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IMPERIAL POSTAL SERVICES
In 1887 reductions were made in foreign postage; how far required may be judged from the fact that it was notified that letter postage to the Mediterranean would be 'at the rate of only ten shillings per ounce.'
s. d. 1853. Letter to India, over 1 ounce 7 9 1853.„ Letter„ to„ France, ½ ounce 1 3 1853.„ Letter„ to„ San Francisco 1 2
d. 1889. To Australia 6 1889.„ To„ India 5 1889.„ To„ Canada 2½ 1889.„ To„ South Africa 4
1890. Uniform Colonial and Indian postage 2½d. per ½ ounce.
1898. Imperial penny postage established.
Here are a few comparative rates:
1829. 1884. 1899. s. d. d. d. Letter to France 2 1 2½ 2½ Letter„ to„ Italy 2 10 2½ 2½ Letter„ to„ Spain 3 1 2½ 2½ Letter„ to„ Sweden 2 7 2½ 2½ Letter„ to„ Portugal 2 9 2½ 2½ Letter„ to„ Gibraltar 3 1 2½ 1 Letter„ to„ Malta 3 5 2½ 1 Letter„ to„ United States 2 5 2½ 2½ Letter„ to„ Brazil 3 9 4 2½
The farther an Englishman is from home, the keener his interest in mailing matters. It follows that this interest is very noticeable in Australia, the part of the Empire most distant from the Motherland. Old colonists remember how in 1846 their latest news from England was five months old! On January 15, 1849, they had not received the mails despatched from London
