Postal History Corner: 7. Air Mail Letter Rates to the United Kingdom

Trans-Atlantic mail service between Canada and Britain was only inaugurated in mid-1939. From the late 1920s to 1939, air mail letters to the United Kingdom could only receive air mail service in Canada or the United States, then were conveyed by ship across the Atlantic. Pan American and Imperial Airways flights introduced in 1939 were essential for rapid communication between Canada and the United Kingdom during the war years. After the war, air mail rates were reduced, remaining at 15 cents for each ounce from 1954 to 1971. On July 1, 1971 a new international letter rate was introduced which replaced the surface and air mail letter rates to all international destinations except to the United States.

In this post, air mail rates for the 1930 to 1971 period are provided and examples of most rates are shown. I am unsure of some rates however and point these difficulties out. I would appreciate your help if you can provide the missing information (philcovex@gmail.com).

Air Mail Via the United States

Prior to Canada Post Office offering air mail service to Great Britain, 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. The letters were flown to ports such as New York City for ship conveyance to Britain.

Vancouver to Inverness, Scotland, February 24, 1928

3 cents Canadian postage to Great Britian + 10 cents U.S. air mail fee

Superscription : "Air Mail Service From Seattle"

New York transit, February 27, 1928

The chart below starts with the 7 cent rate for the 1st oz. introduced by the Canada Post Office in April, 1930. I am unclear as to the rates before this date and will update this summary once I confirm the correct rates.

Air Service in North America Only

April 1930 - February 1, 1931 : 7 cents for the first ounce

Canada Official Postal Guide Monthly Supplement, April 1930

(Not shown)

February 2, 1931 - June 30, 1931 : 5 cents for the first ounce

The 5 cents for the first ounce rate was the same as the domestic air mail rate.

(Not shown)

July 1, 1931 - March 31, 1943 : 6 cents for the first ounce ( 5 cents + 1 cent War Tax)

A 1 cent War Tax was added to the first weight step only.

Canada Official Postal Guide Monthly Supplement, July 1931

Vancouver to London, April 26, 1933

6 cents air mail rate within Canada

Victoria to London, December 10, 1932

6 cents air mail rate within Canada

Air Mail Service to Strait of Belle Isle (Bradore Bay)

An air mail service to expedite mail from the Ottawa Imperial Conference was inaugurated between Ottawa and Belle Isle (Bradore Bay), the last landfall for vessels en route to Europe. By use of this service it was possible to get mail on board ships that had left Quebec the previous day.

The 5 cent "Winged Mercury" air mail stamp was surcharged and overprinted to commemorate the Ottawa Conference

Cachet applied on first flight covers, July 12, 1932 showing location of Belle Isle

Ottawa to London, July 1932 (Date indistinct)

6 cents air mail rate

Mail from the United Kingdom

London to Montreal, July 13, 1937

Flown by seaplane from Brador Bay to Montreal

Montreal receiver July 17, 1932

Montreal slogan cancellation receiver, July 17, 1932

Montreal to Leith, Scotland, May 10, 1935

6 cents air mail rate

Air from Montreal to Rimouski and by sea via S.S. Duchess of Bedford

Vancouver to London, August 22, 1935

6 cents air mail rate

Vancouver to Oxford, November 28, 1936

6 cents air mail rate

Saskatoon to Wyken Coventry, April 22, 1939
6 cents air mail rate to New York then ship to England

Carberry Military Post Office 1007, Manitoba, to Shrewsbury, February 5, 1943

6 cents air mail rate for service in North America only

April 1, 1943 - ? : 7 cents for the first ounce ( 5 cents + 2 cents War Tax)

An additional 1 cent War Tax was added making the effective air transmission in Canada only rate 7 cents for the first ounce. I don not know when this rate was abolished. The 1947 Canada Official Postal Guide includes this rate. The post card below, mailed at the 7 cents air service in Canada rate in 1949 was not taxed. (Post cards sent by air were treated as letters)

Trans-Atlantic Service

June 1939 - October 31, 1946 : 30 cents for each half ounce

Imperial Airways

The first flight departed from Montreal and was transported by the flying boat Caribou. The rate was 30 cents for each half ounce.

Montreal-Southampton first flithe, August 10, 1939

30 cents air mail rate

Shortpaid 12 cents and taxed 120 centimes by Canada Post Office

British postage due 1s.

London, Ont., to London, England, October 31, 1939

30 cents air mail rate

Truro to London, June 23, 1941

60 cents paying the 2nd step air mail rate for 1 oz.

Montreal-Place D'Armes to London, August 26, 1942

$1.20 paying the 4rth step air mail rate for 2 oz.

Paulson Military Post Office 1005, Manitoba, to Manchester, April 8, 1944

30 cents each half-ounce trans-Atlantic rate

November 1, 1946 - June 30, 1953 : 15 cents for each quarter ounce

On November 1, 1946, the minimum air mail rate (1st step) was reduced from 30 cents per half ounce to 15 cents per quarter ounce. The rate for each additional quarter ounce was 15 cents.

Victoria to Limberleigh, April 1, 1947

15 cents rate for one quarter ounce

Victoria to North Cheltenham, March 3, 1948

15 cents rate for one quarter ounce

Windsor to Kew Gardens, December 12, 1946

30 cents paying the 2nd step air mail rate for half oz.

Toronto to Chidham, May 3, 1948

45 cents paying the 3nd step air mail rate for three-quarter oz.

Toronto to London, October 12, 1949

60 cents paying the 4rth step air mail rate for one oz.

Edmonton to Tolworth, April 14, 1950

75 cents paying the 5th step air mail rate for 1 1/4 oz.

Montreal to Shedfield, June 4 1948

$1.65 paying the 11th step air mail rate for 2 3/4 oz. + 20 cents registration fee

Toronto to London, March 23, 1953

15 cents rate for quarter ounce

April 1, 1954 - June 30, 1971 : 15 cents for each half ounce

Toronto to London, January 15, 1959