Letter Rates 1947-1991
Introduction
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 |