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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvIEXMpynZ3cPH9KfMrhL32XtRSXX7PK3l0OeJVhm2kQ64Gp0UyqfbLkGp3IVva3MPOpKusjeDaTo_SrDnp2zR-IJzoRuX3rJl2wCLr5M2DKmTHEENyIAfM3ZLYr5XBDClkRK3q254LjI/s640/Post+Centennial+US+8+cents.jpg)
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzz14Ismtp4Hi3d1rPMeSs-KrgsdPwqlBt6bIUUt60gD_B4xsm4j8_Txq5hFGE1AmxkWAtTrpjfgdeCF4sy9LgzOOcEA7ppPCSnenYJNvan-xhWjS1GVubuOpWE0-0sUfdu55TNYwf5Gx7/s640/Post+Centennial+US+10+cent+air+mail.jpg)
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKqbM1pcKOA89ip5bfAgUt-sK3ljd6wzhDkWz2pcHuDr45sI39dx6hBVpqWgebNRblhe_03ko1Sm-YzQ0k_aVFBBPdbVx8Ljpghhhc6w_BcJGmSSSaxuzdtcniBcgZyR18M_bpMhiOEvc/s640/Post+Centennial+US+10+cent+all+up.jpg)
Richmond, B.C., to Jackson, Miss., January 17, 1977
10 cents all-up letter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCcynv8Af6zqR1tj71R40cQWZ8HdI88YtGJE30Wf-MuUPNvBrGJJ-l8Sg9pr7uytYl60lUB5l_8NwuMVSl4GcmsvqPigjINukgaus5N8eZkaOUm0um3SLxVCcinMY416ThUTHmGlrAu_B6/s640/Post+Centennial+US+10+cent+all+up+return.jpg)
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:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEiYwG0E8p1zA602k0EWUxCSEC7IamZtdr9pqYy0j9gsJDMa0eKVOCRqvEq8aGWIK056NZm3z6zfZvUbcHDIPA9yX8CqHlK5vibeNlkbLXzhqzeARyjEGSLdzm4anryuvVluqNMRsdsT6n/s400/Post+Centennial+US+10+cent+all+up+return+handstamp.jpg)
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
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilA0QedzKz1J-F_VFLGBzsfV31ZtsbgF4e1d7_rNMz7vEKco0ATnvWAmO5w1g2gqJwBzEy08yJg3pJCRcE61Eae6lW1W5x044P9mjK1RUisNa35mTEq8947oWUvcpILkqH1WwdWg4PxLY/s640/us.jpg)
Lachine to Milwaukee, October 11, 1977
12 cents letter rate
14 cents : April 1, 1978 - March 31, 1979
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovxBV8ubKEwl40RMRSamXmeS45lh13QE8YpHZuPsFUtiHn39VeRr6xEEeMrOEr86ZAPi4lCCAf8rJQEsoVYt5XCaob91RJWij4mjfDNPoTLkr3a_HoJAnIQA4N-UtPMeEXjpuj73uZvZN/s640/Post+Centennial+US+14+cents.jpg)
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
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfk37H0K1D4irAz8y_GBYTsmsVw3vMt4ErhOs3D5XnyTVlq2DPdIvoovPHfBA2D1Ld-7Am_QkImltXw7E2FjfXTVyHy_5OUwOg_te8Zc29GlVheHeoOzpcvotuOomrxzLW1akNeRwVep93/s640/Post+Centennial+US+17+cents.jpg)
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.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsOjgqzU0PnP1HIVf-Ohf3LKWKyMoUuY7RnWUOyEPqARDAY-XJHYSB-loQh0MlOI1HAcGu___Bf_aulG71rmeP5pi6XoL8abrHFPqZZdhheMUhqiXrKAyDrbBIo261-mf-3FvHPX-Yzb3/s640/Post+Centennial+US+17+cents+metric.jpg)
Macamic to Holland, Mich., November 21, 1981
17 cents letter rate for 30 grams
35 cents : January 1, 1982 - January 14, 1983
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASjwo-2LYYDdQVjBSgQjC7s4x84qEi0U6gAgR16n8yHd00KDnEkq5CCs1H56R7iLla1UOgmz-g3Iwmu645eKQIZuvZu2FfkFZLikJdhyu7hAksI1B40IeLsUOgIb4cV9xCa-KCmRNq85K/s640/Post+Centennial+US+35+cents.jpg)
Toronto (M4L 3T0) to Tamarac, Florida, September 17, 1982
35 cents letter rate for 30 grams
37 cents : January 15, 1983 - June 23 1985
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-farO1y8p5bG0hZfvFiTeJgG6kQaxjYfP4wefdlIEUJXWdcFCpjf4PmNfx03fUnJwdalQSJ5OVs5tR4uyK_Zj_YERhdxCwiHHLtf0ykyoSanm1dwGaJZ2yAImUVekKoC3Q7Zdg-rs6EYB/s640/Post+Centennial+US+37+cents.jpg)
Kazlo to Daly City, July 6, 1984
37 cents letter rate for 30 grams
39 cents : June 24, 1985 - March 31, 1987
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58JntpZBzGEPh0nVUyk8cAj-qIrt4oEKowAjVb-97ep4Uo851dWD49-uee9xIRm3pGalrnL9iYF2ZkpoCboczoY2pA-gt-3n0NAsUpHQrGMnyK559lALz_mYRuMBHdEJuVwN3QCCVoFQr/s640/Post+Centennial+US+39+cents.jpg)
Kingston, N.S., to Arlington, Va., December 4, 1986
39 cents letter rate
Forwarding label affixed
42 cents : April 1, 1987 - December 31, 1987
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmeKo7V8j1_qiFLvsu_YC7B2uHE4uem7_9byFUN2mNxVB-pSA0YFJnMsAkqkuNLBSz-_qdr_PmYF22n5OPA_rAl_bqcLpR46FFPaxDeXDSCeZ9HlxE42J_NUgYrr3WE4RClU701Gt3XKR/s640/Post+Centennial+US+42+cents.jpg)
Meteghan River, N.S. to Mount Clemens, Mich., December 10, 1987
42 cents letter rate
43 cents : January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1988
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RFdAmmR9hUqrBnmxCQRF6lN394I6Eb3zp75i2tH47Gsn8JmSAPmbkYk-fm7Zl_ub2P-Z8XdaqDMYKn4Llc4cr_eIpYKi7S92Ao5lclDWcaM3Um5fcx5gxnJqO64j3VfqzmW-R2FiKWs5/s640/Post+Centennial+US+43+cents.jpg)
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
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KRNu8zRqcj613RKd5aTsN28EXxOpzGDF4NANZZDTxLMDiY7bRAQ4KgvpPt-wBdu6zjFRC0ipBHy3kNsVJ-KcnmUKWQ3YdM4C2m6rTDQZIIzm1pCTGtCPb7aSPE9SyCuyIYxoyDL9f5bK/s640/Post+Centennial+US+44+cents.jpg)
Salmon Arm to Anderson, In., July 4 1989
44 cents letter rate
45 cents : January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1990
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvpH7jeAhzC5-lDP56TaCacSkBWmjUBpuz72JoeVLsZXZq-42U04Ze123nIZcWyyw_jZY7DL-4ErVqepED_EYJi10ToPPcWtpqkoHc6vlXe0d6Dwtt6tmaNKfzondldlIBcVTCtBIBDlz6/s640/Post+Centennial+US+45+cents.jpg)
Scarborough to Clearwater, May 19, 1990
45 cents letter rate
46 cents : January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1991
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hGNsQwnlshRsQWX27yazNLiX4JJNS0nmcFHiNIDgkKJHDP8ioNx-nIYKEbfw3IYGFkkX8oTE47Mry29rfzYyHOiXsiKzTB_HMrVOZv08yYcv-SXmVOFUgCuFPPKbTC2DSCZhZ_Q232YZ/s640/Post+Centennial+US+46+cents.jpg)
Comox to Palmyra, N.Y., December 23, 1991
46 cents letter rate
48 cents : January 1, 1992 - December 31, 1992
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU59-it8lBmM091aP8pMGO_6sz7FI_tDKl8h_zYHklMRjWcfE4T6X324us28xrnNrzZRbTKZaUJbrJIMSrFIUlWP37oUGJHn0A1cMG9MpwBbk95cSDeYQf2XambiTQFlRhJDXi5oKzPG4K/s640/Post+Centennial+US+48+cents.jpg)
Port Colborne to Buffalo, November 9, 1992
48 cents letter rate
49 cents : January 1, 1993 - February 28, 1994
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii1aalcg235slclTP98KY9HfXcchG1bg5UIOS1eyqnWIVPDQnzENdTFn60GdLm9TOIDuxSgYhrlhQX72yCJX4gPlSuOc4U2sEs2a6h-Q_dQPvNeqAJpRqJEQOtX2fiJaNXktPBvAWL4xiI/s640/Post+Centennial+US+49+cents.jpg)
Beauvallon, N.B., to Indianapolis, July 16, 1993
49 cents letter rate
50 cents : March 1 1994 - July 31 1995
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEku4K3zaqHQtPIpCr0jNUJlLrEVp-o93JEn801L7aPmolM9h08Up2Sru1LhIJRDqCpd4oMTbQga-obFKI1dx22n-MdNUQq7-mSmkd5CK7DVdyDhr5ekhjDUSjOoxBTqNrJc4RgGgYSSs/s640/Post+Centennial+US+50+cents.jpg)
Nanaimo to Longview, Wash., April 11, 1995
50 cents letter rate
52 Cents : August 1, 1995 - December 31, 1998
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmk4HD-cInPTs_S6AsDuLmTD76t1j6Txwv92sLoHBfpf7Y5C1YIZvVGKFSMSKgZS_yiaUhlHw_rWEaAynqLnl-vZMglQ_PZV2DK-jk29GS31VdFpBzzRpyPDOXHuyhvADdl_d3Y1cILCpG/s640/Post+Centennial+US+52+cents.jpg)
Toronto to Chicago, May 1, 1998
52 cents letter rate
55 cents : January 1999 - December 31 2000
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzX2pGm4dMPVdpjNbMG4ObebdVIRfENsBeoDL9wDSWoQGd3DEroVE5RpqX6IwC4T9SJBXGpw34CdMP-qJlb_ZjWpaYJEK3N-ZTt5YtT4pbRJX90_1F6DtbZnOh4DWKbWykOtFV8cdhgWJQ/s640/Post+Centennial+US+55+cents.jpg)
Saint John to Chicago, December 1, 2000
55 cents letter rate to end the 20th Century