6. United Kingdom and Empire/Commonwealth Letter Rates : 1859 -1971

Letter rates from  Canada to the United Kingdom as well as to British Empire destinations are the subject of this post. In the first section of this article, colonial and early Dominion rates to the United Kingdom from 1859 to 1898 are explained. The preferred letter rates to the United Kingdom did not apply to its colonies, protectorates and the Dominions until  the introduction of the uniform Imperial letter rate on December 25, 1898. The second section of this article covers the 1898 to 1971 period.The preferential rates were abolished in 1971 and replaced with a uniform international letter rate.

For rates to the United Kingdom prior to 1859 see these posts:

Letter Rates to the United Kingdom and the United States : 1851 - 1859

A. Letter Rates to the United Kingdom : 1859 - 1898

Steamship Packets : Samuel Cunard and Hugh Allan

Samuel Cunard

In 1839, the British Admiralty called for bids to operate a steamship service across the Atlantic to carry the Royal Mail. Halifax-born, Samuel Cunard won the contract and began regular steamship crossings in 1840 from Halifax and on to Boston. By the late 1840s direct sailings from New York had been introduced.

Samuel Cunard commemorative stamp, Canada Post Corporation 2004

R.M.S. Persia, Cunard Line

1856

Hugh Allan

In 1855, the government of the Province of Canada awarded a contract to Hugh Allan to operate a line of ocean steamers to carry the mail between Liverpool and Québéc or Montreal in the summer, and Portland, Maine and Liverpool in the winter. By 1859, service was on a weekly basis. 

 

 Hugh Allan commemorative stamp, Canada Post Corporation, 2004

Canadian, 1855

1. June 1859 - December 31, 1867

Prior to Confederation, letters could be sent by Canadian packet (Allan Line) at 12 1/2 cents per half oz., or via New York (usually Cunard Line) at 17 cents per half oz. The higher rate for letters going to the U.K. via New York was in part due to a U.S. transit fee. It is interesting to note that the U.S. transit fee did not apply to winter Canadian packet mail sailings from Portland, Maine. George Arfken suggests that the transit fees were levied on winter mail but that the fees were absorbed by the Canadian Post Office.

Canadian Packet : 12 1/2 cents

 Brockville  to Barnstaple, February 6, 1865

12 1/2 cents Canadian Packet rate

The use of stamps to prepay postage was not compulsory until 1875.

 Kinkora to Dublin, November 22, 1962

12 1/2 cents (6d. Sterling) Canadian Packet rate

Via Canadian Line Paid

Via the United States : 17 cents

Woodstock to Cork, July 7, 1860

17 cents rate via the United States (U.S. transit fee included)

 Montreal to Esher, England, January 13, 1862

17 cents rate via the United States ( U.S. transit fee included)

PAID 17 cts

 

8d. sterling = 10 Cy (the former Canadian monetary unit) =17 cents

2. January 1, 1868 - December 31, 1869

In 1867, the U.K. and the U.S. entered into a new postal convention  which reduced the U.S. transit fee. Effective January 1, 1868 the Cunard rate was reduced from 17 cents to 15 cents per half ounce. The Canadian packet fee remained unchanged at 12 1/2 cents.

Canadian Packet : 12 1/2 cents

 Windsor, Nova Scotia to Lee, Kent, England, July 16, 1868

12 1/2 cents Canadian Packet rate applied

Carried from Halifax to Queenston, Ireland by the Inman Line (British) Etna

 Toronto to Leek, England, October 8, 1868

12 1/2 cents (6 d. Sterling)  Canadian Packet rate

6 Stg = 12 1/2 cents

Via the United States : 15 cents

(Not in author's collection)

Quebec to London, April 1869

15 cents via the United States

3. January 1, 1870 - August 31, 1875

Effective  January 1 1870, the U.K. and the U.S. agreed to slash the letter rate to 6 cents per half oz. The rate for letters sent from Canada to the U.K. via New York  including U.S. transit was thus  reduced from 15 cents to 8 cents per half oz., considerably cheaper than the Canadian packet 12 1/2 cents rate. The Canadian Post Office responded by lowering the Canadian packet rate from 12 1/2 cents to 6 cents also effective on January 1, 1870.

Canadian Packet : 6 Cents

Allan Line Winter Sailing via Portland, Maine

Montreal to Liverpool, December 18, 1872

6 cents Canadian Packet Rate

(U.S. transit fee probably absorbed by Canada Post Office)

Goderich to Liverpool, July 8, 1870

6 cents Canadian Packet Rate

Via the United States  : 8 Cents

(Not in author's collection)

Halifax to Rugby, England, October 10, 1871

8 cents via the United States (New York)

4. September 1, 1875 - December 24, 1898

On September 1, 1875, Canada Post Office announced that postage rate on letters from Canada to the United Kingdom from October 1, 1875 would be 5 cents per half ounce by Canada packet or by closed mail via the United States. The 5 cent rate was a preferred rate matching the 5 cent General Postal Union (later Universal Postal Union) rate.

Quebec to London, October 11, 1879

5 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom

B. Rates to the U.K. and British Empire From 1898

1. December 25, 1898 - April 14, 1915 

Imperial Penny Postage

At a conference on postage rates held in London, England, in 1898, William Mulock, Postmaster General of Canada, proposed an Imperial one penny letter rate. The Imperial Penny Postage came into effect on December 25, 1898. The rate to the United Kingdom and the British Empire consisting of Dominions, colonies and protectorates was 2 cents for each half ounce.

From Canada Official Postal Guide 1903

To mark the event, the Canada Post Office issued a 2 cent (equivalent to British 1d.) commemorative stamp on December 7, 1898 which showed the vastness of the British Empire.

 

 2 cent commemorative "Imperial Penny Postage" stamp

Issued December 7, 1898

Ancaster to London, April 17, 1899

2 cents per half oz. letter rate

(Map stamp oxidized - "muddy" oceans effect)

Halifax and St. John Mail Car to London, July 31, 1899

2 cents per half oz. letter rate

Welland to Cheltenham, February 28, 1911

2 cents per half oz. letter rate

Hamilton to Veereeniging, South Africa, October 21, 1907
2 cents British Empire letter rate for each half ounce

Toronto to London, June 24, 1912

2 cents per half oz. letter rate

 

 Toronto to Lauriya, India, March 8, 1915

2 cents British Empire letter rate for each half ounce

War Tax Period I 

  

2. April 15, 1915 - September 31, 1921

 On April 15, 1915, the letter rate was changed from 2 cents for each half ounce to 2 cents for each ounce, a rate reduction. However, a 1 cent War Tax was imposed on the 1st step letter rate resulting in a total of 3 cents for a one ounce letter to the U.K. or British Empire destinations.

Toronto to Reading, November 2, 1917

3 cents Confederation commemorative paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom

Toronto to Reading, February 4, 1921

3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom

Vancouver to Baudra, July 16, 1917

 3 cents paying 2 cents British Empire letter rate for each ounce plus 1 cent War Tax

Postage Rate Increase

 3. October, 1921 - June 30, 1926

On October 1, 1921, the letter rate was increased from 2 cents to 3 cents for the 1st oz. and 3 cents for each additional ounce was 3 cents. The  Empire letter rate with war tax was 4 cents.

 Ottawa (House of Commons) to Liverpool, March 26, 1926

4 cents paying 3 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom

Brampton to New Town, Tasmania, June 22, 1926

4 cents paying 3 cents British Empire letter rate for each ounce plus 1 cent War Tax

War Tax Removed

4. July 1, 1926 - December 24, 1928

The War Tax was removed on July 1, 1926. The rate for the first oz. and each additional oz. was 3 cents.

Collingwood ( Hamilton and Meaford RPO No. 3) to London, July 8, 1928

3 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom

Rate Reduction

5. December 25, 1928 - June 30, 1931

On December 25, 1928, the letter rate to the United Kingdom was reduced from 3 cents to 2 cents per ounce.

Canada Official Postal Guide, January Supplement 1929

 

 Welland to London, March 14, 1929

2 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom

 Post Office in the Province of Quebec to St. Johns, Nfdl., January 28, 1929

2 cents Empire letter rate

 Montreal to Sydney Australia, December 5, 1930

2 cents Empire letter rate

War Tax II

6. July 1, 1931- March 31, 1943

 Beginning July 1, 1931, the 1 cent War Tax was re-imposed on the 1st weight letter rate. The rate for the first ounce was 3 cents and 2 cents for each additional ounce.

Hamilton to Brisbane, Australia, October 8, 1931

3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Saint John, N.B., to Bombay, July 20, 1930

3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Quebec to Nairobi, Kenya, September 26, 1933

3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Toronto (House of Assembly) to Bedford,  England, January 26, 1935

3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom

  
 Toronto to Hamilon, Bermuda, March 27, 1935

3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

 

 Drummondville to Kew Gardens, June 25, 1936

3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom

Beauharnois to Pretoria, South Africa, February 4, 1937

3 cents paying 2 cents Empire letter rate + 1 cent War Tax

Toronto to Newton-Stewart, Scotland, August 18, 1941

3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom

Hamilton to Port Louis, Mauritius, July 30, 1940

3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax Empire letter rate

 Toronto to Bolton, August 4, 1942

3 cents paying 2 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom

February 1938 - September 1939 : Compulsory "ALL- UP" Service to the British Empire

On February 28, 1938, Canada inaugurated a compulsory Empire Air Mail Scheme whereby first class mail for specified Empire countries was conveyed to Britain by ship then carried exclusively by air beyond England. The Empire Scheme was a British plan completed in stages from June 1937 to July 1938, and ending at the onset of war in September, 1939.

While the British letter rate to Empire destinations was the same as the 1 1/2 d. inland rate, this was not the case for Canadian letters. The surface letter rate of 3 cents per ounce to British Empire destinations was abolished and replaced with a higher all-up rate of 6 cents per one-half ounce. The post card rate was increased from 2 cents to 4 cents.

The 1937-38 Official Canada Postal Guide described the service as follows:

Instructional handstamp applied by Canada Post Office on letters posted to Empire destinations

Charlo Station, N.B., to Aden Camp, March 1, 1938 (2nd day of Empire Mail Scheme)

6 cents per half ounce Empire Air Mail Scheme rate

Shortpaid 3 cents but not taxed

 Montreal to Pretoria, South Africa April 25, 1938

6 cents per half ounce Empire Air Mail Scheme rate

Winnipeg to India, June 2, 1939

6 cents per half ounce Empire Air Mail Scheme rate

 Dramatic Rate Increase

The 1 ounce cover shown below to South Africa shows how the rates to Empire destinations increased when the compulsory scheme was in effect. Prior to February 1938, the surface rate for 1 oz. to South Africa was 3 cents. The 1 oz. letter rate jumped to 12 cents under the Empire Mail Scheme.

 Kentville Sanitorium to Bloemfontein, South Africa, November 15, 1938

12 cents paying the 1 oz.  (double weight) Empire Air Mail Scheme rate

Postage Due

Lunenburg to Pretoria, July 14, 1938

6 cents per half ounce Empire letter rate

Shortpaid 1 cent and taxed 10 centimes by the Canada Post Office

The amount due in South Africa was 1 d.

War Tax III 

 7. April 1, 1943 - June 30, 1951

The War Tax added to the 1st weight step letter rate was increased from 1 cent to 2 cents. The rate to the United Kingdom and to Empire destinations was increased to  4 cents for the first ounce (including war tax) . The  2 cents additional ounce rate was not changed.

Toronto to London, June 29, 1943

4 cents paying 2 cents postage + 2 cents War Tax for letter to the United Kingdom

Wygard to Georgetown, British Guiana, April 18, 1944

4 cents paying 3 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax Empire letter rate

Toronto to St. Helena, February 11, 1949

4 cents paying 3 cents postage + 1 cent War Tax Empire letter rate

War Tax Incorporated Into Letter Rate

8. July 1, 1951 - March 31, 1954

The War Tax was incorporated into the 1st weight step letter rate. The letter rate was effectively unchanged at 4 cents for the first ounce and 2 cents for each additional ounce.

Decolonization and the Commonwealth

Soon after the war, Britain began the process of decolonization, granting independence to its colonies and protectorates. Most former British colonies and protectorates joined the British Commonwealth of Nations (now the Commonwealth of Nations) which was constituted in 1949. Canada Post Office replaced the term "British Empire" when referring to rates with "British Commonwealth of Nations, British Colonies and Protectorates". 

 Campbell River to Alnwick, July 6, 1953

4 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom

Ottawa to Port Moseby, Papua, February 6, 1954

4 cents Commonwealth letter rate

(Forwarded to Australia)

9. April 1, 1954 - October 31, 1968

 

On April 1, 1954, the letter rate to the United Kingdom increased to 5 cents for the first ounce and 3 cents for each additional ounce.

Kingston to Ipwich, November 25, 1954

5 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom

Ottawa to Matamata, New Zealand, December 15, 1954

5 cents Commonwealth letter rate

 Montreal to London, February 16, 1963

5 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom

Revelstoke to Linstead, Jamaica, March 24, 1966

5 cents Commonwealth letter rate

Victoria to Cambridge, February 28, 1967

5 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom

Burlington to Sydney, Australia, October 16, 1968

5 cents Commonwealth letter rate

10. November 1, 1968 - June 30, 1971

On November 1, 1968, the letter rate to the United Kingdom and Commonwealth destinations was increased to 6 cents for the first ounce and 4 cents for each additional ounce.

Lakefield to Crowden, December 19, 1969

6 cents letter rate to the United Kingdom

Winnipeg to Canberra, Australia, December 

6 cents Commonwealth letter rate

1971 UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL LETTER RATE

The preferential letter rates to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth had been the same as the domestic forward letter rates since 1931. On July 1, 1971 the preferential rate to Britain was abolished and replaced with the  15 cents per ounce "all-up"international letter rate. The surface and air mail rates for items up to 8 ounces to all destinations were the same, effectively eliminating the surface letter rate for items weighing up to 8 ounces.

Rates per item:

i)1 oz. or less------------------------ .15
ii) more than 1 oz. but
not more than 2 oz.------------------.30
iii)more than 2 oz. but
not more than 4 oz.------------------.40
iv) more than 4 oz. but
no more than 8 oz.-------------------.90

For air mail letters weighing more than 8 ounces there were two rate destinations (excluding the USA):

• Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Europe, Bermuda, Mexico, Central and South America, West Indies:

v) more than 8 oz. but
not more than 12 oz.----------------2.00
vi)more than 12 oz. but
not more than 1 lb.------------------2.80
vi) each additional 4 oz.
or fraction thereof--------------------.80

• All other countries

v) more than 8 oz. but
not more than 12 oz.----------------3.50
vi)more than 12 oz. but
not more than 1 lb.------------------4.50
vi) each additional 4 oz.
or fraction thereof-------------------1.40

 Whitehorse to Westminster, August 1971

15 cents per ounce international letter rate

The covers below are examples of  letters to the United Kingdom franked incorrectly at the domestic letter rate after the 15 cents international letter rate came into effect.

7 cents domestic rate : July 31, 1971 - December 31, 1971

Vancouver to Westcliffe on Sea, November 29, 1971

15 cents international letter rate

7 cents affixed (domestic letter rate) thus short paid 8 cents
Canadian Tax Fraction : 16/15
British charge : 5p postage due

The tax fraction system for international short paid mail is explained HERE.

8 cents domestic rate : from  January 1, 1972

St. Stephen to Bradford, January 15, 1972

15 cents international letter rate

8 cents affixed (domestic letter rate) thus short paid 7 cents
Canadian Tax Fraction : 14/15
British charge : 3p postage due

References

Arfken, George and Pawluk, William, A Canadian Postal History 1897 - 1911 The Maple Leaf, Numeral, and King Edward Era, British North American Philatelic Society, 2006

Handbook on Transatlantic Mail, J.C. Arnell, Editor, Handbook Number 1, Transatlantic Study Group, British North American Philatelic Society, 1987

Canadian Letter Rates to the UK, the US Transit Fee and the Cunard Surtax (Part 1), George B. Arfken, Maple Leaves , Vol 20 , Aug 1987, pp 264-68

Canadian Letter Rates to the UK, the US Transit Fee and the Cunard Surtax (Part 2), George B. Arfken, Maple Leaves , Vol 20, Oct 1987, pp. 293-299

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