Printed Papers Rates 1875-1990

Special rates for overseas "Book Post" and other forms of printed matter were made available to many places at varying rates in pre-Postal Union days, but the GPU introduced uniform rates in 1875. Unlike letters or postcards, there were never reduced printed paper rate concessions for "Empire" destinations.

The types of material that could be sent as printed papers were broadly similar to those in the inland service, although not identical; detailed rules appeared in the Post Office Guide and varied over time. Many business documents that were not acceptable internationally as printed papers could be sent as commercial papers instead.

The rates shown here originally applied specifically to UPU countries (with any existing agreements applying for countries that had not yet joined the UPU), but were made general from 1st January 1892.

From 1950 there was a "reduced rate" that applied to many items not "of a commercial character" (such as catalogues, order forms and so on). It covered newspapers (both those registered as such at the GPO, and many others printed in the British Postal Area), pamphlets, books, maps and sheet music, provided that they did not contain advertising or publicity material other than on the covers or fly-leaves. This reduced rate was scrapped from 17th September 1990. (In the table below, where one set of rates changed and the other did not, the unchanged rates are shown in grey.) From 1907 to 1963 there was also a distinct Canadian Magazine Post for periodicals sent to Canada by direct Canadian Packet.

Weight limits for most types of printed papers were 4lb until June 1948 (5lb to British Empire countries), 6½lb from July 1948, 4lb from 1st July 1971, and 2kg from 29th September 1975. However there were exceptions for packets containing books and booklets (more recently "leaflets and pamphlets") – these could weigh up to 6½lb from January 1922, 11lb from July 1948, and 5kg from 29th September 1975.

Rates 1875-1950

[*]France joined the (then) General Postal Union only as from 1st January 1876. As a consequence, from 1st July to 31st December 1875 printed papers to several GPU countries were charged at 2d per 2oz if sent via France. This applied to Egypt, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Malta and Turkey, and except in the case of Spain was an optional route.

Rates 1950-1990