::: MAIL RATES - UPU Period :::

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Member Countries of the UPU when Hawaii joined on January 1, 1882 were: Aden, Antigua, Argentina, Austria-Hungary, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, British Burma, British Colonies on Africa West Coast, British Guyana, British Honduras, British India and Hindoostan, British Virgin Islands, Ceylon, Chile, Columbia, Denmark and Iceland and Danish Colonies, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Falkland Islands, France, French Colonies, Germany, Gibraltar, Great Britain including Malta, Greece including the Ionian Islands, Greenland, Grenada Island, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Labuan, Liberia, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Montenegro, Montserrat, Netherlands, Netherlands Colonies, Nevis, Newfoundland, Norway, Paraguay, Persia, Peru, Portugal including Madeira and Azores, Portuguese Colonies, Romania, Russia including Finland, Serbia, Seychelles Islands, Spain including Balearic and Canary Islands, Spanish Colonies, Spanish North Africa and Morocco, St. Christopher, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Straits Settlements, Sweden, Switzerland, Tobago, Trinidad, Turkey, Turks Islands, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zanzibar. Dates of entry are set out in Starnes, Charles J., United States Letter Rates To Foreign Destinations 1847 to GPU-UPU, rev. ed., 1989, pgs. 60-62.

Countries joining after Hawaii were: Nicaragua (May 1, 1882), Costa Rica (January 1, 1883), Siam (July 1, 1885), Bolivia (April 1, 1886), New Zealand and Australian Colonies (October 1, 1891), Natal (July 1, 1892), Cape Colony (February 1, 1895) and St. Helena and Ascension (October 1, 1896). Information is from Starnes, supra.

An additional 5¢ was charged for a return receipt on registered mail.

A minimum of 5¢ was charged on books and printed matter for the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, UPU ports in China, Singapore and Manila. A minimum of 6¢ was charged on books and printed matter for Europe and all other UPU countries or colonies.

For mail to other countries, the United States rate to those countries plus Hawaiian 6¢ per ½ oz. on letters, 2¢ per ounce on papers and 1¢ per ounce on other matter.

Merchandise samples not to exceed 250 grams, or 8¾ oz. An additional 5¢ charged for a return receipt on registered mail. Mail to Asiatic UPU ports sent via Australasia mails charged at UPU rate.

For mail to other countries, the United States rate to those countries plus Hawaiian 6¢ per ½ oz. on letters, 2¢ per ounce on papers and 1¢ per ounce on other matter.

Merchandise samples not to exceed 250 grams, or 8¾ oz., except United States, Great Britain, New Zealand and New South Wales, to which countries samples of merchandise not exceeding 350 grams (12 oz.) may be mailed.

The Parcel Post Convention between Hawaii and the United States permits packages not exceeding 11 pounds in weight being forwarded by mail at the rate of 12¢ per lb. or fraction thereof.

* Papers, Books and Photographs to the United States, Mexico, Canada and Australian Colonies 1¢ per 2 oz.

Fee for return receipt on registered mail, 5¢

Note: the rate to Australia and New Zealand changed, effective October 1, 1891, upon their entry into the UPU, after which UPU rates applied.

A Parcel Post Convention was signed with the United States on December 19, 1888 and put into effect early in 1889. Charges for this service were:

Packages were limited to three feet six inches in length and six feet in girth and to 11 pounds of weight. Parcel post rates were payable in postage stamps of the country of origin.

Packages to the United States were limited to three feet six inches in length and six feet in girth and to 11 pounds of weight. Packages to Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Great Britain via Canada were limited to 5 pounds of weight, two feet in length and one foot in width or depth.

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