Great Britain Philately

George VI Inland Rates and Fees:
September 1945 - 1953
(POST 3)

Inland postal rates and fees remained stable after the war with increases in only the printed papers rate and registration fee.

Colour Changes

On May 3, 1951 the colours of the 1/2d. - 2 1/2d. denominations were changed. The new colours will be the topic of a future article.

Letters

The inland letter rate was 2 1/2d. for the first two ounces.

Nottingham to Baslow, November 23, 1947
Elizabeth and Philip wedding slogan

Portsmouth to Brighton, January 29, 1948
Brighton Transorma ident "m"

Brighton to London, November 28, 1952
Brighton Transorma ident "j"

Economy Label

This cover was first mailed by W. Dawson & Sons Ltd., London to the Imperial War Museum, London, October 5, 1951. The 2 1/2 d. stamp ( partially covered) has the WD/ & S perfin.

The envelope was re-used by the Imperial War Museum. An economy label was affixed and the War Museum handstamp applied to the lower left hand corner of the envelope. The cover was mailed to a London address on October 9, 1951.

Unpaid

Hatfield to Hertford, November 24, 1952
2 1/2d. letter rate unpaid
Taxed 5 d. (double the deficiency)
5d. due label cancelled at Hertford, November 25, 1952

Underpaid

Bromley to Worthing, September 7, 1951
Prepaid 1/2d. (stamp with new colour)
Underpaid 2 d. and taxed 4d.
Worthing cancel on 4d. due label, September 8, 1951

Hull local letter, July 15, 1948
Shortapid 1/2d. and charged 1d.
Hull cancel on 1/2d. due label, July 15, 1948

Stoke-on-Trent to Newcastle, July 11, 1950
Underpaid 1 1/2d. and taxed 3d.
Due labels cancelled July 11, 1950

Delayed

London to Kendal, March 15, 1950
3d. paying the greater than 2 oz. and up to 4 oz. rate

Delayed instructional marking
Posted in a letter box for "London" letters

Insufficiently Addressed, Opened and Re-sealed, Returned to Sender

Leicester to Bristol, September 23, 1952

The letter was insufficiently addressed and could not be delivered. The sender did not provide a return address on the envelope. The Post Office opened the letter to determine the sender's address and then sealed the envelope.

Returned to Sender

Portsmouth to Upham, December 19, 1951
"Gone Away -Address Unknown"
Returned to sender, December 20, 1951

Late Fee

Posting boxes for the receipts of letters prepaid with a late fee of 1/2d. in addition to the ordinary postage were available on all Travelling Post Offices, that is, mail trains to which sorting carriages were attached.

Up Special

The Up Special line ran between Glasgow and Law Junction for the main Up Special Service.

Up Special G to London, March 21, 1950
2 1/2d. postage + 1/2 d. late fee

Up Special G T.P.O.

South Wales T.P.O.

Service from Gloucester to Bristol.

South Wales T.P.O. Down to Swansea, April 16, 1952

South Wales T.P.P. Down

Caledonian T.P.O.

Between Glasgow and Carstairs.

Caledonian T.P.O. Day Up to Worcester, October 7, 1946
First day of restored service after the war.
1/2 d. late fee + 2 1/2d. letter rate

Caledonian T.P.O. Day Up

Railway Letters

Under agreement with the Post Office, British Railways accepted and conveyed letters on some railway systems.

Postage at the ordinary rate had to be prepaid by stamps affixed to the cover in the normal way. In addition, a railway fee was chargeable upon each railway letter: Weight not over 2oz., 8d.

London Midland And Scottish Railway

Silloth to Birmingham, June 9, 1952
8 d. railway letter fee + 2 1/2d. letter rate

London Midland And Scottish Railway label overprinted "Silloth":

Railway label handstamped:

RAILWAY EXECUTIVE
LONDON, MIDLAND REGION
9 JUNE 1952
SILLOTH
CENTRE NO. 27

The letter was then posted in the Birmingham mail system and cancelled on June 10, 1952.

Air Mail Service : Isles of Scilly-Penzance

In 1947, British European Airways (BEA) took over the operations of the G.W. & S. Air Lines, which included the 29 mile flight from Land's End to the Isles of Scilly. A 5d. fee per letter was charged.

Isles of Scilly to Bacup
Air by B.E.A. from Isles of Scilly to Penzance
5d. fee
Letter posted at Penzance, October 15, 1947

LETTER BY BEA
PAID....................

5d. in manuscript

Post Card

The inland post card rate was 2d.

Penzance to Douglas, Isle of Man, November 3, 1950
"Land's End" handstamp

Ventnor, Isle of Wight to Rugby, June 7 1952
2d. post card rate

Maidstone to Blackpool, July 21, 1946
Shortpaid 1/2d. and taxed 1d.

Worcestershire to London, July 12, 1948
Shortpaid 1d. "2D TO PAY LIABLE TO POSTCARD RATE"
Due labels cancelled July 13, 1948

Scarborough to Sheffield, MArch 24, 1953
Shortpaid 1/2d. and taxed 1 d.
Postage due label cancelled Sheffield March 25, 1953

Late Fee

York-Shrewbury T.P.O.

York-Shewsbury T.P.O. to Slough, March 22, 1949
2d post card rate + 1/2 d. late fee
(1/2d. convenience overpayment)

York-Shrewsbury T.P.O.

Printed Papers

a) To May 31, 1951

The first weight printed papers rate was 1d.

Loughborough to Chesham, November 15, 1949
1 d. printed papers rate

London to New Malden, March 22, 1948

Mourning cover, Clapham to Seven Kings, December 11, 1946

Oxfors local National Blood Transfusion Service mailing, August 12, 1951
Attached reply card was detached

Underpaid

Margate to Ipswich, September 15, 1946
Shortpaid 1/2d. and taxed 1d.
Due label cancelled September 16, 1946

Unpaid

London to Sterling, November 6, 1948
Unpaid and charged 2d. due

Regulations Infringed

A letter prepaid at the printed papers rate and infringing the regulations was charged as an underpaid letter. Printed papers were subject to examination. To facilitate examination items were to be sent in an unfastened cover, or in a cover which could be easily removed for examination without breaking any seal or tearing away paper or separating any adhering surfaces or cutting any string.

Bristol local mail, November 9, 1948
Sealed correspondence an therefor "Liable to Letter Rate"
Since the letter rate was 2 1/2d., this cover was shortpaid 1 1/2d.
Postage due 3d. (double the deficiency)

"Liable to Letter Rate" instructional marking

Undeliverable and Returned Printed Papers

Undeliverable printed papers were returned to the sender at the printed matter rate.

London local, November 14, 1950
Undeliverable and returned to sender
1d. postage due: "POSTAGE DUE FOR RETURN TO SENDER" handstamp

b) From June 1, 1951

The first weight printed papers rate was increased to 1 1/2d.

London local mailing, February 20, 1952
1 1/2d. printed papers rate
Gordon & Gotch (G&G) perfin

Posted in letter box for "Country" letters and delayed:

South Eastern Gas Board stationery, Guildford, February 23, 1953

Undeliverable and Returned Printed Papers

Nottingham, November 1951
Undeliverable and returned to sender from Blackburn, November 13, 1951
Return charge 1 1/2d.

Underpaid

Leeds to Huddersfield, June 21, 1951
1 1/2d. printed paper rate
Shortpaid 1/2d. and taxed 1d.
Due label cancelled Huddersfield June 23, 1951

Late Fee

Down Special T.P.O.

Down Special T.P.O. to Aylesbury, AUgust 3, 1953
1 1/2d. printed paper rate + 1/2 d. late fee

Down Special T.P.O.

Registration

a) To April 31, 1949

The minimum registration fee was 3d.

Nottingham to Lancaster, October 15, 1946
2 1/2d. letter rate + 3d. registration fee

Plymouth to London, July 2, 1946
5 1/2d. Registered Letter stationery

Compulsory Registration

Packets containing coins or jewellery, and also packets bearing the word Registered or rectangular cross, if not handed to an officer of the Post Office were subjected to a charge on delivery with a fee of 6d. less any amount prepaid in excess of postage.

Falkirk to Cullompton, April 16, 1948
Unpaid letter with rectangular cross posted out of course (P.O.C.), i.e. in letter box rather than at the Post Office. Falkirk registration label affixed.

"11 D To Pay P.O.C." pencil notation

Postage Due for unpaid postage...........5d. ( double deficiency rate 2 1/2d.)
Compulsory Registration fee................6d.
Amount due............................................11d.

b) May 1, 1949 - April 31, 1952

On May 1, 1949, the minimum registration fee increased from 3d. to 4d.

London to Surrey, August 7, 1951
6 1/2d. paying 2 1/2d. letter rate + 4d. registration fee

Birmingham local letter, February 1, 1952
6 1/2 d. Registered Letter

Compensation for Loss or Damage

The 4d. registration fee provided up to £5 compensation for loss or damage. To cover higher amounts of compensation extra fees were paid.

Compensation information on the back of the Post Office Registered Letter stationery

Fees from the Post Office Guide

London to Cambridge, April 7, 1952
2 1/2 d. letter rate + 7d. registration fee

When a higher registration fee than 4d. was paid, the amount was to be written on the front of the registered letter envelope.

7d. provided £75 compensation.

c) From May 1, 1952

The minimum registration fee increased from 4 d. to 6d. on May 1, 1952

Maida Hill to Sheerness, August 8, 1953
8 1/2d. Registered Letter : 2 1/2d. letter rate + 6 d. registration fee

London local letter, October 3, 1952
9d. paying 3d. postage rate (2-4 oz.) + 6 d. registration fee

Advice of Delivery

The inland advice of delivery fee was 3d. at time of posting or after posting.

Local registered letter mailed from Nothallerton, March 22, 1946
Delivery certified March 23, 1946

Local registered letter mailed from Maidstone, December 8, 1953
Delivery certified December 9, 1953

Express Delivery

Different express services were available. The covers shown below were Special Delivery letters in which the delivery was by Post Office messenger from the delivery office, after transmission by post. The fee was 6d.