George VI War Issue
1942-1945 War PeriodDomestic Rates and Fees
The domestic rates for the first year of the War Issue were unchanged from those in effect during the "Mufti" issue period (1937-42). However, on April 1, 1943, a 1 cent War Tax was imposed on the first weight forward and local letter rates, air mail rate, and post card rate. To accommodate the new rates, the Post Office Department issued a new 4 cent King George VI definitive and changed the colour of the 3 cent value from carmine to purple. Furthermore, the pictorial 13 cent tank, 6 cent Air Mail, and 16 cent Air Mail Special Delivery stamps were replaced with 14 cent, 7 cent, and 17 cent denominated stamp versions, respectively.
This post considers the following domestic rates and fees:
1. Forward Letter
2. Local Letter
3. Post Card
4. Printed Matter
5. Air Mail
6. Registration
7. Acknowledgment of Receipt
8.Special Delivery
9.Money Packet
10. Parcels
11. C.O.D.
1. Forward Letter
a) To March 31, 1943
The forward letter rate was 3 cents for the first ounce and 2 cents for each additional ounce.
Montreal to Tillsonburg, September 20, 1942
3 cents forward letter rate
"V" slogan
Hespeler to Galt, November 4, 1942
3 cents forward letter rate
Planet Bicycle Company, Toronto to Tillsonburg, December 3, 1942
3 cents forward letter rate
"SAVE METALS RAGS AND WASTE PAPER" slogan cancellation
b) From April 1, 1943
On April 1, 1943, an additional 1 cent War Tax was imposed on the first step letter rate. The 4-cent King George VI definitive stamp was issued on April 9, 1943
Avonmore to Tillsonburg, April 1, 1943
4 cents forward letter rate
First Day of 4 cent rate
Lindsay to Tillsonberg, April 5, 1943
2 cents forward letter rate + 2 cents War Tax
Windsor to Toronto, April 7, 1943
4 cent Grain Elevator definitive paying the forward letter rate
Toronto to Kitchener, November 17, 1944
4 cents forward letter rate
"PAY NO MORE THAN CEILING PRICES" slogan
Tweed to Tillsonburg, July 20, 1945
4 cents forward letter rate
2. Local Letter
a) To March 31, 1943
The local letter rate was 2 cents for the first ounce and 1 cent for each additional ounce.
Montreal local letter, August 20, 1942
2 cents local letter rate
Toronto local letter, August 5, 1942
2 cents local letter rate
b) From April 1, 1943
On April 1, 1943, a 1 cent War Tax was added to the first step local letter rate. The local letter rate was increased to 3 cents for the first ounce. Each additional ounce was sitll 1 cent.
Toronto local letter, November 18, 1943
3 cent local letter rate paid with 1 cent coils
Hamilton local letter, January 21, 1944
3 cents local letter rate
"CONSERVE COAL SAVE ONE TON IN FIVE" slogan
3. Post Card
a) To March 31, 1943
The post card rate was 2 cents.
Owen Sound to Toronto, December 4, 1942
2 cents post card rate
b) From April 1, 1943
On April 1, 1943, a 1 cent War Tax was added to the post card rate which was increased to 3 cents.
Welland to Niagara Falls, August 3, 1943
3 cents post card rate
Banff to Vancouver, July 13, 1945
Calgary and Vancouver R.P.O.
3 cents post card rate
New colour for the 3 cent value : purple
4. Air Mail
a) To March 31, 1943
The air mail rate was 6 cents for the first ounce and 5 cents for each additional ounce.
Calgary to Temiskaming, January 5, 1943
6 cents air mail rate
b) From April 1, 1943
On April 1, 1943, a 1 cent War Tax was added to the first weight step of the air mail rate. The air mail rate was 7 cents for the first ounce and 5 cents for each additional ounce.
Halifax to Montreal, May 11, 1944 (Halifax blackout cancellation)
7 cents air mail rate
Penticton to Toronto, March 12, 1945
7 cents air mail rate
5. Third Class Mail : Printed Matter
The printed matter rate was 1 cent for each 2 ounces.
Noranda local mailing, November 20, 1944
1 cent printed matter rate
6. Registration
A graduated scale of registration fees was in effect. The minimum fee was 10 cents which provided $25 indemnity.
Windsor to Hamilton, March 17, 1943
3 cents forward letter rate + 10 cents registration fee
Bracebridge to Toronto, April 3, 1943
4 cents forward letter rate + 10 cents registration fee
Haggersville to Brantford, September 7, 1944
4 cents forward letter rate + 10 cents registration fee
Four ounce registered local letter, Moose Jaw, June 19, 1943
Postage 6 cents : 3 cents for the first ounce and 3 cents for the next 3 ounces at 1 cent/ounce
Registration fee : 10 cents
7. Acknowledgment of Receipt
a) At time of mailing
The acknowledgment of receipt fee was 10 cents at the time of mailing.
Registered item from Winnipeg to Chilliwack, June 14, 1945
Acknowledged June 18, 1945
10 cents AR fee
b) After item despatched
An AR card prepaid 20 cents could be sent after the registered article had been despatched.
Registered mail sent from Hollyburn to Vancouver, March 18, 1944
AR card mailed March 28, 1944
The Vancouver post office advised that the registered matter was delivered on March 20, 1944.
8. Special Delivery
The special delivery fee was 10 cents.
Vancouver to Nanaimo, December 19, 1944
4 cents forward letter rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
Woodstock to Peterborough, December 31, 1943
2 cent and 3 cent coils paying the 4 cent forward letter rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
Winnipeg to Toronto, August 25, 1943
7 cents air mail rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
House of Assembly, Toronto to Ottawa, November 14, 1944
7 cents air mail rate + 10 cents special delivery fee
9.Money Packet
The rate of postage on money packets was 7 cents for the first ounce and 5 cents for each additional ounce. The registration fee of 10 cents was also to be prepaid.
Bank of Montreal, Toronto to Bank of Montreal, Kincardine, November 9, 1943
$10.32 paying the 12 lb. 12 oz. (204 ounces) money packet rate.
Rate Breakdown
Registration............................$0.10
1st oz...........................................07
Next 203 oz @ 5 c/oz........10.15
Total.....................................$10.32
10. Fourth Class Mail (Parcel Post)
Ballot Boxes
Ballot boxes sent prior to a Dominion election by Returning Officers and addressed to Deputy Returning Officers were liable to postage at parcel post rates. Postmasters could permit Returning Officers to send Ballot Boxes registered at parcel post rates plus the registration fee.
Porcupine to Kirkland Lake, June 5, 1946
Federal election was on June 11, 1945
58 cents paying the parcel rate (48 cents) + registration fee (10 cents)
Weight of Ballot Box
48 cents was the rate for an parcel weighing 8 lb. 2 oz. sent from one Ontario post office to another greater than 20 miles away.
11. C.O.D.
C.O.D. service was available at Money Order Post Offices in Canada. Up to $100 could be collected from the addressee and remitted by Post Office Money Order. The C.O.D. fee was payed by the sender by means of postage stamps affixed by the sender in addition to ordinary postage. The amount to be collected from the addressee was to include the sum to be remitted plus the money order fee.
C.O.D. fees
Toronto local C.O.D. mailing, May 31, 1944
3 cents local letter rate + 10 cents C.O.D. fee for collection of $1.90
