Page 525 - Jarvis & Wright: Jamaica Display to RPSL

Jamaica: Air Mail

Rates to the UK
United Kingdom Services and Rates

Initial services were exclusively flown by Pan American via the USA.
Until 1939 Trans-Atlantic mail was flown to the US and then carried by sea to Europe.
In 1939 Trans-Atlantic flights commenced, provided by both Pan American and Imperial Airways.
Between 1939 and 1948, it was possible to choose whether to use the by sea method,
or the faster but more expensive Trans-Atlantic flight.
In 1946 direct flights to the UK were introduced.
After 1948 only the All-Air option existed but in the 1950s a 2nd class mail option was introduced.

Airmail Rates to UK

Date 1930 1932 1933 1933 1934 1938 1939 1939 1939 1941 1943 1947 1947 1950 1951 1963
Dec-10 Jan-01 Mar-01 Dec-18 Oct-22 Jan-01 Apr-01 May-30 Oct-16 May-05 Sep-15 Jun-16 Jun-16 Oct-02 Jan-01 Jul-01
Reg 0s2d 0s3d 0s4d 0s6d
½oz 0s8d 0s9d 0s11d 0s8½d 0s8d 0s6½ 0s6½ 0s6½d 0s10d 1s0d 0s8d 0s6d service 1948
ends Aug-01
AllAir 2s0d 2s2d 1s3d 1s6d
1oz 1s2½d 1s4½d 1s8½d 1s3½d 1s2½d p-rata p-rata p-rata p-rata p-rata p-rata p-rata p-rata

Until 1 Jan 1938 the charge for airmail was considered to be the surface rate plus an extra charge for airmail.
Airmail rates were quoted per ½ oz but surface rates were per 1 oz.

Jamaica (11 Dec 1930) to UK (19 Dec 1930) then by Sea to UK at 8d Rate

The rate to the UK of 8d applied until the end of 1931.
The route at this time was by air to New York and thence by sea. 1019 letters were carried to Europe
LCC Nicholson was a leading Jamaica specialist of the era. Endorsed on the reverse: ‘Received 4.45pm 19 Dec 1930’.