Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

** PLEASE NOTE: To keep this forum manageable you may post additions to any thread in the forum however - the thread leader or a Forum Admin will then add your information to the initial post and DELETE your post.


Australian Decimal Postage Rates Thread

Many thanks to member didge who has volunteered to start this thread:
________________________________________________
Amy,

I would like to start a thread on Decimal Postal rates as discussed. How do I start? What I was thinking was just scanning pages from my collection with a cover and explanation of each rate. That would be a big thread. Would that be OK do you think.

If you could start the thread and I will start posting. It will take quite a while to complete it.

Tim
______________________________

No worries Tim - like anything worth doing it will take time. Run with the thread as you see fit and I will check in every now and again to see how you are doing. Note the Red *** at the top of this post. You are considered the thread leader so once you have incorporated any changes and additions suggested by other members then let me know so the post can be deleted and this thread kept tidy. Make as many posts as you need to the thread so it is easy to read and makes sense.


Thread Layout:

The initial Posts contain summary tables for those looking for a quick answer to a question. For a more detailed discussion and plenty of fine examples - the rest of the thread is split up into headed sections on each topic IE Airmail Rates etc with a list (again) of the applicable rates at the top of each section. This is a work in progress by two board members who I am sure would love to hear any contributions and comments you may have.

_________________
Have a GREAT! Day
Amy

A decimal rates thread!

A wonderful topic but it will need to be split into various sections to start with: eg New Zealand, Great Britain, Canada, etc and then airmail/printed matter/parcel/registration/AR rates etc. I wish you well with this project.

David.

_________________
David Smitham
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Upper Hutt 2013 Stamp Show 13 - 15 September 2013 Upper Hutt, NZ.

SUMMARY - AUSTRALIAN POSTAGE RATES

*********************************************
From Tallanent:
I know some collectors like to have a printed book / document to take round to shows / fairs and although Australian postal history is way outside my knowledge base, I have compiled the data presented as a document file.

This is presented in date order with all the details for each date listed that are known to me (basicially whats been posted here and a few other snippets thrown in)

I hope that this may be of use to some members and hope that there are no objections to its use in this manner. (If there are - the file will be removed)

The file can be seen at http://philatelics.org/~allan/temp/aust%20rates.doc

ALLAN
*********************************************


Here is A Summary Created by pertinax of the Australian Rates as shown by Member Didge pictorially below.













REFERENCE BOOKS

From Jack:
As I am starting to get interested here, I note the article in 'The Asia Pacific Exhibitor 21, 2 May 2008' pages 83-87; 'Australia-Domestic, Bar-coded, Local, Surface and Air Mail letter rates 1966 to 2008' by Bernard Doherty. I have not yet done a full comparison with the above but I note the article mentions special Darwin rates starting September 1975 after the disaster up there which I think is not mentioned above.

From Dwhopper:
Australian Decimal Currency Postal Rates Compendium 1966 - 1991 by Richard Peck.
I would suspect that any decent philatelic library in Australia would have a copy. The author notes that copies of the rates pamphlets are lodged at the PHILAS library. I have got to think that Kellow and the gang at RPSV would also have copies.

Meantime, go and download the current rate booklet from Australia post scine the rates will change on 15 September 2008. Should be a new booklet then.

http://www1.auspost.com.au/pac/pdfs/PostCharges.pdf

Australian Decimal Postal Charges

Introduction

In October 1958, The Australian Prime Minister, Robert Menzies announced that the Government accepted the principes of decimalization. If re-elected, he would implement the coversion of Australia's imperial system to the decimal system. After his re-election a Decimal Currency Committee was appointed in 1959 and a report was presented to the Government in 1960. Advantages of the change were considered to be worth the considerable cost of the conversion.

The Government set February 14 1966 as the target date for the introduction of Decimal Currency. This date became known as C-Day.

Prior to C-Day, many things were required to be done. Australia's coinage was in need of replacing. A scale of currency conversion was needed. An eduction system was required and commerce required the conversion of all monetary calculating machines. From the postal point of view, new postage stamps , stationary and franking machines were required.

Since C-Day, there have been many changes to Australia's postal charges. There have also been new services added and some old services discontinued in that time. Two other major changes have also affected Australian Postal carges based on weight and distance. The other change was the splitting of the Postmaster General's Department into two Commissions in 1975. Telecom took responsibility for the telecommunications business and Australia Post was delegated with the responsibility of mail delivery. From this date, the two commissions were also required to be less dependant on general taxation revenue and as the most profitable portion of the department business was telecommunications, large increases to postal charges were necessary to keep Australia Post viable.

In 1966, the basic postage rate was 4 cents. By 1986, it was 36 cents. There were thirteen basic rate of postage from the introduction of decimal currency to 1986. Apart from the 80% rise in 1975, all rate changes have been driven by inflation and the cost of providing the service.

This post will not be able to demonstrate all of the many postal services available at the time but will provide an overview of the major catagories provided.

The material in this post is selected from Commercial mail. A variety of Australian stamps, stationary, meters, cash register imprints and labels are shown to demonstrate their intended use in the postal service.

Standard Article Rate



















The non-standard article rate was introduced from 1 October 1974. Prior to that it is my understanding that rates were just multiples of the domestic letter rate.

Special Delivery Fee





I can not let this cover go past without comment. I think its one of the nicest decimal covers that I have seen. Special delivery is a scarce service and surviving covers are rare. The franking is stunning. I have not seen a better franking of the Expo Australa series.

Special Despatch Delivery Service




The SDDS was a short lived service and covers are rare. The double rate was not popular.

Priority Paid Letter Rate








Still waiting for an example of this rate.

Messenger Delivery Fee

































The Messanger Delivery rates can seem to be a bit confusing. Watch out for the fact that there are rates for letters and parcels. Parcel rate messenger delivery frankings are very scarce. Anyone who can help fill any of my gaps would be very appreciated.

Seasonal Greeting Card Rate







..

Underpaid Article Service Fee

This area of decimal collecting is a little eclectic but some of the items presented are extremely rare, very collectable and amazing survivors. To have taxed letters with the post office card relating to the tax rate is amazing really.












If others have items like this I would love to be able to add them to the Wiki.

Airogramme Rate

Airmail Rate

Airmail Rate

Aerogramme Rate

Aerogramme Rate

Overseas Express Delivery

Overseas Express Delivery

Overseas Express Delivery

Overseas Express Delivery

Overseas Express Delivery

Overseas Express Delivery

Overseas Express Delivery

Surface Air Lifted





This is front and back of the same cover and the only example of this service that I have. A previous post has another example of a later SAL cover.

U.K Forces Air Mail Concession

This rate is extremely rare. I have scanned the front and back of the only cover that I have.





The following comment is from Rod Perrys Column and was written in 2007

I've (Rod Perry) mentioned before in this column the rare 6c Concessional airmail rate to U.K., available only to U.K. Forces serving in Australia. Of the 1966 6c Bird I've recorded only two such usages, and for the 6c Flower only one. More of these may be found in the U.K., but if so I suspect they will be in tiny numbers only. I feel confident to say this, for a reciprocal arrangement existed in the U.K. for Australian Forces serving therein, and after nearly 20 years of searching I've found only one of the 4½p Concessional airmail rate applicable contemporaneously. The 6 cent Kangaroo Paw, I've valued at $200. Don't be surprised if that valuation is exceeded if someone is fortunate enough to find an example and subsequently submits it to Public auction.

The other 1967 - 1973 Concessional Rate:


(Image supplied by member Jack)


(Image supplied by member Jack)

Registration Fee

Certified Mail Fee

This one is a nice double rate cover