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Overseas Parcel Post Warrants and Regulations 1921-69

These were termed Warrants until 1963, after which they were termed Regulations. They began under the reference "Foreign and Colonial", before becoming "Imperial and Foreign" and then "British Commonwealth and Foreign". The 1925 Warrant had only two Amendments before being replaced in 1950.

From this point they did not specify parcel post rates to particular countries – instead they set a maximum possible rate and allowed the Post Office to select any rate up to that, the exact rates often printed in the London Gazette.

Explanatory Notes were added to Warrants from 1950 – the notes before that are short summaries in the same style.

Note: the dates on which the 1957 No. 4 and No. 5 amending Warrants came into effect are out of sequence, as the latter was issued to revoke provisions of the former before they could take effect.

Date Instrument Explanatory Note
1921
(1 Jul)

Foreign and Colonial Parcel Post Warrant 1921 (scan)

This Warrant lays down the general rates and regulations for the Foreign and Colonial Parcel Post.

1923
(10 Sep)

Foreign and Colonial Parcel Post Amendment (No. 1) Warrant 1923 (scan)

Maximum value of silver bullion or partly manufactured silver that could be sent in a parcel increased to £20 (maximum for coin or gold bullion remained at £5).

1925
(1 Jun)

Foreign and Colonial Parcel Post Warrant 1925 (transcript)

This Warrant consolidates the changes in regulations since the previous Warrant of 1921, largely concerning Cash-on-Delivery.

Its name was changed retrospectively by the following Warrant.

1927
(1 Sep)

Imperial and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 1) Warrant 1927 (transcript)

This Warrant increases the handling fee where Customs Duty exceeds ten shillings to a shilling, and renames the principal Warrant as the "Imperial and Foreign Parcel Post Warrant 1925".

1935
(18 Feb)

Imperial and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 2) Warrant 1935 (transcript)

This Warrant makes a number of changes of detail to the regulations, including increasing the maximum amount chargeable, and introduces new rules for Parcels in Bond and Air Mail Parcels.

1950
(1 Sep)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Warrant 1950 (transcript)

This Warrant consolidates with amendments the Regulations relating to postal parcels sent to or received from places abroad.

The rates of postage chargeable on outgoing parcels are related closely to the actual cost of handling and conveyance, and vary considerably for the various parts of the world. The maximum charge for surface conveyance stated in Regulation 4 (1) is unchanged, but the maximum rates for Air Mail parcels specified in Regulation 4 (2) are double the previous amounts. This change has been rendered necessary because the previous maximum rates are not expected to be sufficient to cover the cost of conveyance by air to the more distant parts of the world to which Air Mail parcels services are, for the first time, about to be established.

The revised scale of maximum amounts of compensation for the loss of or damage to uninsured parcels set out in Part I of the Second Schedule represents, for heavy weight parcels, the current equivalents of the maximum gold franc amounts prescribed in the bi-lateral Parcel Post Agreements with foreign postal administrations. The scale which it supersedes was £1 for a parcel weighing 11 lb. or less and £1 12s. for a parcel weighing more than 11 lb. The opportunity has been taken to introduce maximum amounts of compensation for light weight parcels (up to 3 lb., and from 3 lb. to 7 lb.) to accord with the general practice of other postal administrations with which bi-lateral Agreements are in force. The conditions as to the payment of compensation for the loss of or damage to uninsured parcels are set out in Regulation 20.

The provisions as to insurance are set out in paragraphs (4) and (5) of Regulation 16, which deals with the redirection of incoming insured parcels, and in Regulation 18, which states the conditions applicable to the insurance of outgoing parcels.

Regulation 1 (2) applies the Warrant to parcels posted by members of the forces of a British Commonwealth country serving abroad.

New provisions are inserted relating to parcels exchanged between one British Postal Agency and another in the Persian Gulf. (Regulation 19, Provisos (2) and (5) of Regulation 20, Regulation 23 and Part III of 2nd Schedule.)

1952
(1 Feb)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 1) Warrant 1952 (transcript)

This Warrant increases from £20 to £50 the maximum value for silver bullion or silver partly manufactured which may be sent abroad in a single parcel by parcel post. The Warrant comes into operation on the 1st of February, 1952.

1952
(1 May)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 2) Warrant 1952 (transcript)

This Warrant increases from fourpence to sixpence the minimum registration fee and the compulsory registration fee in respect of parcels transmitted from one British Postal Agency to another in the Persian Gulf. The scale of maximum amounts available for compensation for loss or damage to those registered parcels is unchanged, but in the scale of registration fees set out in the first column of the Schedule to the Warrant there is an increase of twopence at each step of the scale.

The registration fee on incoming foreign parcels which are compulsorily insurable, but are posted without being insured, is increased from fourpence to sixpence.

1956
(1 Jan)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 3) Warrant 1955 (transcript)

By this Warrant

  1. the maximum rate of postage for outgoing parcels (except Air Mail parcels) sent to places abroad is increased from 40s. to 60s.
  2. the maximum charge for transmission or re-transmission of undelivered incoming parcels from abroad exceeding 15 lb. in weight is increased from 2s. 6d. to 5s.
  3. the maximum fee for outgoing parcels marked with an express marking sent to places abroad is increased from eightpence to one shilling.
  4. the maximum charge for redirection of incoming parcels from abroad exceeding 15 lb. in weight to an address within the British Islands is increased from 2s. 6d. to 5s.

The Warrant does not apply to the service between the British Islands and the Republic of Ireland.

1957
(1 Oct)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 4) Warrant 1957 (transcript)

This Warrant relates to the parcel post between the British Islands and places abroad (except the Republic of Ireland) and between the British Postal Agencies and other places. The main changes are as follows:

  1. The fees on incoming parcels containing articles liable to customs duty are increased.
  2. The maximum charges on certain undelivered and re-directed parcels exceeding 15 lb. in weight are increased.
  3. Increased charges are fixed for certain facilities relating to incoming parcels in bond.
1957
(30 Sep)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 5) Warrant 1957 (transcript)

This Warrant relates to the registration fees and maximum compensation on parcels transmitted from one British postal agency to another in the Persian Gulf. It preserves the scale in the British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 2) Warrant, 1952, by revoking the new scale in the British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 4) Warrant, 1957, before that new scale takes effect.

1958
(1 Jun)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Warrant 1958 (transcript)

This Warrant consolidates with minor amendments the regulations relating to parcels sent to or received from British Commonwealth or foreign countries.

The provisions of the revoked Warrants fixing rates of postage and fees for the British Postal Agencies (which are now included in the British Postal Agencies (Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post) Warrant, 1958 (S.I. 1958/830)), are omitted from the Warrant.

1959
(1 Apr)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 1) Warrant 1959 (transcript)

This Warrant amends the regulations relating to parcels sent to or received from British Commonwealth or foreign countries (except the Republic of Ireland). The main changes, consequent on the adherence of the United Kingdom to the Universal Postal Union Parcel Post Agreement, are as follows:–

  1. A minimum size for parcels is introduced.
  2. The fee of 6d. on outgoing parcels to be delivered free of customs charges is abolished.
  3. The additional fee of 3d., payable on an enquiry about the suspected loss of a parcel when the reply to the enquiry is to be sent by air mail, is abolished.
  4. There are new requirements as to the insurance and packing of parcels containing certain valuable articles.
1961
(1 Feb)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 2) Warrant 1961 (transcript)

This Warrant amends the regulations relating to parcels sent to or received from British Commonwealth or foreign countries (except the Republic of Ireland).

The main changes are as follows:–

  1. The advice of delivery fee and the enquiry fee for an outgoing insured parcel are both increased from 3d. to 6d.
  2. The maximum sums payable by way of compensation in respect of insured parcels, in relation to the compensation fees paid, are increased.
1963
(1 Jul)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Amendment (No. 3) Regulations 1963 (transcript)

These regulations, which come into operation on 1st July 1963, amend the regulations relating to parcels sent to or received from British Commonwealth or foreign countries (except the Republic of Ireland). The main change is an increase in the maximum postage which may be charged on an outgoing parcel sent by surface mail.

1965
(13 Dec)

British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Regulations 1965 (transcript)

These regulations, which come into operation on 13th December 1965, consolidate with minor and drafting amendments the British Commonwealth and Foreign Parcel Post Warrant 1958 and the instruments amending it. The instruments are set out in Schedule 5.