Historical Postal Rates for Postcards

Home   Home   Postal main page

I am indebted to Peter Stubbs for much of the information below (extracted from Peter's site www.edinphoto.org.uk) and his permission for allowing me to use this on the Harberton website.

Postcard Postage Rates 1890s to 1929

Queen Victoria        

General example

 Locally postmarked

 

 

 
    to 1900 ½d

 

The ½d stamp changed from vermillion to blue-green in 1900 to meet international standards

1900 – 01

½d

King Edward VII

  

 

 

 

 

Blue-green stamp

1902 – 04

½d

Yellow-green stamp

1904 – 10

½d

King George V

  

 

 

 

 

'Downey Head'  -  drawn from a photograph by W & D Downey, the Court Photographers

1911 - 12

½d

'Profile Head'  This head was introduced to match the heads on coins and medals.

1912 – 18

½d

 

Profile Head' as for the ½d stamp above.

1918 – 21

1d

 

 

1921 – 22

1½d

The 1d stamp was again used for postcards, following protests over the 1½d rate. This stamp appears to have been issued in several shades of red.

1922 – 28

1d

 

'Profile Head'  This head was introduced to match the heads on coins and medals.

1929

1d

Postcard Postage Rates from 1930

Below are brief notes on some of the postcard postage rates and stamps in subsequent years, but omitting most of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II due to the large number of changes of postal rates and commemorative stamps during her reign.

King George V

  

 

 

 

RED

New design of definitive stamp from 1934. Commemorative Silver Jubilee stamp in 1935

1930 – 36

1d

King Edward VIII

 King from 20/1/36 to his abdication on 11/12/36

 

 

 

RED

Simple design, issued in September 1936. The only word on the stamp was 'Postage'

1936

1d

King George VI

  

 

 

 

RED

 

1937

1d

?

  

 

1937 – 41

?

ORANGE

 

1941 – 50

2d

BROWN

  

 

1951 – 52

2d

Queen Elizabeth II

  

 

 

 

BROWN

 

1952 – 57

2d

?

here 1959 red

1957 – 62

?

RED

  

 

1962

2½d

VARIOUS

  

 

 from 1962

various

I am indebted to Peter Stubbs for the above information (extracted from Peter's site www.edinphoto.org.uk) and his permission for allowing me to use this on the Harberton website.

Monarchs' Dates

Victoria to 1901
Edward VII - 1901 to 1910
George V - 1910 to 1936
Edward VIII - 1936
George VI - 1936 to 1952
Elizabeth II - 1952

Home   Home   Postal main page