Historical Postal Rates for Postcards

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
RED	Simple design. 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

Front page Home Postal main page

Hit Counter