1949 - 1953
International Mail : Surface Rates
This post deals with international surface mail, excluding mail to the United States, during the George VI Wilding period, 1949 - 1953 :
1. Letter
a) Preferred Rate
b) UPU rate
2. Post Cards
3. Printed Matter
a) To April 1, 1952
b) From April 2, 1952
1. Letters
a) Preferred Letter Rate
A preferential surface letter rate applied to mail for Great Britain and all other places in the Commonwealth, France, Spain and North and South America. The letter rate was 4 cents for the first ounce and 2 cents for each additional ounce.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsh7TAv2UNl9yXGw51VFfEdeTBS6bDvs9RZpiO8wFzFFXYsWjHvlKld0MyCnccCHH4jgcJDZJhdWsd9hG-TiCVUQLEE2NxS6qDXuWeK11lWs3L10ml357IAreKqKwjf21gntqbeIXKQY/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+1.jpg)
House of Assembly, Toronto to Edinburgh, December 7, 1949
4 cents letter rate to Great Britain
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0IY9eoSO69CgxMq1wbzTWMjfdA_T-phjnwjeKKgv0JOxi5kcq2ft1qt4RMbBjnlqmPpeSVOWfAtBgX4zZd3Bt08g6ZkHGxqqJZquZH8flQUXtmzAq4cK4ouPDLXm2NAmW5Fbdm_qRkU/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+2.jpg)
Toronto to East London, South Africa, October 29, 1951
4 cents letter rate to Commonwealth destination
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBKUP9XLjxGoV7xcqdGSaKRRybqaAFp36M2ZF7lfzNh_x4syoP0eAedwDHVZQsJ4nwBTWytjaoCBAn9JeJeV4hPi_e9OWIxzX3i3RUbthmwhsNuMXPUgvPjA35fhuABZ2x_EpJoGQSwA/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+3.jpg)
Toronto to London, January 20, 1951
4 cents letter rate to Great Britain
Missent to London, Ontario
"TRY ENGLAND" instructional marking handstamp
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFK9orYS5czoMy6LNHoEl9vewGT0emqIjU1djLIBTV9Q2em-D4Xe3RRYJOoCOtzUODduLDNywgqYEeujqLi21-o_vlR-y9UDthHcAF-oOxEkzfMVL2ovDgiJLEYBj679MVIbyi7Elyzk/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+4.jpg)
Cordam Landing to Sliema, Malta, October 28, 1952
4 cents letter rate to Commonwealth destination
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcqJ-jeA4B1KLU6WcMQmqPwWFz2A5Nt27lUp_iuHSkrfnsCAD8-aO-Y-MTZyKR6h5b78-ixEDlO47F09MGo0XQEt36aonPfcp9MmQu-pvfKHeyytVRDFeQTQUZxi5BE5-d79Z0ERbevc/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+5.jpg)
Perth to San Sebastian, Spain, July 15, 1952
4 cents letter rate to Spain
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7VKacUW5eSEk71tEyJ048xDIvZK_5_J7u9qu4NvVRIbpFbeyP8Ewn9_G74mHp2BVzoWa5mV5WePSbv0NgtgPEN6HeDXgWbI12bArJJYsNJWi9q2_ICNt3EreP03A0JmsDreOKGDsfHE/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+6.jpg)
Brantford to Sao Paulo, Brazil, July 11, 1950
4 cents letter rate to South America
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoEegdhj1_9hECnnvblkTMkAXIvNYOr5hURrY8008zqby91YXS0LVzzugJCrkYdbswZIundDVDS6L26FSy62FzgRCUN55jthAVbF5JawBGLBdrYcmuFyNFq2UKY3gJNNnLFIWhwqyDm0/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+7.jpg)
House of Commons, Ottawa to Nassau, Bahamas, October 27, 1951
4 cents letter rate to Commonwealth destination
Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent correspondence
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnQ4Xr-m9xvWrEdlGBaJH_o3IT60ueuOkyWtRDOks7-kXb7bXHdrXPyFyvmL0y_cNkAY-WiMWeyayqz3kUQdspYh6QhR2clghCT9TFaixye9NhgWcyx2A9heunWmiPfkND4bMJCvGUxQ/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+8.jpg)
Montreal to Bourg, France, December 3, 1951
4 cents letter rate to France
Shortpaid 1 cent and French charge 9 francs
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMZPbbS5R3eWddBgkp77f3msCb9vnHW0Y7dGT9iaELVfNzuLhyiJlHeZWT03bPh9PURtNA7AFPzVscC447OZTdTj-jTlPXKUSSZed3aCQMlPTKU6AoSKNdOeQQHX7ahkcsJWAxprFHcc/s1600/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+9.jpg)
b) U.P.U. letter rate
The U.P.U. letter rate was 5 cents for the first ounce and 3 cents for each additional ounce.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaCMgMcxtgjhZW24zp7Mo6HaEj8Dg4IO8p1k7N1dfEaAir6XWkbPK4HqrAQn1QfFVUrx22tQ3jX0wV4z0hvHKBaN4Vc-C8gXVn7C5pWbBrz1aPz6fbmAcQOGhN9oHY6A04l-_UDp0cII/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+10.jpg)
Toronto to Bois d'Haine, Belgium, September 21, 1950
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBpLDpsAhWt3K5yWVVL8NsTXubGLht54uAeB40MlF97_CKR4qwCFuqEQ-M3Q_4hnd5NmksntEcju24dy_p4guoHV7lU7chbbW25O93zdarTMmzo3xTGhnvNH99bNQQBeUUo77nInbSO0/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+11.jpg)
National Revenue Canada, St. Johns to Wolgan bei Hamburg, Germany, December 17, 1951
"G" overprint official stamps paying the 5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-NPx8drvQZkSJgRAVyV6ZIKtcmfweKu2Gi9lIZvBOVJ7h06lamAIsOYVTiyDC51-i2FBu5Vp4vH66vt6UsjOIiRtRxbCY-72Y6kusXsRY12fNwdt_SmkxvwPxJWORSv7ycijrBDJweY/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+12.jpg)
Toronto to Hanover, Germany, February 24, 1953
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
Shortpaid 1 cent
Canadian Tax : 6 centimes ( 1 cent = 3 gold centimes)
German charge : 9 pfennig
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3AZL-QvT38Z4fLeUmmJIFiJo6uCqAS5BM2K6D1WtlmDHtnDGAITW0VtRL_SuKPUrFr57e6r_dUuwfBHxUgCjsOwJtBsnCjLIxmdjxIN9LJifxrtIiXChTPZ8nEw6UuUYnCbwj9YdP6JM/s400/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+13.jpg)
Canadian Tax
6 centimes
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyc5i-q9PvIorvWkmr7hqG57XHmwrgL-qtCDdndbyMafMcQtXP06DPep5lRcwwUf3BeC5yPcoRSpoltM9ARSwQ_R0VAPDEO0YBBIT1Y5EdVdqpZ28jRLwYn55VfJhVwqYpAhxdf-XSxpU/s400/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+14.jpg)
German charge
9 Pfennig
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwMuCTJ5H1rvNYk9rrN_o-mvJHFAwxBRSAW6E2sIgM3KuUNtJ-Ny1qtlyyax2c34gwQcLGc2RvI2vqBOMAYgfFoufCjqBTPGABtmhw1JaYjD59BHRMxG4RkZ-l5xg6poP0E0AOYYeqLn4/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+15.jpg)
Toronto to Hanover, Germany, December 2, 1952
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLf9WE38hHgTT72_YlFkfHZqbJhY4r9tfScPlESZ2xWnfeZ-MwSCoVvHnit8ypLdHQZwrp-k-U2X5rQqgq1mKK4f3jjpaxAnKVvdH34R-mv-eosQd_cPSdxExpaOLF-4JbNmEmNPKEic/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+16.jpg)
Ayton to Berlin (U.S. Zone), June 21, 1951
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1oAaHJEqAOnjpO6-FsfX6u6WVKfPUHtmczNooeGxRLhcXfPU6lmnEk4PWktm6j_7ts0HmcQh4Xr9ftVUdQnEUF0SJupoXYtmVRsxot7yTkEnu2PtVT77TToVTQHMLJ3OtvkYzsJZ2JlM/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+17.jpg)
Toronto to Tel Aviv, Israel, October 17, 1951
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkJ066EJX0G1MeZmil8xrMAc0ZRi7lYMqX2xo-N9-TWWsPEdpDda9xU1TyYDeStnK3hdoBEHJepZdwOpoKb_DFmns1aAm1QlQRQz1hIIvA5OAoAxO5HyOmBt0FbnYjRhwcCYLTELk9Wg/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+18.jpg)
Mount Brydges to Vienna, Austria, December 7, 1950
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
Austria censor handstamp
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOEw41SDVRf54TCEQMtNwye-C32Fn0a979AFkDM-aoJOFhKwyK73WklI5qzdNJ6SJ8epiYr8530GkqjiLSEHdW_yAa1b-Rfmd549mXM6vvo1eSNZUNXGCOHtY_95LcRFr5PlOqbeuuU8/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+19.jpg)
Rodney to Copenhagen, Denmark, February 14, 1951
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiok_nLmHa4dqUpihnQZSjJI9Y8tJYIK7vqjuiw7H2tb8HY_5p8sPsu8xm90fGp0OdchgnYlX0cSLKnvDH7iVu5poETm1xXaPA2oo1fwl32nFRiGBgL6smHBHB057Ye9dits37rwtvBg/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+20.jpg)
House of Commons, Ottawa to Athens, Greece, October 14, 1951
Official "O.H.M.S." overprint stamp paying the 5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
Correspondence from Member of Parliament Robert Knight
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9vkcWuS24xwsuGeZlDONmpA_8vhHrEVfkCXoONj9V77z0vZgv1-m_cwQByesv6-5olFIO4fpc9wTTPxyQSkeGgSEHOYvcmx2ju6byZMeKVsMeiZnUguXLA3ITzrufUtgjEI5YQNwRLE/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+21.jpg)
Toronto to Haadyai, Siam (Thailand), November 6, 1950
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
Aklavik, NWT, to Copenhagen, April 2, 1951
5 cent UPU letter rate
Prior to living in Aklavik, Dr. Laurent-Christensen had spent over 20 years in Greenland.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGRbbhkQ8AN5InhWBclkE6YC4JvypL38Q6q2dKgmrisuJ46KCL22hKr3FtgmFtDn11DGIOuMHwfPMxeFz-s8NLrSuK8S7fzSLQTeWrmpVLIeHvOJUigbYe0LIYvAc15sR_gZPHxhsbnY/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+22.jpg)
Quebec to Copenhagen, Denmark, December 10, 1950
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
Shortpaid 1 cent
Canadian Tax : 6 centimes ( 1 cent = 3 gold centimes)
Danish charge : 15 ore
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRRDZsM3PgTVYdAQ-GIHw8rAcrlu-fJjXiP6F7GhEqK3iS7SKKdzxMBjLJ9wC6TP0P4E7NaATvq4iM_8yZpW8feMhVhR_iWp0DcvYKHS0QMfPleqYPUXBc12NbzikRVzjjVCbICFD1bA/s400/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+23.jpg)
Canada Tax Marking
6 gold centimes
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6X3E09p8Xjc-5-_VrQP6tdaik7Z3Bl3JLwpKkLGnUKX4-dr-myILngxyWH2OFPtJ7Dd7JLqjmDxMlY1hfOB3j6ieY1OTOK9yLQCvju5LqW-ibU6-9ugqlz-5xMHHpVeXoGfoiO5fuHOA/s400/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+24.jpg)
Copenhagen postage due meter
"PORTO/ 0.15 ORE / DANMARK"
December 18, 1950
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHK1M-d1UCyVsUkcwHuQAvsHvzsJJeD76MtO9dOTHmRN83-gUWKLZti2bmpjFTtU71cI9X3w-PPWGgfnHLQH3NuokFhKPgTOCQOUL_25Qs-l7tv49h8G2pvyGEH0TO6u4fVMRlLtKBdw/s1600/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+25.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUW2FQnVmOk3V7e1wlzRt27P5hcZrdbP3QG9Hrm2s2bol2qBoIMWI9ZiQ4RkDpWUfXUoHLUKt5cPKImUQHGKlYpKKTmy4HkVjw2cC74oOF2g8djnqdhbbzTtad1g3jT3llxJj9DRnsl_E/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+26.jpg)
Moose Jaw to Leipzig, (East) Germany, April 2, 1951
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
Shortpaid 1 cent
Canadian Tax : 6 centimes ( 1 cent = 3 gold centimes)
German charge : 20 pfennig
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_K04S5Ff3zV5_hLdXTht89G4mMbbf9NpXkwbBexU3V8YmguMju7XSxkQDN6-rAJicHacYkYpAJXSkFdZgv6ph7unXAw4AnKKG4vQBPi7bI-UM5jDtN5a_XtN63DMTYsFa9tL5daa4LnY/s400/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+27.jpg)
Canadian Tax
6 gold centimes
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfOqVi-Q8LK0XfbW9HWGwDXDQQEEXuThnzw9Qwia_jgQS-Yknavzb1lo11vxyNdP3BMCTMxqj1uObtm34vVwCVnN_DsPhv5zFYv60Q_pwgdGuv15YCUge9USsHEnPGN2zXVrMqZRydhE/s400/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+28.jpg)
German Tax
20 Pfennig
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgenRgJk5t63PcgzJXyZyQFed_Asz0gg_Fk6wczZ0HEH8f9JarfygtaWpg3mJyHqQlLjN3XYNGFYFpHbFNPPLiqZDHQE_ZrxN8HHdAgfm4BCxs3BPBGQBdcITwZAkvUG_sBAnmj3IoA9Y4/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+29.jpg)
Thetford Mines to Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 7, 1950
5 cents U.P.U. letter rate
Shortpaid 1 cent
Canadian Tax : 6 centimes ( 1 cent = 3 gold centimes)
Dutch charge : 8 cents
2. Post Cards
The post card rate to all destinations was 3 cents.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXuDG5T4Lpkhh3iIpdH2ZyoSGG_hZk_FLoNm9wB0mWwQO9GlTE8rL6bG_8eJWKmsYDkA-ogXXy-EH8kEhYV1_n1Oh3W_Wml3QNQEM9kscMmpgsBvgUpb7_JCr-E_FobrhABvgLZX_g5w/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+30.jpg)
Sarnia to Haarlem, August 30, 1951
3 cents post card rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfl-NIlYyynUCT9I-WnQpnvXNj9JpivTU7UnEcDp6rrAtIOXELbeGIlXzk0Z57SXQjWz7-cTEwj-wmCzSySKQbpR_VJ7LmahtoVsadIx0f6btqJh2n56jrziYYx0wDyWdsESQzSXcxoM/s400/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+31.jpg)
Haarlem Transorma ident CZ
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6v1LpgXuq4m55nE_VqPS5WtiInH4sQkRtj-7K4WSb7OuudZCOXx8ktYZiah4ZU6-rbQF5OTFkPuGAFu9CRVjJXP-K3sL3LDODz6NfrUk3R3pTSpfevV_Zy5FDPdaO96R8mac0y62Zu8o/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+32.jpg)
Vancouver to Inverness, Scotland, June 2, 1952
3 cents post card rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7zgQorDtLDZpuXUby1Ex3XxdMnO8vHh87fxPkFP88qXxsZhPjCXSM7yifIGcnPucIUDvuwXeuCql3H7EWHbYlTnJjBP4YdD74eKFHA4_a3PomIY8qvxl0lKtEKVdZE2Y0ihJj_-wDh0/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+33.jpg)
Welland to Kinghorn, Scotland, March 5, 1952
3 cents post card rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeavaVlWpANvr_8KwpCocmNLVZieCQ0A37ls5eS9uHvOiCyDhCdlAJoNIVQqDYx3hdWRXGhe3AaTFlgztPje2OsjTalFWAP_mTOxMhp3iKjwPGvEHXFen7R8DT4N5hkvn4n3M_5fWmv4/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+34.jpg)
Montreal to Aruba, September 3, 1951
3 cents post card rate
3. Printed Matter
a) To April 1, 1952
The printed matter rate to all destinations was 1 cent for each two ounces
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6czPoimwQefy40FdWnVyUfJ-YPJ4-yiktMqeOF-GMcmpxS27yuWlqIVn_B8yE4tP0SHsLdVHS64cx71lR-K-3daAf0Rp70Q935UCN2YPj19F3vHnqQRNP5wIQJMD-h8c32MWeTQjjAk/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+35.jpg)
Ottawa to Helsinki, undated machine cancellation (Helsinki receiver February 28, 1951)
1 cent printed matter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSH8nBAgP5TCJZsCgOr9ogsln9bvHjj5lWvYvqv4EX8Nx0h5zuxfNEwb-4XwDIdZ3_UEvG5k3GB9_fDUiHZD5uKBbT7qXgCX8IPW3hPFcX5xr8MVgb-ZJKozlAVIp9Rd3TqsX9XqV7b7o/s200/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+36.jpg)
Helsinki receiver
February 28, 1951
Uprated wrapper to Tournai, Belgium
Received may 9, 1951
b) From April 2, 1952
The printed matter rate to all destinations was 2 cents for the first ounce and 1 cent for each additional ounce.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13TWv6exfP_GnNU48Dq0wLiO2YnGzYz4kK15scJNP9LhyZeduqWDST8SkqbJkiovbimihuzpwjCM1ezvWGmPBHMyRSHmVoYhwc97y-NTOgNdpKH9q4Hr59-2NX-JG1Kd4M2fAVY4GreU/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+37.jpg)
Toronto to Stockholm, December 6, 1951
2 cents printed matter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZKyFPTE22JUc0vSeWWupJKTIYhr8Cl1jKYiCb7m5W5M9dD1UPaOURgxa_Q_F5AWK_QeuaJtsKLQop5eioVIeEzufFEPU4h6Z9MxQoqaTylB1_BL9QwYHAGD1-e0wNPE8wGPpdGh-_jw/s640/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+38.jpg)
Toronto to Lahti, Finland, December 3, 1952
Christmas card mailed at the 2 cents printed matter rate
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeh1_pdLQeoMcMOgKm2hRm-S52zceOCkvAEL9wHWEU4IQOd7zPBX9jpOwxOhBdKFDpGT2QsiYHgOhU6o1xOhZBPMudhL2uMEPXH1QVcJ6unQwoChWCw0T4rcamPUdhuE2OGaG5NLLI4g/s400/George+VI+Wilding+International+Surface+39.jpg)
Enclosed Christmas card