Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Ilminster Postage Dues - Right or Wrong ?

Here are two unfranked postcard from abroad going to Ilminster with postage due, one of which I think is right and one wrong (with my pencil calculations in the margins).

The top postcard was sent in March 1989 and has two red "-8 MAR 1989 41P TO PAY" cachets and a Tax cachet of "T 550/750".  The Airmail Postcard rate was 27p from 5th September 1988 to 1st October 1989 so I think the postage due should be 550/750 x 27p x 2 which equals 39.6p, or 40p when rounded not 41p as in the TO PAY cachet.

The bottom postcard was sent in July 1994 and has a red "28 JUL 1994 49P TO PAY" cachet along with manuscript "T 450/550" Tax mark.  The non-airmail UPU letter rate was 30p from 1st November 1993 to 7th July 1996 so the postage due works out at 450/550 x 30p x 2 which equals 49.1p, or 49p if rounded down.  I admit I worked backwards from the 49P TO PAY to find the non-airmail UPU postage rate, and it seems a bit odd especially as there is an "A PRIORITAIRE / PAR AVION" cachet !

On this next sheet are two unfranked postcards received on the same date with two different postage due assessments - so one has to be wrong.

Both cards have manuscript Tax markings of "T 600/1000" but one has been assessed with 43p to pay and the other 42p.  With an Airmail Postcard rate of 35p from 1st November 1993 to 7th July 1996, I think the correct assessment is 600/1000 x 35p x 2 which equals 42p.  So I think the top one is wrong and the bottom one correct.


No comments:

Post a Comment