Surface Letter Rates 1975-2004

As a general rule, surface rates from the Forces to the UK were the same as the inland second class rates.

The other surface rates applied to anywhere in the world, although were initially an all-up rate for European destinations. From 3rd September 1990 European destinations were treated as airmail (only) rather than all-up, so from that point on the rates here are for non-European destinations. Surface service for letters to and from the Forces ceased in 2004.

As for the source of the latter rates, they are naturally not in the Forces mail leaflets which are aimed at the public sending mail to the Forces. Direct references to rates for mail from HM Forces were removed from the Post Office Schemes in 1973, and not restored until 1998 (at which point only rates to the British postal area were mentioned). My best estimate of the situations where no specific rates were given is that the implication is that rates were the same as for mail posted from the UK – they have been listed on this basis, but further information is requested!

Notes

1. Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.8) Scheme 1975
2. (second) Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.9) Scheme 1975 (the number of this Scheme was duplicated in error)
3. Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.11) Scheme 1976
4. Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.12) Scheme 1976
5. Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.13) Scheme 1977
6. Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.2) Scheme 1979
7. Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.4) Scheme 1980
8. Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.6) Scheme 1981
9. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Scheme 1982
10. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.2) Scheme 1983
11. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.3) Scheme 1984
12. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.4) Scheme 1985
13. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.6) Scheme 1986
14. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.8) Scheme 1988
15. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.9) Scheme 1989
16. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, and technically Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.11) Scheme 1991
    (The Schemes published in the London Gazette in 1990 jumped from No.10 to No.12, with the missing No.11 apparently being the one which would have contained the rates in the leaflet. Replacement No.11 and No.12 schemes were published in March 1991 to correct what appears to have been a blunder. The original No.12 scheme had a different set of rates for the 60g to 500g steps for world mail (44p - 60g, 65p - 100g, 87p - 150g, £1.09 - 200g, £1.31 - 250g, £1.52 - 300g, £1.79 - 350g, £2.00 - 400g, £2.21 - 450g, £2.43 - 500g), corrected in the replacement No.11 scheme, but repeated for mail to the EEC in the replacement No.12 scheme. These also appear to have been blunders! In the circumstances I have taken what appear to be the correct set of rates (matching the civilian ones), but evidence from actual covers is welcome)
17. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.13) Scheme 1991
18. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.15) Scheme 1993
19. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.16) Scheme 1996, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.17) Scheme 1998
20. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.18) Scheme 1999
21. PO HM Forces Overseas Postal Rates leaflet, Post Office Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.20) Scheme 2000
22. Consignia plc Inland Letter Post Amendment (No.4) Scheme 2002
23. Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.7) Scheme 2003
24. Royal Mail Group plc Overseas Letter Post Amendment (No.9) Scheme 2004