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Letter Rates 1947-1991

Introduction

1986 - 3x17p commemoratives paying third step zone A rate to Saudi Arabia

For an outline of the zones, see the introduction.

Letters to Europe were not part of this system, and with minor exceptions, from mid-1948 to early 1991 they were sent "all-up". This meant that they were given airmail service (if faster, as it normally was) at surface mail rates, carriage by air being the preferred method of despatch.

Zone A and B rates became identical in 1990, and a few months later were combined into a single zone from early 1991.

The initial rates were set on the basis of a certain sum per ½oz and thus it makes sense to speak of "multiple" rates, but from 1973 onwards the first rate step became different, and later on the steps themselves varied. In this case it is preferable to refer to first, second, third etc weight step rates.

Rates

Date Zone A Zone B Zone C
1947
(17 Jan)
6d - ½oz
1s - 1oz
1s 6d - 1½oz
2s - 2oz
2s 6d - 2½oz
3s - 3oz
3s 6d - 3½oz
4s - 4oz
4s 6d - 4½oz
5s - 5oz
5s 6d - 5½oz
6s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 6d
1s - ½oz
2s - 1oz
3s - 1½oz
4s - 2oz
5s - 2½oz
6s - 3oz
7s - 3½oz
8s - 4oz
9s - 4½oz
10s - 5oz
11s - 5½oz
12s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 1s
1s 3d - ½oz
2s 6d - 1oz
3s 9d - 1½oz
5s - 2oz
6s 3d - 2½oz
7s 6d - 3oz
8s 9d - 3½oz
10s - 4oz
11s 3d - 4½oz
12s 6d - 5oz
13s 9d - 5½oz
15s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 1s 3d
1952
(1 May)
9d - ½oz
1s 6d - 1oz
2s 3d - 1½oz
3s - 2oz
3s 9d - 2½oz
4s 6d - 3oz
5s 3d - 3½oz
6s - 4oz
6s 9d - 4½oz
7s 6d - 5oz
8s 3d - 5½oz
9s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 9d
1s 3d - ½oz
2s 6d - 1oz
3s 9d - 1½oz
5s - 2oz
6s 3d - 2½oz
7s 6d - 3oz
8s 9d - 3½oz
10s - 4oz
11s 3d - 4½oz
12s 6d - 5oz
13s 9d - 5½oz
15s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 1s 3d
1s 6d - ½oz
3s - 1oz
4s 6d - 1½oz
6s - 2oz
7s 6d - 2½oz
9s - 3oz
10s 6d - 3½oz
12s - 4oz
13s 6d - 4½oz
15s - 5oz
16s 6d - 5½oz
18s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 1s 6d
1966
(3 Oct)
1s - ½oz
2s - 1oz
3s - 1½oz
4s - 2oz
5s - 2½oz
6s - 3oz
7s - 3½oz
8s - 4oz
9s - 4½oz
10s - 5oz
11s - 5½oz
12s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 1s
1s 6d - ½oz
3s - 1oz
4s 6d - 1½oz
6s - 2oz
7s 6d - 2½oz
9s - 3oz
10s 6d - 3½oz
12s - 4oz
13s 6d - 4½oz
15s - 5oz
16s 6d - 5½oz
18s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 1s 6d
1s 9d - ½oz
3s 6d - 1oz
5s 3d - 1½oz
7s - 2oz
8s 9d - 2½oz
10s 6d - 3oz
12s 3d - 3½oz
14s - 4oz
15s 9d - 4½oz
17s 6d - 5oz
19s 3d - 5½oz
£1 1s - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 1s 9d
1971
(15 Feb)
5p - ½oz
10p - 1oz
15p - 1½oz
20p - 2oz
25p - 2½oz
30p - 3oz
35p - 3½oz
40p - 4oz
45p - 4½oz
50p - 5oz
55p - 5½oz
60p - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 5p
7½p - ½oz
15p - 1oz
22½p - 1½oz
30p - 2oz
37½p - 2½oz
45p - 3oz
52½p - 3½oz
60p - 4oz
67½p - 4½oz
75p - 5oz
82½p - 5½oz
90p - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 7½p
9p - ½oz
18p - 1oz
27p - 1½oz
36p - 2oz
45p - 2½oz
54p - 3oz
63p - 3½oz
72p - 4oz
81p - 4½oz
90p - 5oz
99p - 5½oz
£1.08 - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 9p
1973
(10 Sep)
6p - ½oz
11p - 1oz
16p - 1½oz
21p - 2oz
26p - 2½oz
31p - 3oz
36p - 3½oz
41p - 4oz
46p - 4½oz
51p - 5oz
56p - 5½oz
61p - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 5p
8p - ½oz
15p - 1oz
22p - 1½oz
29p - 2oz
36p - 2½oz
43p - 3oz
50p - 3½oz
57p - 4oz
64p - 4½oz
71p - 5oz
78p - 5½oz
85p - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 7p
10p - ½oz
19p - 1oz
28p - 1½oz
37p - 2oz
46p - 2½oz
55p - 3oz
64p - 3½oz
73p - 4oz
82p - 4½oz
91p - 5oz
£1.00 - 5½oz
£1.09 - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 9p
1975
(17 Mar)
8½p - ½oz
15½p - 1oz
22½p - 1½oz
29½p - 2oz
36½p - 2½oz
43½p - 3oz
50½p - 3½oz
57½p - 4oz
64½p - 4½oz
71½p - 5oz
78½p - 5½oz
85½p - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 7p
10p - ½oz
19p - 1oz
28p - 1½oz
37p - 2oz
46p - 2½oz
55p - 3oz
64p - 3½oz
73p - 4oz
82p - 4½oz
91p - 5oz
£1.00 - 5½oz
£1.09 - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 9p
12p - ½oz
23p - 1oz
34p - 1½oz
45p - 2oz
56p - 2½oz
67p - 3oz
78p - 3½oz
89p - 4oz
£1.00 - 4½oz
£1.11 - 5oz
£1.22 - 5½oz
£1.33 - 6oz

Each addl. ½oz - 11p
1975
(29 Sep)
10½p - 15g
21p - 30g
27p - 40g
33p - 50g
39p - 60g
45p - 70g
51p - 80g
57p - 90g
63p - 100g
69p - 110g
75p - 120g
81p - 130g

Each addl. 10g - 6p
11p - 15g
22p - 30g
29½p - 40g
37p - 50g
44½p - 60g
52p - 70g
59½p - 80g
67p - 90g
74½p - 100g
82p - 110g
89½p - 120g
97p - 130g

Each addl. 10g - 7½p
13p - 15g
26p - 30g
34p - 40g
42p - 50g
50p - 60g
58p - 70g
66p - 80g
74p - 90g
82p - 100g
90p - 110g
98p - 120g
£1.06 - 130g

Each addl. 10g - 8p
1977
(13 Jun)
10½p - 10g
16½p - 20g
22½p - 30g
28½p - 40g
34½p - 50g
40½p - 60g
46½p - 70g
52½p - 80g
58½p - 90g
64½p - 100g
70½p - 110g
76½p - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 6p
11p - 10g
18½p - 20g
26p - 30g
33½p - 40g
41p - 50g
48½p - 60g
56p - 70g
63½p - 80g
71p - 90g
78½p - 100g
86p - 110g
93½p - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 7½p
13p - 10g
21p - 20g
29p - 30g
37p - 40g
45p - 50g
53p - 60g
61p - 70g
69p - 80g
77p - 90g
85p - 100g
93p - 110g
£1.01 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 8p
1979
(20 Aug)
12p - 10g
19½p - 20g
27p - 30g
34½p - 40g
42p - 50g
49½p - 60g
57p - 70g
64½p - 80g
72p - 90g
79½p - 100g
87p - 110g
94½p - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 7½p
13p - 10g
22½p - 20g
32p - 30g
41½p - 40g
51p - 50g
60½p - 60g
70p - 70g
79½p - 80g
89p - 90g
98½p - 100g
£1.08 - 110g
£1.17½ - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 9½p
15p - 10g
25p - 20g
35p - 30g
45p - 40g
55p - 50g
65p - 60g
75p - 70g
85p - 80g
95p - 90g
£1.05 - 100g
£1.15 - 110g
£1.25 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 10p
1980
(4 Feb)
14p - 10g
23p - 20g
32p - 30g
41p - 40g
50p - 50g
59p - 60g
68p - 70g
77p - 80g
86p - 90g
95p - 100g
£1.04 - 110g
£1.13 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 9p
15p - 10g
26p - 20g
37p - 30g
48p - 40g
59p - 50g
70p - 60g
81p - 70g
92p - 80g
£1.03 - 90g
£1.14 - 100g
£1.25 - 110g
£1.36 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 11p
17½p - 10g
29p - 20g
40½p - 30g
52p - 40g
63½p - 50g
75p - 60g
86½p - 70g
98p - 80g
£1.09½ - 90g
£1.21 - 100g
£1.32½ - 110g
£1.44 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 11½p
1981
(26 Jan)
20p - 10g
31p - 20g
42p - 30g
53p - 40g
64p - 50g
75p - 60g
86p - 70g
97p - 80g
£1.08 - 90g
£1.19 - 100g
£1.30 - 110g
£1.41 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 11p
22p - 10g
36p - 20g
50p - 30g
64p - 40g
78p - 50g
92p - 60g
£1.06 - 70g
£1.20 - 80g
£1.34 - 90g
£1.48 - 100g
£1.62 - 110g
£1.76 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 14p
25p - 10g
40p - 20g
55p - 30g
70p - 40g
85p - 50g
£1.00 - 60g
£1.15 - 70g
£1.30 - 80g
£1.45 - 90g
£1.60 - 100g
£1.75 - 110g
£1.90 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 15p
1982
(1 Feb)
24p - 10g
35p - 20g
46p - 30g
57p - 40g
68p - 50g
79p - 60g
90p - 70g
£1.01 - 80g
£1.12 - 90g
£1.23 - 100g
£1.34 - 110g
£1.45 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 11p
26p - 10g
40p - 20g
54p - 30g
68p - 40g
82p - 50g
96p - 60g
£1.10 - 70g
£1.24 - 80g
£1.38 - 90g
£1.52 - 100g
£1.66 - 110g
£1.80 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 14p
29p - 10g
44p - 20g
59p - 30g
74p - 40g
89p - 50g
£1.04 - 60g
£1.19 - 70g
£1.34 - 80g
£1.49 - 90g
£1.64 - 100g
£1.79 - 110g
£1.94 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 15p
1983
(5 Apr)
26p - 10g
37p - 20g
48p - 30g
59p - 40g
70p - 50g
81p - 60g
92p - 70g
£1.03 - 80g
£1.14 - 90g
£1.25 - 100g
£1.36 - 110g
£1.47 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 11p
28p - 10g
42p - 20g
56p - 30g
70p - 40g
84p - 50g
98p - 60g
£1.12 - 70g
£1.26 - 80g
£1.40 - 90g
£1.54 - 100g
£1.68 - 110g
£1.82 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 14p
31p - 10g
46p - 20g
61p - 30g
76p - 40g
91p - 50g
£1.06 - 60g
£1.21 - 70g
£1.36 - 80g
£1.51 - 90g
£1.66 - 100g
£1.81 - 110g
£1.96 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 15p
1984
(3 Sep)
29p - 10g
40p - 20g
51p - 30g
62p - 40g
73p - 50g
84p - 60g
95p - 70g
£1.06 - 80g
£1.17 - 90g
£1.28 - 100g
£1.39 - 110g
£1.50 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 11p
31p - 10g
45p - 20g
59p - 30g
73p - 40g
87p - 50g
£1.01 - 60g
£1.15 - 70g
£1.29 - 80g
£1.43 - 90g
£1.57 - 100g
£1.71 - 110g
£1.85 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 14p
34p - 10g
49p - 20g
64p - 30g
79p - 40g
94p - 50g
£1.09 - 60g
£1.24 - 70g
£1.39 - 80g
£1.54 - 90g
£1.69 - 100g
£1.84 - 110g
£1.99 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 15p
1988
(5 Sep)
30p - 10g
42p - 20g
54p - 30g
66p - 40g
78p - 50g
90p - 60g
£1.02 - 70g
£1.14 - 80g
£1.26 - 90g
£1.38 - 100g
£1.50 - 110g
£1.62 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 12p
32p - 10g
47p - 20g
62p - 30g
77p - 40g
92p - 50g
£1.07 - 60g
£1.22 - 70g
£1.37 - 80g
£1.52 - 90g
£1.67 - 100g
£1.82 - 110g
£1.97 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 15p
35p - 10g
51p - 20g
67p - 30g
83p - 40g
99p - 50g
£1.15 - 60g
£1.31 - 70g
£1.47 - 80g
£1.63 - 90g
£1.79 - 100g
£1.95 - 110g
£2.11 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 16p
1989
(2 Oct)
32p - 10g
46p - 20g
60p - 30g
74p - 40g
88p - 50g
£1.02 - 60g
£1.16 - 70g
£1.30 - 80g
£1.44 - 90g
£1.58 - 100g
£1.72 - 110g
£1.86 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 14p
34p - 10g
50p - 20g
66p - 30g
82p - 40g
98p - 50g
£1.14 - 60g
£1.30 - 70g
£1.46 - 80g
£1.62 - 90g
£1.78 - 100g
£1.94 - 110g
£2.10 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 16p
37p - 10g
55p - 20g
73p - 30g
91p - 40g
£1.09 - 50g
£1.27 - 60g
£1.45 - 70g
£1.63 - 80g
£1.81 - 90g
£1.99 - 100g
£2.17 - 110g
£2.35 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 18p
1990
(17 Sep)
37p - 10g
53p - 20g
70p - 30g
87p - 40g
£1.04 - 50g
£1.21 - 60g
£1.38 - 70g
£1.55 - 80g
£1.72 - 90g
£1.89 - 100g
£2.06 - 110g
£2.23 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 17p
37p - 10g
53p - 20g
70p - 30g
87p - 40g
£1.04 - 50g
£1.21 - 60g
£1.38 - 70g
£1.55 - 80g
£1.72 - 90g
£1.89 - 100g
£2.06 - 110g
£2.23 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 17p
37p - 10g
57p - 20g
78p - 30g
99p - 40g
£1.20 - 50g
£1.41 - 60g
£1.62 - 70g
£1.83 - 80g
£2.04 - 90g
£2.25 - 100g
£2.46 - 110g
£2.67 - 120g

Each addl. 10g - 21p