A Short Introduction To The Philately Of Palestine

Postal Rates

When it comes to determine the correct postage rate for any given item, be it a letter, card, or else, it is important to know as much as possible about the postal rates in force at the time and their implementation. Very little is written about this topic; even the otherwise outstanding work of Michael Sacher rarely ever mentions this area.

The only comprehensive work I'm aware of is a chapter in Edward Proud's The Postal History Of Palestine. The renowed authour of numerous postal history guides to the British colonies presents the main rates and their development on three full pages, and lists airmail rates on no less than a further eight pages. Therefore Proud's book, published in 1985, remains essential when dealing with postal rates.

In the following I present a summary of the main postal rates in force during the British Mandate over Palestine. One or two errors I spotted in Proud's listings were corrected and comments are made where approriate. A simplified summary table has been prepared by me for Wikipedia: Postal History of Palestine.

Summary: Palestine Mandate Postal Rates 1918–1948

Date Category Rates and Comments
--.12.1917 Inland letter free
--.12.1917 Foreign letter free
--.12.1917 Inland postcard free
10.02.1918 Foreign letter 10 m (20g)
10.02.1918 Foreign postcard 10 m; (Bale lists: 5 m)
10.02.1918 Inland printed matter 5 m per 50g
16.02.1918 Inland letter 5 m (20g); 3 m per add. 20g
16.02.1918 Inland postcard 5 m
16.02.1918 Inland registration 10 m
16.02.1918 Foreign registration 10 m
16.02.1918 Inland advice of delivery 10 m
16.02.1918 Foreign advice of delivery 10 m
16.02.1918 Inland enquiry 10 m
16.02.1918 Foreign enquiry 10 m
10.04.1918 Foreign printed matter 5 m per 50g
16.07.1918 Inland postcard 3 m
16.07.1918 Foreign postcard 4 m
16.07.1918 Foreign printed matter 2 m per 50g
01.10.1919 Inland printed matter 1 m per 50g
01.10.1919 Foreign printed matter 1 m per 50g
01.10.1919 Inland newspapers 1 m
01.08.1920 Foreign letter 10 m (20g); 6 m per add. 20g
01.09.1920 Inland postcard 4 m
01.09.1920 Inland printed matter 2 m per 50g
01.09.1920 Foreign printed matter 2 m per 50g
01.09.1920 Foreign commercial papers 2 m per 50g; minimum 250g
--.--.1921 Foreign newspapers 2 m per 50g; 2m per add. 50g
01.10.1921 Foreign letter 13 m (20g); 9 m per add. 20g
01.10.1921 Foreign postcard 6 m
01.10.1921 Foreign printed matter 3 m per 50g
01.10.1921 Foreign commercial papers 3 m per 50g
01.10.1921 Inland registration 13 m
01.10.1921 Foreign registration 13 m
01.10.1921 Inland advice of delivery 10 m
01.10.1921 Foreign advice of delivery 13 m
01.10.1921 Inland enquiry 10 m
01.10.1921 Foreign enquiry 13 m
01.10.1921 Insurance (incl. mand. reg.) 20 m for value up to £10; 10 m per add. value of £10, maximum £40
01.01.1923 Foreign letter 13 m (20g); 7 m per add. 20g
01.01.1923 Foreign postcard 8 m
16.12.1925 Foreign postcard 7 m
16.12.1925 Blind literature 2 m per 1kg
--.--.1926 Inland Express 20 m for distances up to 1 km, 30 m for 2km, over 2km up to delivery boundary 40 m; only available in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa, and Tel-Aviv
--.--.1926 Insurance (incl. mand. reg.) 20 m for value up to £12; 7 m per add. value of £12
--.--.1926 Insured box 8 m (50g); minimum 40 m
01.01.1926 Inland newspapers 2 m
15.02.1926 UK & Éire letter 7 m (20g); 4 m per add. 20g
01.12.1928 Foreign commercial papers 3 m per 50g; minimum 100g
01.12.1928 Samples 6 m per 100g; 3 m per add. 50g
01.03.1929 UK & Éire letter 13 m (20g); 7 m per add. 20g
01.04.1930 UK & Éire letter 7 m (20g); 4 m per add. 20g
19.06.1930 Small packet 7 m (50g); 7 per add 50g, minimum 25 m
01.06.1932 Foreign letter 15 m (20g); 9 m per add. 20g
01.06.1932 UK & Éire letter 8 m (20g); 5 m per add. 20g
01.06.1932 Foreign postcard 8 m
01.06.1932 Foreign commercial papers 3 m per 50g; minimum 250g
01.06.1932 Small packet 9 m (50g); 9 per add 50g, minimum 300g
01.06.1932 Inland enquiry 13 m
01.06.1932 Late posting of registered packet 20 m
01.06.1932 Late posting for ordinary packet 2 m
01.06.1932 COD posting fee 10 m
01.06.1932 COD delivery fee 15 m
01.06.1932 COD trade charge 10 m per £1
--.--.1933 Inland advice of delivery 13 m
01.01.1937 Inland Express 25 m (distance specs. unknown); only available in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa, and Tel-Aviv
--.--.1938 Foreign newspapers 6 m
01.03.1938 UK & Éire letter 10 m (10g); 10 m per add. 10g ("all up" Empire rate)
01.03.1938 UK & Éire postcard 5 m; ("all up" Empire rate)
01.04.1938 UK & Éire letter 10 m (10g); 10 m per add. 10g up to 70 g, 70 m for 71 up to 90g, 80 m for 91 up to 110g, over 110g: 80 m plus 10 m per any add. 20g ("all up" Empire rate)
04.09.1939 UK & Éire letter 10 m (20g); 6 m per add. 20g
04.09.1939 UK & Éire postcard 8 m
--.--.1940 Inland commercial papers 3 m per 50g; minimum 250g
01.05.1940 Inland letter 7 m (20g); 5 m per add. 20g
01.07.1940 Foreign letter 15 m (20g); 10 m per add. 20g
01.07.1940 Foreign postcard 10 m
01.07.1940 Inland registration 15 m
01.07.1940 Foreign registration 15 m
01.07.1940 Inland advice of delivery 15 m
01.07.1940 Foreign advice of delivery 15 m
01.07.1940 Inland enquiry 15 m
01.07.1940 Foreign enquiry 15 m
01.07.1940 Insurance (incl. mand. reg.) 25 m for value up to £12; 10 m per add. value of £12
01.07.1940 Insured box 16 m (50g); minimum 65 m
01.04.1941 Inland letter 10 m (30g); 6 m per add. 30g
01.04.1941 Inland postcard 7 m
01.07.1943 Foreign letter 20 m (20g); 13 m per add. 20g
01.07.1943 UK & Éire letter 15 m (20g); 10 m per add. 20g
01.07.1943 Foreign postcard 13 m
01.07.1943 UK & Éire postcard 10 m
01.07.1943 Inland printed matter 3 m per 50g; (Bale lists 1.05.1941)
01.07.1943 Foreign printed matter 5 m per 50g
01.07.1943 Inland commercial papers 3 m per 50g
01.07.1943 Foreign commercial papers 5 m per 50g; minimum 250g
05.04.1945 Small packet 8 m (50g); 8 m per add. 50g
05.04.1945 Inland Express 40 m for distances up to 3km; 35 m per add. 1km
05.04.1945 Foreign Express 40 m
--.12.1917 Inland letter free
16.02.1918 Inland letter 5 m (20g); 3 m per add. 20g
01.05.1940 Inland letter 7 m (20g); 5 m per add. 20g
01.04.1941 Inland letter 10 m (30g); 6 m per add. 30g
--.12.1917 Foreign letter free
10.02.1918 Foreign letter 10 m (20g)
01.08.1920 Foreign letter 10 m (20g); 6 m per add. 20g
01.10.1921 Foreign letter 13 m (20g); 9 m per add. 20g
01.01.1923 Foreign letter 13 m (20g); 7 m per add. 20g
01.06.1932 Foreign letter 15 m (20g); 9 m per add. 20g
01.07.1940 Foreign letter 15 m (20g); 10 m per add. 20g
01.07.1943 Foreign letter 20 m (20g); 13 m per add. 20g
15.02.1926 UK & Éire letter 7 m (20g); 4 m per add. 20g
01.03.1929 UK & Éire letter 13 m (20g); 7 m per add. 20g
01.04.1930 UK & Éire letter 7 m (20g); 4 m per add. 20g
01.06.1932 UK & Éire letter 8 m (20g); 5 m per add. 20g
01.03.1938 UK & Éire letter 10 m (10g); 10 m per add. 10g ("all up" Empire rate)
01.04.1938 UK & Éire letter 10 m (10g); 10 m per add. 10g up to 70 g, 70 m for 71 up to 90g, 80 m for 91 up to 110g, over 110g: 80 m plus 10 m per any add. 20g ("all up" Empire rate)
04.09.1939 UK & Éire letter 10 m (20g); 6 m per add. 20g
01.07.1943 UK & Éire letter 15 m (20g); 10 m per add. 20g
--.12.1917 Inland postcard free
16.02.1918 Inland postcard 5 m
16.07.1918 Inland postcard 3 m
01.09.1920 Inland postcard 4 m
01.04.1941 Inland postcard 7 m
10.02.1918 Foreign postcard 10 m; (Bale lists: 5 m)
16.07.1918 Foreign postcard 4 m
01.10.1921 Foreign postcard 6 m
01.01.1923 Foreign postcard 8 m
16.12.1925 Foreign postcard 7 m
01.06.1932 Foreign postcard 8 m
01.07.1940 Foreign postcard 10 m
01.07.1943 Foreign postcard 13 m
01.03.1938 UK & Éire postcard 5 m; ("all up" Empire rate)
04.09.1939 UK & Éire postcard 8 m
01.07.1943 UK & Éire postcard 10 m
10.02.1918 Inland printed matter 5 m per 50g
01.10.1919 Inland printed matter 1 m per 50g
01.09.1920 Inland printed matter 2 m per 50g
01.07.1943 Inland printed matter 3 m per 50g; (Bale lists 1.05.1941)
10.04.1918 Foreign printed matter 5 m per 50g
16.07.1918 Foreign printed matter 2 m per 50g
01.10.1919 Foreign printed matter 1 m per 50g
01.09.1920 Foreign printed matter 2 m per 50g
01.10.1921 Foreign printed matter 3 m per 50g
01.07.1943 Foreign printed matter 5 m per 50g
--.--.1940 Inland commercial papers 3 m per 50g; minimum 250g
01.07.1943 Inland commercial papers 3 m per 50g
01.09.1920 Foreign commercial papers 2 m per 50g; minimum 250g
01.10.1921 Foreign commercial papers 3 m per 50g
01.12.1928 Foreign commercial papers 3 m per 50g; minimum 100g
01.06.1932 Foreign commercial papers 3 m per 50g; minimum 250g
01.07.1943 Foreign commercial papers 5 m per 50g; minimum 250g
01.10.1919 Inland newspapers 1 m
01.01.1926 Inland newspapers 2 m
--.--.1921 Foreign newspapers 2 m per 50g; 2m per add. 50g
--.--.1938 Foreign newspapers 6 m
01.12.1928 Samples 6 m per 100g; 3 m per add. 50g
16.12.1925 Blind literature 2 m per 1kg
19.06.1930 Small packet 7 m (50g); 7 per add 50g, minimum 25 m
01.06.1932 Small packet 9 m (50g); 9 per add 50g, minimum 300g
05.04.1945 Small packet 8 m (50g); 8 m per add. 50g
16.02.1918 Inland registration 10 m
01.10.1921 Inland registration 13 m
01.07.1940 Inland registration 15 m
16.02.1918 Foreign registration 10 m
01.10.1921 Foreign registration 13 m
01.07.1940 Foreign registration 15 m
16.02.1918 Inland advice of delivery 10 m
01.10.1921 Inland advice of delivery 10 m
--.--.1933 Inland advice of delivery 13 m
01.07.1940 Inland advice of delivery 15 m
16.02.1918 Foreign advice of delivery 10 m
01.10.1921 Foreign advice of delivery 13 m
01.07.1940 Foreign advice of delivery 15 m
16.02.1918 Inland enquiry 10 m
01.10.1921 Inland enquiry 10 m
01.06.1932 Inland enquiry 13 m
01.07.1940 Inland enquiry 15 m
16.02.1918 Foreign enquiry 10 m
01.10.1921 Foreign enquiry 13 m
01.07.1940 Foreign enquiry 15 m
--.--.1926 Inland Express 20 m for distances up to 1 km, 30 m for 2km, over 2km up to delivery boundary 40 m; only available in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa, and Tel-Aviv
01.01.1937 Inland Express 25 m (distance specs. unknown); only available in Jerusalem, Jaffa, Haifa, and Tel-Aviv
05.04.1945 Inland Express 40 m for distances up to 3km; 35 m per add. 1km
05.04.1945 Foreign Express 40 m
01.06.1932 Late posting for ordinary packet 2 m
01.06.1932 Late posting of registered packet 20 m
01.10.1921 Insurance (incl. mand. reg.) 20 m for value up to £10; 10 m per add. value of £10, maximum £40
--.--.1926 Insurance (incl. mand. reg.) 20 m for value up to £12; 7 m per add. value of £12
01.07.1940 Insurance (incl. mand. reg.) 25 m for value up to £12; 10 m per add. value of £12
--.--.1926 Insured box 8 m (50g); minimum 40 m
01.07.1940 Insured box 16 m (50g); minimum 65 m
01.06.1932 COD trade charge 10 m per £1
01.06.1932 COD delivery fee 15 m
01.06.1932 COD posting fee 10 m

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[Created 2.06.2005, last revised 15.08.2008]
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