This post spans almost 150 years of Canadian postal history showing examples of each domestic letter rate from 1868 to the present day. ( Local rates in effect from 1868 to 1968 are not included in this post.)
PART I : 1868 - 1954
For rates prior to 1868 see these posts
Canadian Internal Domestic Letter Rates : 1792 - 1851
Postage Rates Within the Province of Canada : 1851 - 1859
Province of Canada Domestic, United States, Great Britain Rates : 1859 - 1868
When the newly created Dominion of Canada's Post Office Act came into effect on April 1, 1868, the domestic forward (not-local) letter rate was set at 3 cents for each 1/2 ounce, a reduction from the 5 cents pre-Confederation rate which had been in effect in the Province of Canada.
Paid (Stamp)
The rate was 3 cents for each 1/2 ounce. The first set of stamps issued by the Dominion of Canada featured a profile of Queen Victoria and are commonly referred to as the "Large Queens".
Ingersoll to Seaforth, September 12, 1868
3 cents Large Queen paying the 1/2 ounce domestic forward letter rare
The Large Queens were replaced with a smaller sized stamp (the "Small Queens") starting in 1870.
St. Catharines to Fonthill, May 8, 1872
3 cents Small Queen paying the 1/2 ounce domestic forward letter rate
Paid (Stampless)
Stamps were not mandatory for the prepayment of postage until October 1, 1875.
Elgin to Elora, June 22, 1869
3 cents domestic forward letter rate paid
"PAID 3" handstamp
Watford to Toronto, April 9, 1975
3 cents domestic forward letter rate paid
"PAID 3" handstamp
The rate for unpaid letters was 5 cents for each 1/2 ounce.
Toronto to Ottawa, April 11, 1875
5 cents unpaid handstamp in black
Shequinda [sic] (Manitoulin Island) to Caledonia, September 6, 1875
5 cents unpaid handstamp in black
Welland (Welland RWY Mail Car) to Hamilton, August 14, 1886
3 cents Small Queen paying the 1/2 ounce domestic forward letter rare
A
significant change was introduced on May 8, 1889. The weight steps were
increased from 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce. A 1 ounce letter which was now
charged 3 cents would have been a double weight letter requiring 6 cents
postage when the weight step was 1/2 ounce.
Welland (Post Colborne and Port Dalhousie Mail Car) to Toronto, October 10, 1896
Small Queen stamp paying the 3 cents per ounce domestic forward letter rate
Halifax to Upper Stewiacke, July 31, 1896
Small Queen stamp paying the 3 cents per ounce domestic forward letter rate
Maple Leaf Issue (1897)
In 1897, the Small Queen issue was replaced with a new design showing an older Queen Victoria, and commonly referred to as the "Maple Leaf" issue because a maple leaf was engraved in the corners of the the stamps. Words rather than numerals were used to denote denominations.
London to Athens, May 13, 1898
"Maple Leaf" stamp paying the 3 cents per ounce domestic forward letter rate
Brockville to Sussex, April 18, 1898
"Maple Leaf" stamp paying the 3 cents per ounce domestic forward letter rate
Numeral Issue (1898)
Within a few months of the release of the "Maple Leaf" issue, a new series bearing numerals of the denominations as well as words was planned because of problems with the Maple Leaf series:
- French-speaking Canadians found it difficult to read the values
- postal clerks complained of the difficulty in distinguishing the denominations
- the Universal Postal Union (UPU) emphasized the necessity of having the denominations in arabic numeral
Uxbridge to Halifax, November 9, 1898
"Numeral" stamp paying the 3 cents domestic forward letter rate
On January 1, 1899, the domestic forward letter rate was reduced from 3 cents to 2 cents for each ounce.
2 cent Purple Numeral
The UPU designated specific colours for different types of mail : red for domestic letters, green for printed matter, and blue for international letters. When the domestic rate was reduced to 2 cents, the current 2 cent stamp had been printed in purple. The red (carmine) version of the 2 cent numeral was issued in August, 1899 to replace the purple stamp.
Toronto to London, April 7, 1899
2 cent purple Numeral paying the domestic forward letter rate
Provisional Issues
Since the demand for 3 cent stamps dropped significantly when the letter rate was reduced from 3 cents to 2 cents, stocks of the 3 cent Maple Leaf and Numeral stamps were surcharged 2 cents. The overprinted stamps are referred to as the "Provisional Issues".
Truro to London, September 2, 1899
2 cent "Provisional" Numeral paying the domestic forward letter rate
2 cent Carmine Numeral
Montreal to London, June 8, 1900
2 cents Numeral paying the domestic forward letter rate
Truro ( Halifax and Sydney RPO) to Arichat, April 14, 1903
2 cents Numeral paying the domestic forward letter rate
Edward VII (1903)
Edward VII succeeded Victoria upon her death in 1901. The Edward 2 cent carmine stamp was issued July 1, 1903.
Welland to Hamilton, April 9, 1906
2 cents domestic forward letter rate
Saint John to Moncton, August 6, 1905
2 cents domestic forward letter rate
George V came to the throne in 1910 and reigned until his death in 1935. Several definitive sets were issued during this period featuring George V.
George V Admiral Issue (1911)
Stamps of the "Admiral Issue" depicting the King in the dress uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet were first released in December, 1911.
Halifax to Arichat, July 14, 1914
2 cents domestic forward letter rate
On April 15, 1915, the Special War Revenue Act "to supplement the revenue to meet War Expenditures" took effect in Canada. A
War Tax of 1 cent was to be prepaid on letters and post cards mailed in
Canada for delivery in Canada and for international destinations where
the 2 cent rate applied. The War Tax could be prepaid with ordinary
postage stamps or with specially printed War Tax stamps. The War Tax was
removed on July 21, 1926 and re-imposed on July 1, 1931.
War Tax paid with Ordinary Stamp
Montreal and Toronto Grand Trunk Railway R.P.O. to Brockville, July 27, 1919
2 cent domestic letter rate + 1 cent ordinary stamp paying the War Tax
War Tax paid with War Tax Stamp
Fort William to (Muskoka) Sanitarium, July 19, 1915
2 cent domestic letter rate + 1 cent War Tax stamp
Combined Postage and War Tax Stamp : 1T¢
A stamp that combined the tax and postage was issued on January 1, 1916 and initially printed in carmine.
Winnipeg to Regina, March 21, 1916
2 cent carmine 1T¢ stamp paying postage + war tax
The carmine colour 1T¢ stamp proved unsatisfactory because of its similarity to the colour of the 2 cent ordinary stamp. A brown version was released in August 1916.
Toronto to Ottawa, May 28, 1918
2 cent brown 1T¢ stamp paying postage + war tax
In 1918, it was decided to discontinue the use of the war tax stamps. A 3 cent brown stamp paying the letter rate (2 cents) and the War Tax (1 cent) was issued in August 1918.
Toronto to Hamilton, February 21, 1920
3 cent stamp paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax
The colour of the 3 cent stamp was changed to carmine in 1923.
Winnipeg to Ingersoll, December 25, 1925
3 cent stamp paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax
Removal of War Tax : July 21, 1926
When the domestic letter rate was effectvely reduced to 2 cents with the removal of the War Tax on July 21, 1926, there were 130 million 3 cent carmine stamps is stock. The Post Office Department surcharged the three cents carmine by overprinted them "2 cents".
Ordinary two cent stamps were also available.
St. Catharines to Welland, December 16, 1926
2 cents domestic forward letter rate
Fort William to Toronto, October 14, 1927
2 cents carmine coil paying the domestic forward letter rate
George V Scroll issue (1928)
The Admiral definitive series was replaced by a new issue beginning in October, 1928. The portrait of George V was taken from a photograph by the Lafayette studio, London. The series has been called the "Scroll" issue because scroll work replaced the crowns that had appeared on the design of the Admiral stamps.
2 cents domestic forward letter rate
George V Arch Issue (1930)
On April 1, 1930, the contract for the manufacture of Canadian postage
stamps and postal stationery was awarded to the British American Bank
Note Company, Limited, (BABN) Ottawa. The "Scroll" issue printed by the
Canadian Bank Note Company was therefore short lived and replaced by a
new BABN-printed definitive series referred to as the "Arch" issue,
beginning in June, 1930. The 1 cent to 8 cents low value stamps still
featured the Lafayette studio portrait of George V but framed within an
arch.
The
first 2 cent arch was issued on June 6, 1930 and printed in green. This
was followed by red 2 cent stamp a few months later on November 17,
1930.
Welland to Hamilton, November 5, 1930
2 cents green Arch stamp paying the domestic forward letter rate
Toronto to Dundas, December 2, 1930
2 cents red Arch stamp paying the domestic forward letter rate
Return of the War Tax 1931
The 1 cent War Tax was re-imposed on July 1, 1931.
(The 1 cent War Tax was only added to the one ounce rate.)
War tax stamps were not issued when the tax was re-introduced on July 1, 1931. Ordinary stamps paid the combined postage and the war tax rate.
George V Admiral Provisional (1926)
In 1926, when the forward letter rate was reduced from 3 cents to 2 cents, a number of 3 cent sheets (imperforate x 8) intended for making coils were perforated 12 horizontally and set aside. Since the Arch series 3 cent denomination had yet to be issued, the 1926 stamp Admiral stamp was released on June 24, 1931 to meet the demand for a 3 cent stamp.
Montreal to Toronto, July 15, 1931
Admiral Provisional paying the 3 cents domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 1 cent war tax)
George V 3 cent Arch (1931)
The Arch 3 cent stamp was issued on July 13, 1931.
Saskatoon to Hamilton, December 22, 1932
3 cents Arch paying the 3 cents domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 1 cent war tax)
George V Arch Provisional (1932)
A large stock of 2 cent red Arch stamp surcharged 3 cents was printed and issued on June 21, 1932.
Winnipeg to Hamilton, December 2, 1932
3 cents Arch Provisional paying the 3 cents domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 1 cent war tax)
George V Medallion Issue (1932)
The George V "Medallion" definitive stamps which replace the Arch issue were released on December 1,
1932. The design was based on a profile sculpture of King George V by Edgar Mackennal.
Halifax to Hamilton, June 8, 1933
3 cents Medallion paying the 3 cents domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 1 cent war tax)
George V Dated Die Issue (1935)
In 1935, the Canadian Bank Note Company (CBN) regained the contract to produce stamps for the Canada Post Office. The image of George V used for the 1935 definitives was based on a photograph by Lafayette Portrait Studios. The issue has been called the "Dated Die" issue because, for the first time, the dies of the stamps bore a date indicating the year of manufacture of each design.
Meaford to Hamilton, July 2, 1936
3 cents Dated Die paying the 3 cents domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 1 cent war tax)
Death of George V : Edward VIII (1936)
On January 20 1936, King George V died, and his eldest son Edward ascended the throne as Edward VIII. Canada had not yet issued its Edward VIII definitive series when on December 11, 1936, Edward VIII abdicated the throne in order to marry his mistress, divorcee Wallis Simpson. Edward's younger brother Albert reluctantly became the next monarch, assuming the title of King George VI. No stamps featuring Edward VIII were issued by Canada. during his brief reign.
George VI Mufti Issue (1937)
Canada Post Office issued the first George VI definitive series in April, 1937. The George VI stamp design was based on a photograph of the King in a business suit (non-uniform, mufti) taken by Bertram Park.
Halifax to Hamilton, June 11, 1938
3 cents Mufti paying the 3 cents domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 1 cent war tax)
George VI War Issue
The war effort definitive stamps were released on July 1 1942, replacing the Mufti issue. The Post Office Department issued stamps portraying King George as head of the Armed Forces in naval, military and air force uniforms.
Montreal to Tillsonburg, September 29, 1942
3 cents War issue paying the 3 cents domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 1 cent war tax)
War Tax Increase (1943)
The War Tax was increased by 1 cent on April 1, 1943 effectively making the domestic forward letter rate 4 cents for the first ounce.
The
war tax was in effect until June 30, 1951. On July 1, 1951, the war tax
was incorporated into the postage rates. The effective letter rate
remained unchanged at 4 cents for the first ounce.
April 1, 1943 to April 8, 1943
The
4 cent George VI stamp was issued on April 9, 1943, eight days after
the rate increase. Until then, the 4 cent rate could be paid with the 4
cent Grain Elevator pictorial stamp issued on July 1, 1942, or uprating
lower value denominations.
Avonmore to Tillsonburg, April 1, 1943 (First Day of 2 cents war tax)
3
cent War issue uprated with 1 cent Mufti to pay the the 4 cents
domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 2 cents war tax)
Windsor to Toronto, April 7, 1943
4 cent War issue Grain Elevator pictorial paying the 4 cents
domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 2 cents war tax)
George VI War Issue 4 cent stamp (April 9, 1943)
Hamilton to Mackayville, November 5, 1943
4 cent War issue paying the 4 cents
domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 2 cents war tax)
George VI "Wilding" Definitives (1949)
In 1949 a series of definitive stamps (1c - 5c) which reproduced
contemporary portraits of George VI taken by photographer Dorothy
Wilding was issued. The Wilding definitives replaced the previous "War
Issue" stamps which had portrayed His Majesty in military uniforms.
For artistic reasons, the words "postes" and "postage", found on
Canadian stamps since the release of the 1929 Scroll issue, were
omitted in the original design of the Wilding definitives.
Original Design (issued January 1950)
The Wilding definitives were scheduled to be released on June 6, 1949,
the day chosen officially to honour the birthday of King George VI.
However, there were objections to the removal of the words "postes" and
"postage" from the stamps, and the original stamps were not issued on
June 6, 1949 as scheduled. Instead, the Post Office ordered the
engravers to revise the dies to include the English and French words
for postage, and produced a new series of stamps. The five new stamps,
referred to as the "Revised Designs" were issued on November 19, 1949.
The original Wilding definitives were eventually released in January,
1950.
Revised Design (issued November 19, 1949)
Kapuskasing to Toronto, March 11, 1950
Original design Wilding paying the 4 cents
domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 2 cents war tax)
Simcoe to Waterford, March 13, 1951
Revised design Wilding paying the 4 cents
domestic forward letter rate (2 cents postage + 2 cents war tax)
The four cent George VI Wilding denomination was issued in a new colour, orange-vermillion, on July 1, 1951, coinciding with the incorporation of the war tax into the postage rates.
Winnipeg to Ottawa, February 25, 1952
4 cents paying the domestic forward letter rate
Death of George VI (1952)
Queen
Elizabeth ascended to the throne upon her father's death on February 6,
1952. The first Canadian Queen Elizabeth definitive stamps
were issued on May 1, 1953 and featured the engraved image of Her
Majesty from a
Yosuf Karsh photograph.
Queen Elizabeth Karsh Definitives (1953)
Ottawa to Toronto, June 25, 1953
4 cents domestic forward letter rate
PART II : 1954 - 2014
On
July 1, 1971, Canada Post adopted the metric system for its
measurements. The first weight step was 30g. Rates shown below are for
the 1st weight step only.
The
5 cent rate was for a 1 ounce forward (not local) letter. The local
letter rate was 4 cents and not shown in this post. The 1954 to 1968
period marked the end of domestic letter rate stability.
St. Thomas to London, April 1, 1954
First day of 5 cents domestic forward letter rate
Pembroke to Montreal, May 10, 1963
5 cents domestic forward letter rate
Kingston to Port Burwell, April 30, 1967
5 cents domestic forward letter rate
On
November 1, 1968, the domestic local letter and post card rates were
abolished. The rate for local mail and post cards was the same as the
letter rate.
6 cents : November 1, 1968 - June 30, 1971
Meaford to Scarborough, December 22, 1969
6 cents domestic letter rate
Victoria local mail, June 1, 1971
6 cents domestic letter rate
7 cents : July 31, 1971 - December 31, 1971 : 7 cents
Blythe, Ont., to Montreal, November 2, 1971
7 cents domestic letter rate
8 cents : January 1, 1972 - August 31, 1976
Becancour to Deschaillons, February 24, 1972
8 cents domestic letter rate
Toronto local letter, May 6, 1976
8 cents domestic letter rate
10 cents : September 1, 1976 - February 28, 1977
Conestogo to Waterloss, September 8, 1976
10 cents domestic letter rate
12 cents : March 1, 1977 - March 31, 1978
Parry Sound to Toronto, April 5, 1977
12 cents domestic letter rate
14 cents : April 1, 1978 - March 31, 1979
London local letter, March 6, 1979
14 cents domestic letter rate
17 cents (1st ounce) : April 1, 1979 - June 30, 1979
Toronto local letter, April 27, 1979
17 cents domestic letter rate for 1 ounce
17 cents (up to 30 grams) : July 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981
17 cents domestic letter rate for 30 grams
30 cents : January 1, 1982 - February 14, 1983
"A" Stamp
Canada Post anticipating it would increase the letter rate from 17 cents but unsure what the change would be printed stamps with the Letter "A" without denomination. The "A" stamps were issued on December 29, 1981, with a value of 30 cents. The 30 cent denominated stamps were issued on May 11, 1981.
Canada Post anticipating it would increase the letter rate from 17 cents but unsure what the change would be printed stamps with the Letter "A" without denomination. The "A" stamps were issued on December 29, 1981, with a value of 30 cents. The 30 cent denominated stamps were issued on May 11, 1981.
Toronto to Weston, March 17, 1982
30 cents domestic letter rate
"A" stamp used in period
30 cents domestic letter rate
"A" stamp used in period
Fort Erie to Guelph, February 8, 1983
30 cents domestic letter rate
32 cents : February 15, 1983 - June 23 1985
Ottawa (Senate Post Office) to Montreal, April 12, 1984
32 cents domestic letter rate
32 cents domestic letter rate
34 cents : June 24, 1985 - March 31, 1987
Ottawa to Outremont, July 26, 1986
34 cents domestic letter rate
34 cents domestic letter rate
36 cents : April 1, 1987 - December 31, 1987
Ingersoll to Kitchener, December 8, 1987
36 cents domestic letter rate
36 cents domestic letter rate
37 cents : January 1, 1988 - December 31, 1988
Port Hope to Cobourg, December 22 , 1988
37 cents domestic letter rate
38 cents : January 1, 1989 - December 31, 1989
Truro to Toronto, October 10, 1989
38 cents domestic letter rate
38 cents domestic letter rate
39 cents : January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1990
Willowdale to Hamilton, December 19, 1990
39 cents domestic letter rate
39 cents domestic letter rate
40 cents : January 1, 1991 - December 31, 1991
North Bay to Toronto, June 6, 1991
40 cents domestic letter rate
40 cents domestic letter rate
42 cents : January 1, 1992 - December 31, 1992
Stratford to St. John's, September 11, 1992
42 cents letter rate
42 cents letter rate
43 cents : January 1, 1993 - July 30, 1995
Chester to Georgetown, August 22, 1994
43 cents domestic letter rate
43 cents domestic letter rate
45 cents : August 1, 1995 - December 31, 1998
Toronto (M4L 3T0) to Don Mills, May 9, 1996
45 cents domestic letter rate
45 cents domestic letter rate
46 cents : January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2000
46 cents domestic letter rate
47 cents : January 1, 2001 - January 13, 2002
Love, Sask., to Kanata, March 15, 2001
47 cents domestic letter rate
48 cents : January 14, 2002 - January 11, 2004
Big Valley to Kanata, March 12, 2003
48 cents domestic letter rate
49 cents: January 12, 2004 - January 16, 2005
Canada V6B 3A0 (Montreal) to Lancaster, September 27, 2004
49 cents domestic first weight letter rate
50 cents : January 17, 2005 - January 15, 2006
Ste -Aime-Des-Lacs to Ste-Sophie-De-Levrad, February 28, 2005
50 cents domestic letter rate
51 cents : January 16, 2006 - January 15, 2007
Berwyn, Alta., to Kanata, September 17, 2006
51 cents domestic letter rate
Permanent Stamps
Canada Post issued its first non-denominated domestic letter rate "Permanent" (P) stamps on November 16, 2006.
The PERMANENT™ stamp, identified with the letter P in place of a value, is always accepted at the current domestic postage price. So if you buy a PERMANENT stamp today, you can still use it in at any time in the future—no more 1 cent stamps when the postal rates increase.
"Spotted Coralroot" Orchid Permanent stamp
Issued at 51 cents on November 16, 2006
London local letter, December 6, 2006
51 cents domestic letter rate
52 cents : January 16, 2007 - January 11, 2009
Lighthouse Permanent stamp
Issued at 52 cents December 27, 2007
Armstrong, B.C., to Kanata, September 26, 2008
52 cents domestic letter rate
54 cents : January 12, 2009 - January 10, 2010
Olympic Sporting Events Permanent stamp
Issued at 54 cents January 12, 2009
Issued at 54 cents January 12, 2009
Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, to Mississauga, May 25, 2009
54 cents domestic letter rate
57 cents : January 11, 2010 - January 16, 2011
57 cents Home Children commemorative issued September 1, 2010
Toronto (LPP) inkjet on letter addressed to Toronto, October 21, 2010
57 cents domestic letter rate
59 cents: January 17, 2011 - January 15, 2012
Canadian Recording Artists commemorative Permanent stamps
Issued at 59 cents, June 30, 2012
Toronto local letter, November 17, 2011
59 cents domestic letter rate
61 cents : January 16, 2012 - January 13, 2013
Baby Wildlife Definitive permanent stamp
Issued at 61 cents, January 16, 2012
Brampton local letter (Toronto LPP), May 14, 2005
61 cents domestic letter rate
61 cents domestic letter rate
63 cents : January 14, 2013 - January 12, 2014
Baby Wildlife Definitive permanent stamp
Issued at 63 cents, January 14, 2012
Lots-Renversés to Ste-Foy, October 7, 2013
63 cents domestic letter rate
Permanent Stamps Withdrawn From Sale
On
December 11, 2014, Canada Post Corporation (CPC) announced that
domestic letter rates would increase from 63 cents to 85 cents effective
March 31, 2014, subject to government approval. CPC
withdrew
Permanent stamps from sale and issued denominated domestic letter
definitives. It is expected that the sale of Permanent stamps will resume at a later date.
63 cent definitive issued December 11, 2013
Vancouver to Brampton, December 28, 2012
63 cents domestic letter rate
65 cents : January 13, 2014 - March 31, 2014
Canadian Pride definitive Permanent stamp
Issued at 63 cents January 2013
Wasaga Beach (Toronto LPP ink jet) to Brampton, January 29, 2014
65 cents domestic letter rate
The permanent stamp purchased for 63 cents in 2013 paid the full domestic letter rate, i.e. 65 cents
Canada Post Corporation "Offer"
Canada Post Corporation (CPC) announced an "offer" to accept all domestic standard lettermail "at a reduced rate of 63 cents" from January 13, 2014 until March 31, 2014. CPC reserved the right to terminate the offer at any time.
Canada Post Corporation (CPC) announced an "offer" to accept all domestic standard lettermail "at a reduced rate of 63 cents" from January 13, 2014 until March 31, 2014. CPC reserved the right to terminate the offer at any time.
** Notice to Customers
Effective January 13, 2014, for a limited time only, Canada Post is accepting all standard lettermail items weighing up to 30g. and mailed within Canada at a reduced rate of $0.63, subject to the terms of the Offer. By participating in the Offer, you agree to the following. Canada Post has the right to limit quantities and can terminate the Offer at any time.
63 cent stamp issued December 11, 2013
Toronto LPP to Brampton, February 1, 2014
65 cents domestic letter tate
Canada Post 63 cents"offer"
