Air Mail Letter Rates from Canada to the United States : 1927 - 1976

A. Air Mail Service in the United States only

From February 26, 1927 to August 7, 1928, Canadian letters could receive air mail service in the United States if the U.S. mail rate of 10 cents per half ounce was prepaid in U.S. postage in addition to Canadian surface postage.

Vancouver to New York City, December2, 1927

2 cents surface letter rate to the United States + 10 cents U.S. air mail rate for half ounce

U.S. air mail stamp cancelled Blaine and Seattle RPO, December 3, 1927

New York receiver, December 5, 1927

Hamilton to Santa Rosa, Ca., September 8, 1927

2 cents surface letter rate to the United States + 10 cents U.S. air mail rate for half ounce

Chicago transit; the air mail stamp was cancelled with the Chicago Air Mail duplex killer

Toronto to Pasadena, November 24, 1927
1 oz. letter
2 cents surface letter rate to the United States + 20 cent U.S. air mail rate for 1 ounce
U.S. air mail stamp cancelled at Chicago

"Chicago,Ill. Air Mail" transit handstamp

B. Air Mail Service in Canada and the United States

The rates shown in this section are for the first ounce.

1. August 24, 1928 - June 30, 1931 : 5 cents

The first air mail rate to the United States was 5 cents for the first ounce and 10 cents for each additional ounce.

Vancouver to Oakland, March 27, 1929
5 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

2. July 1, 1931 - July 31, 1932: War Tax 

A War Tax of 1 cent was added to the 1st ounce air mail letter weight on July 1, 1931 for a total of 6 cents. The rate for each additional ounce was 10 cents.

Montreal to Fontana, Ca., November 24, 1931
 6 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

 3.  August 1, 1932- June 30, 1934 : Rate Increase

The air mail letter rate with War Tax increased from 6 cents to 8 cents on August 1, 1932. The rate for each additional ounce was 13 cents.

 Victoria to Duarte, Ca., February 6, 1933
 8 cents paying 7 cents United States air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

 Regina to Wooster, Ohio, March 9, 1934
 8 cents paying 7 cents United States air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

 4. July 1, 1934 - March 31, 1943 : Rate Reduction

The air mail letter rate with War Tax decreased from 8 cents to 6 cents on July 1, 1934. The rate for each additional ounce was 6 cents.

 Ottawa to Los Angeles, April 25, 1936
 6 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

 Toronto to New York, June 4, 1940
 6 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

 Toronto to Cambridge, Mass., June 30, 1941
 6 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

 Ottawa to San Francisco, October 2, 1942
 6 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

5. April 1, 1943 - June 30, 1951 : War Tax Increase

The War Tax was increased from 1 cent to 2 cents for the 1st ounce for a total of 7 cents. The rate for each additional ounce was 6 cents. On November 1, 1946, the rate for each additional ounce was reduced to 5 cents.

Vancouver (Censored Cancel) to New York, August 14, 1944

7 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

Montreal to New York, February 4, 1945

 7 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

 Ottawa to Washington,March 9, 1949
7 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

 Vancouver to Cuba, New York, February 11, 1948

7 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

 

 Montreal to East Aurora, July 13, 1950

7 cents paying 5 cents United States air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

6. July 1, 1951 - July 14, 1964 : 7 cents rate (War Tax incorporated into rate)

The effective rate was unchanged but the 2 cents War Tax became incorporated into the air mail postage rate.

 

Gander to Fort Worth, September 27, 1951

7 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

 Vernon to New York, October 14, 1952
7 cents air mail rate to the United States

 Montreal to Parkersburg, W.Va., January 25, 1954
7 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

 
 Winnipeg to Beltsville, Md., August 22, 1956
7 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

 Halifax to Boston, May 14, 1959
7 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

Vancouver to Santa Cruz, April 10, 1964
 7 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

 Vancouver to Durham, N.H., March 23, 1964
7 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

 7. July 15, 1964 - October 31, 1968 : Rate Increase

The air mail letter rate to the United States increased from 7 cents to 8 cents for the 1st ounce. The rate for each additional ounce was 6 cents.

 Ottawa to Dunstable, Mass., July 29, 1964
8 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

Toronto to Providence, R.I., January 10, 1965
8 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

London to Delray Beach. Fl., February 13, 1967

8 cents letter rate to the United States

8. November 1, 1968 - February 29, 1976 : Rate Increase

The air mail rate to the United States increased from 8 cents to 10 cents for the 1st ounce and 10 cents for each additional ounce.

Peterborough to Creve Coeur, Mo., August 31, 1973

10 cents air mail letter rate to the United States

Toronto to Guam, April 22, 1972

10 cents air mail letter rate to the United States applied to U.S. possessions

Red Deer to Port Chester, N.Y., April 28, 1975

10 cents per ounce air mail letter rate to the United States

9. March 1, 1976 : All-Up Letter Rate to the U.S.

 On March 1, 1976, the two letter rates to the United States, surface and air mail, were replaced with a single "all-up" rate of 10 cents per ounce. 

 

 Richmond, B.C., to Jackson, Miss., January 17, 1977

10 cents all-up letter rate to the United States

The elimination of the surface letter rate to the United States which was the same as the domestic rate created initial confusion as evidenced by the shortpaid covers shown below:

Aylmer West to Portland, Oregon, April 22 1976 (7:00 am cancellation)

10 cents first ounce all-up letter rate to the United States

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, April 22 1976 (10 p.m. cancellation)

 Toronto to Youngstown, Ohio, April 15, 1976

10 cents all-up letter rate to the United States 

Shortpaid 2 cents and taxed 4 cents due

4 cents Youngstown postage due meter tape  affixed

See  Canadian Letter Rates to the United States : 1868 to the present for U.S. rates from 1976 to the present.

Domestic Air Mail Letter Rates: 1928 - 1954

 

Domestic air mail letter rates were introduced on August 24, 1928 and remained in effect for letters weighing up to 8 ounces until March 31, 1954.

 "All-Up" Service

Canada Post Office inaugurated "All Up" service on April 1, 1948. Mail franked at the domestic surface letter rate was sent by air mail if the service was available.However, if air mail service was specifically requested (Air Mail etiquette, Air Mail envelope), then payment of the air mail rate was required. As of  April 1, 1954, the air mail letter rate for letters up to 8 ounces ceased to exist. All letters up to 8 ounces in weight were  sent by the most expeditious manner at the surface rate ("All Up"). However, air mail rates for letter weighing more than 8 ounces continued to be in effect after March 31, 1954.

Semi-Official Rates

From 1924 to 1932 Canada Post Office Department authorized several airline companies to charge a fee in addition to regular postage for service to northern Canadian mining areas. These "semi-official" rates are not included in this post.

Scope of this Article

Domestic air mail and All-Up letter rates for the first ounce from 1928 to 1954 are shown in this article. Semi-official rates and post-1954 air mail rates for letters weighing over 8 ounces are not considered.

 References

The Air Mails of Canada and Newfoundland, Vol. 6, American Air Mail Society, Ann Arbor, Mich., 1997
Smith,R.C. and Wawrukiewicz, A., Canada Domestic and International Postal Rates and Fees 1870-1899, The Press for Philately, Snow Camp, N.C., 2000 

 Canada Official Postal Guides,  1936 -37, 1944-45, 1947, 1954

1. August 24, 1928 - June 30, 1931 : 5 cents

The introduction of the 5 cent per ounce domestic air mail rate on August 24, 1928, coincided with special flights conducted by Canadian Transcontinental Airways celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Canadian National Exhibition.

Ottawa to Toronto Special Air Mail Service, August 24, 1928

Victoria to Toronto, December 12, 1929

5 cents domestic air mail letter rate

Calgary to Winnipeg, February 4, 1931

5 cents domestic air mail letter rate

Winnipeg to London, June 29, 1931

5 cents domestic air mail letter rate

2. July 1, 1931 - March 31, 1943 : War Tax 

A War Tax of 1 cent was added to the 1st ounce air mail letter weight on July 1, 1931.

Regina to Toronto, January 11, 1932

6 cents paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Calgary to Ottawa, October 7, 1935

6 cents paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Vancouver to Montreal, DATE

6 cents paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Victoria to Petrolia, February 18, 1938

6 cents paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Sault Ste. Marie to Vancouver, February 10, 1939

6 cents paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Moncton to Tillsonburg, March 1, 1941

6 cents paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Calgary to Temiskaming, January 5, 1943

6 cents paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

3. April 1, 1943 - June 30, 1951 : War Tax Increase

On April 1, 1943, the War Tax on the 1st ounce air mail letter rate was increased from 1 cent to 2 cents. The tax was incorporated into the air mail letter rate on July 1, 1951.

Halifax (Blackout cancel) to Montreal, May 11, 1944

7 cents  paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

Princeton to Toronto, March 12, 1945
7 cents  paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

Penticton to Hamilton, May 12, 1948
7 cents  paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

Winnipeg to Toronto, DATE. 1950

7 cents  paying 5 cents domestic air mail letter rate + 2 cents War Tax

4. July 1, 1951 - March 30, 1954 : 7 cents rate (War Tax incorporated into rate)

The effective rate was unchanged but the 2 cents War Tax became incorporated into the air mail postage rate.

R.C.A.F. Station Summerside, P.E.I., to Toronto, July 28, 1953
7 cents domestic air mail letter rate


  Toronto to Winnipeg, March 23, 1954
7 cents domestic air mail letter rate

"All-Up" Service

 Starting April 1, 1948, Canada Post Office Department sent domestic mail posted at surface letter rates by air mail if the service was available.

First day of "All Up" service souvenir cover
Halifax to West Vancouver, July 1, 1948

If air mail service was specifically requested (Air Mail etiquette, Air Mail envelope), then payment of the air mail rate was required. Insufficiently prepaid letters requesting air mail service was taxed. 

 

The above cover from Saint John, N.B., to Toronto, March 12, 1954,  required the prepayment of 7 cents, the air mail letter rate because air mail service was clearly requested. The postage due was 6 cents, double the 3 cents deficiency. It is interesting to note that the same cover posted in a non-air mail envelope at the 4 cents "all-up" rate might well have been conveyed to Toronto by air.

Identifying Surface Letters sent by Air

How can a cover franked at the surface letter rate be shown to have received air mail service during the All Up period? The cover below is a good example of a surface letter receiving air mail transport.

The special delivery letter from Barrie to Halifax, mailed December 9, 1949, was prepaid at the 4 cents surface letter rate. The Montreal A.M.F. (Airport Mail Facility) transit handstamp tells us that air mail service was provided for the Montreal to Halifax leg of the conveyance.

Montreal A.M.F., December 9, 1940

April 1, 1954 : The end of  domestic air mail rates for letters up to 8 ounces

On April 1, 1954, the air mail letter rate for letters weighing up to 8 ounces ceased to exist. All domestic letters not exceeding 8 ounces and prepaid at the surface letter rate were  carried by the most expeditious manner. Air mail envelopes for domestic letters weighing up to 8 ounces thus became obsolete. 

 

 Northern Electric Company, St. John's Nfld. (AIR MAIL cancellation), to Hamilton, July 24, 1954

5 cents domestic forward letter rate

I. Whittman, Montreal to Toronto, August 28, 1954

5 cents domestic forward letter rate

 Domestic mail exceeding 8 ounces was sent by surface mail unless air mail service was requested. The rate as of April 1, 1954 was 7 cents for the first ounce and 5 cents for each additional ounce.