1. Canadian Domestic Letter Rates From 1868 to the Present Day



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 are found HERE)

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

Unpaid

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 rate



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
 The "Numeral" issue with words and numerals denoting denominations was released beginning June 17, 1898.


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


(The 1 cent War Tax was only added to the one ounce 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


Ordinary Stamp Paying Postage and 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.


Montreal to Prescott, November 20, 1928
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 2 cent War Tax was only added to the one ounce rate.)

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)

War Tax Incorporated in Letter Rate : July 1, 1951

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


Canada Post Corporation rate brochures from 1999 to the present have been posted on the D. Robin Harris website Adminware.


 17 cents (up to 30 grams) : July 1, 1979 - December 31, 1981

Wolfville to Kentville, June 19, 1980
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.

Toronto to Weston, March 17, 1982
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

34 cents : June 24, 1985 - March 31, 1987

Ottawa to Outremont, July 26, 1986
34 cents domestic letter rate


36 cents : April 1, 1987 - December 31, 1987

Ingersoll to Kitchener, December 8, 1987
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


39 cents : January 1, 1990 - December 31, 1990

Willowdale to Hamilton, December 19, 1990
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


42 cents : January 1, 1992 - December 31, 1992

Stratford to St. John's, September 11, 1992
42 cents letter rate


43 cents : January 1, 1993 - July 30, 1995

Chester to Georgetown, August 22, 1994
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


46 cents : January 1, 1999 - December 31, 2000

Trout Lake, N.W.T., to Mississauga, August 8, 1999
46 cents domestic letter rate



anada Post Corporation rate brochures from 1999 to the present have been posted on the D. Robin Harris website Adminware.

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 


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


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. CPCwithdrew Permanent stamps from sale  and issued denominated domestic letter definitives.The sale of Permanent Stamps resumed on March 31, 2014.

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.
 
** 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"


5. From March 31, 2014


a) March 31, 2014

A three-tier lettermail rate structure for standard letters up to 30g was introduced on March 31, 2014.



1. Stamps in booklets/coils/panes : $0.85



Vancouver to Brampton, April 27, 2014
85 cents lettermail rate ( stamps in booklets/coils/panes)


 Coil : 85 cents
March 31, 2014


 Toronto to Brampton, April 30, 2014
Baby Wildlife permanent coil stamp paying the $0.85 rate


2. Meter : $0.75



Milton to Brampton, April 17, 2014
75 cents lettermail meter rate


 3. Single Stamp : $1.00



Merrickville to Kanata, March 31, 2014
First day of $1.00 rate


Postal labels were also used to indicate payment of the $1.00 single stamp rate:


Islington to Kanata, April 8, 2014
$1.00 letter rate