International Surface Postal Rates

Postal Rates : 15th August 1947 - 1st April 1957

The knowledge of Postal Rates of various Postal Services is essential component for the study of Postal History. It is the Postal rates, which can tell us, how a mail has travlled to its destination. Therefore, an effort has been made to compile a list of the Postal rates of different Postal Services of India Post from 15th August 1947 to 1st April 1957. This period is also known as Classic Period of Modern Postal History of India.

The following are the Postal Rates of the different Postal Services for the mentioned era :

International Surface Postage Rates:

Sr. No. Postal Article / Item Effective Date Postal Rates

01. LETTERS 15.08.1947 3½ Annas for first oz 2 Annas for every additional oz     01.12.1950 4 Annas for first oz       2½ Annas for every additional oz     01.04.1957 25 NP for first oz       16 NP for every additional oz     01.02.1958 15 NP for every additional oz

02. POST CARDS 15.08.1947 2 Annas for a single PC   01.12.1950 2½ Annas for a single PC   01.04.1957 16 NP for a single Post Card     01.02.1958 15 NP for a single Post Card

03. PRINTED PAPERS 15.08.1947 9 Pies for every 2 oz     01.05.1953 1 Anna for every 2 oz     01.04.1957 7 NP for every 2 oz     01.02.1958 8 NP for first 2 oz     6 NP for every additional oz

04. REGISTERED NEWS PAPERS Concessional rates for News Papers were introduced on & from 1st May 1950.   01.05.1950 3 Pies for every 2 oz. 01.05.1953 6 Pies for every 2 oz 01.04.1957 4 NP for every 2 oz

05. SAMPLE PACKETS 15.08.1947 9 Pies for first 2 oz   9 Pies for every add oz   1½ Annas Minimum Charges   01.05.1953 1 Anna for first 2 oz   1 Anna for every add oz   2 Annas Minimum Charges   01.02.1958 8 NP for first 2 oz   6 NP for every add oz   10 NP Minimum Charges

06. BUSINESS PAPERS 15.08.1947 3½ Annas upto every 10 oz       ¾ Anna for every add. 2 oz     01.12.1950 4 Annas upto 10 oz       ¾ Anna for every add. 2 oz     01.05.1953 4 Annas upto 8 oz       1 Anna for every add. 2 oz     01.02.1958 25 NP upto 8 oz       06 NP for every add. 2 oz

07. EXPRESS DELIVERY FEES The Postal Notice No. 13 dated 15th May 1950 says- that Express Delivery Service for foreign countries was introduced on 15th May 1950 for foreign unregistered Letters, Post Cards and Book Packets.     15.05.1950 6 Annas     01.04.1957 40 NP     The Express Delivery Service was available with the following countries : Afghanistan, Albania, Germany, USA, Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Belgium Congo, Brazil, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Denmark, Egypt, Ecquator, Ethiopia, Finland, France Overseas Dept. of Guadepupe, Martinique, Algeria, Indo-China, French Colonies in USA, Great Britain, Cyprus, Gold Cost, Togoland, Gibraltar, Kenya Uganda & Taganykia, Malta, Nigeria, Nyasaland, Greece, Guatemala, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Luxemburg, Morocco (Ex. Spanish-Zone), Maxico, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Holland, Indonesia, Poland, Portugal, Cape Verde, Portuguese Guinea & St. Thomas & Prince Island (Por. Colonies in West Africa), (Por. Colonies-East Africa India & Oceania) Mozambique, Por. India, Macao, Por.Timor, Roumania, Saint Marin, Sweden, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Transjordan, Tunis, USSR, Vatican, Yugoslavakia, Ceylon, Cyrenaque & Italy.

08. LITERATURE FOR BLINDS 15.08.1947 6 Pies upto 2½ lb   6 Pies for every add. 2½ lb   01.04.1957 2 NP for every 2 lb   24.08.1957 Exempted from postage   01.04.1959 Exempted from Registration Fee, A/D Fee and enquiry Fee.

09. REGISTRATION FEES 15.08.1947 3 Annas per article 01.04.1948 4 Annas per article 01.05.1951 4½ Annas per article 01.04.1953 6 Annas per article 01.04.1956 8 Annas per article 01.04.1957 50 NP per article

10. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DELIVERY FEES 15.08.1947 3 Annas   01.04.1957 20 NP

11. INSURANCE FEES 15.08.1947 5½ Annas for every £ 14 or Rs. 200/- 01.09.1948 8 Annas for every £ 20 or Rs. 300/- 01.12.1950 12 Annas for every £ 35 or Rs. 460/- 01.04.1957 80 NP for every £ 35 or Rs. 460/- for Letter Mail and for every £ 24 or Rs. 320/- for Parcel Mail. Surface mail for Aden, Ceylon, Nepal, Pakistan and Portuguese India were as of Indian Inland rates except where other rates were specified. But the Inland Letter Card bearing a postage of 1½ Annas was not allowed to be sent to these countries. This instruction was laid, when ILC was introduced from 1.4.1950. This instruction was again renewed vide Postal Notice No. 65 dated 11-2-1952.

12. LATE FEES 15.08.1947 6 Pies when posted in P.O. authorised to accept late fees articles.     1 Anna If posted in RMS, S.O. & Transit Offices.     2 Annas when posted in train letter Boxes and / or on Board of a steamer.     6 Pies if posted within half an hour of the closing of mails for despatch from Calcutta, Bombay, Madras GPO & Delhi HPO.     1 Anna If posted within 15 minutes of the closing of mail for despatch from Calcutta, Bombay, Madras GPO and Delhi HPO.     2 Annas for all registered articles.     04.04.1957 3 NP when posted in P.O. authorised to accept late fees articles.     6 NP If posted in RMS, S.O. & Transit Offices.     12 NP when posted in train letter Boxes and / or on Board of a steamer.     3 NP if posted within half an hour of the closing of mails for despatch from Calcutta, Bombay, Madras GPO & Delhi HPO.     6 NP If posted within 15 minutes of the closing of mail for despatch from Calcutta, Bombay, Madras GPO and Delhi HPO.     12 NP for all registered articles.

The revision of Postal rates accordingly to the class of Postal article, weight and destination is a continued process. Hence, the story continues.

Information on Postal Rates from 15th August 1947 to 1st April 1957 has been provided on this website based on the article 'POSTAL RATES OF INDIA (1947-1957)', by Shri Ashok Kumar Bayanwala of Ahmedabad.