Sunday, March 2, 2014

Air Mail 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


Carberry Military Post Office 1007, Manitoba, to Shrewsbury, February 5, 1943
6 cents air mail rate for service in Canada 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
15 cents air mail rate for half ounce


Charlottetown to Glasgow, March 11, 1960
15 cents air mail rate for half ounce


Trois-Rivieres to South Shields, November 2, 1965
15 cents air mail rate for half ounce

Toronto to Digby, June 7, 1963
15 cents air mail rate for half ounce


Toronto to Aylesbury, June 3, 1966
30 cents paying the 2nd step air mail rate for 1 ounce


Saskatoon to North Bideford, England, May 5, 1969
15 cents air mail rate for half ounce
(Letter conveyed to Lundy by local post)


 Vancouver to Herefordshire, June 10, 1970
15 cents air mail rate for half ounce

 Sooke, B.C., to Bradford, June 6, 1968
15 cents air mail rate for half ounce

1971 UNIFORM INTERNATIONAL LETTER RATE

On July 1, 1971 a new international letter rate was introduced which replaced the surface and air mail letter rates up to 8 ounces to all international destinations except to the United States. The 15 cents per ounce international rate represented a rate decrease since the previous air mail rate was 15 cents per half ounce.

 Whitehorse to Westminster, August 1971
15 cents per ounce international letter rate
References
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