was one cent for each ounce.

Free Letter Carrier Delivery City
Montreal local letter, December 29, 1908

1 cent local letter rate

Hamilton local letter, April 17, 1912

1 cent local letter rate

War Tax Period : 1915 -1951

In order to increase revenues to aid in the war effort, the Canadian Parliament passed the Special War Revenue Act which came into effect on April 15, 1915. Among its many provisions was the imposition of a 1 cent tax on each letter and post card mailed in Canada for delivery in Canada, the United States, Great Britain and British possessions and wherever the 2 cent letter rate applied. The 1 cent tax was added to the first weight letter steps only.

The local rate letter remained at 1 cent per ounce but with a 1 cent tax to be prepaid on the first ounce. Although the 1 cent War Tax was temporarily removed on forward letters from 1926 to 1931, the tax was not removed on local letters. In 1943, the War Tax was increased to 2 cents on the first weight step which remained in effect until 1951 when the War Tax was incorporated into the postal rate.

April 15, 1915 - March 31, 1943

2 cents was to be prepaid on a one ounce local letter : 1 cent local letter rate + 1 cent War Tax
The two ounce rate was 3 cents : 2 cents local letter rate for two ounces + 1 cent War Tax

The War Tax could be paid with war tax stamps or with regular postage stamps.