Introduction

Rates for overseas mail are extremely complex at the time of the stamp Marianne de Béquet. Actually, to calculate the postal charge of a mailing abroad, it is necessary to take into account:

• Tariff changes, with eight modifications between January 4, 1971 and May 15, 1978 (some of them only concerning a single country however);

• The geographical situation of the country addressee: besides the general case, there are special rates for the countries of the European Union, Canada, ... and the particular case of countries assimilated to the internal mail regime (roughly speaking, the former French colonies);

• Whether air traffic is used or not, for the calculation of a surcharge fee linked to the weight of the mailing and to the existence of seven geographical areas named A, B, C, D, E, F and G and defined as follows:
   
  • area A : Europe, Turkey, the Azores, the Canary Islands, Madeira, Cyprus;
     
  • area B : Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia;
     
  • area C : the Afars and the Issas, Benin (formely Dahomey), Cameroon, Central African Republic, Congo (Brazzaville), Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, Guadeloupe, Guinea, French Guiana, Upper Volta, Mali, Martinique, Mauritania, Niger, Réunion, Senegal, Chad, Togo;
     
  • area D : the Comoros, Madagascar, Laos, South Vietnam , New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Khmer Republic, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Wallis and Futuna;
     
  • area E : Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, United Arab Republic, Syrian Arab Republic;
     
  • area F : Burma, People’s Republic of China, Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macao, Malaysia, People’s Republic of Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, Australia, New Zealand, other countries of Oceania;
     
  • area G : other countries in Africa, in America and in Asia;

• The type of mailing: letter, postcard, printed matter, registered mail, EXPRÈS mail, ...

• The distinction between mainland France and the overseas territories for the place where mail is deposited.

In this article, we will distinguish three categories of countries: those of the general regime, those of the particular regime of countries assimilated to the internal mail regime and those benefiting from special rates. We will show a number of covers by explaining the reasons of the applied rate. We will also present a number of covers to Switzerland, in order to illustrate the complexity of rates over the period 1971 to 1978. Finally, a number of specific cases will be described in a last part entitled Miscellaneous.

We will describe the main postal rates in the form of numerous tables and will show a number of covers by explaining the reasons of the applied rate.

It should be noted that the rates described in the above table are independent from the country addressee.

Area A consists of the following countries: South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Lesotho, Libya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, United Arab Republic, Rhodesia, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia

List number 1: the Antilles, the Venezuela, the Guiana and Suriname from Martinique and from Guadeloupe, Guiana and Suriname from the French Guiana

List number 2: the Antilles, Brazil and Venezuela from the French Guiana

General regime

In the general regime, the same basic tariff is applied to all the countries. Only additional costs due to airmail and to the type of shipping vary.

Rates on 4.1.71

International rates for the general tariff on 4.1.1971

letters		postcards	5-word postcards	printed matter
up to 20 g	over 20 g per 20 g			up to 50 g	over 50 g per 50 g
0,80 F	0,45 F	0,45 F	0,40 F	0,40 F	0,20 F

 

We may notice that this rate lasted only seven months, because the next tariff change took place at the beginning of August, 1971. Some covers illustrating these price rates will be presented in the form of a manual slideshow:

 

Rates on 1.8.71

International rates for the general tariff on 1.8.1971
régime général

up to	letters	postcards	5-word postcards	printed matter	books, newspapers, ...
20 g	0,90 F	0,60 F	0,40 F	0,40 F	0,20 F
50 g	1,60 F	-	-	0,55 F	0,28 F
100 g	2,00 F	-	-	0,70 F	0,35 F
250 g	4,50 F	-	-	1,10 F	0,55 F
500 g	8,50 F	-	-	2,00 F	1,00 F
1 kg	14,00 F	-	-	3,50 F	1,75 F
2 kg	23,00 F	-	-	5,80 F	2,90 F
3 kg	-	-	-	-	4,35 F
4 kg	-	-	-	-	5,80 F
5 kg	-	-	-	-	6,25 F

 

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

Rates on 16.9.74

International rates for the general tariff on 16.9.1974
régime général

up to	letters	postcards	5-word postcards	printed matter	books, newspapers, ...
20 g	1,20 F	0,80 F	0,70 F	0,70 F	0,35 F
50 g	2,20 F	-	-	0,90 F	0,45 F
100 g	2,80 F	-	-	1,20 F	0,60 F
250 g	4,50 F	-	-	2,30 F	1,15 F
500 g	8,50 F	-	-	3,10 F	1,55 F
1 kg	14,00 F	-	-	5,00 F	2,50 F
2 kg	23,00 F	-	-	7,00 F	3,50 F
3 kg	-	-	-	-	5,25 F
4 kg	-	-	-	-	7,00 F
5 kg	-	-	-	-	8,75 F

 

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

Specific regimes

A number of countries (generally, the former French colonies) benefit from the regime of internal mail rate. This list evolved over years. On 4.1.71, that list included overseas territories, the Algerian Republic, the Federal republic of Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, the Republic of Ivory Coast, the Republic of Dahomey, the Gabonese Republic, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Malagasy Republic, the Republic of Mali, the Republic of Niger, the Republic of Senegal, the Republic of Chad, the Togolese Republic and the Republic of Upper Volta. Besides, for Cambodia, Guinea, Laos, Morocco, Tunisia and South Vietnam, the tax is 0,60F.

Rates on 4.1.71

For Cambodia, Guinea, Laos, Morocco, Tunisia and South Vietnam, the tax is 0,60F.
 

 

Rates on 1.8.71

From metropolitan France

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

From overseas territories

 

 

Changes on 16.4.1973 and on 1.8.1973

On 16.4.73, Morocco is no longer a specific regime country and moves to the general regime (however, air surcharges are exempted for the mailings of weight less than 20 g).

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

On 1.8.1973, Algeria moves from the specific regime to the general one.

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

Countries benefiting from special arrangements

On 4.1.71, countries benefiting from special arrangements can be classified in 5 areas which we are going to call areas A, B, C, D and E (but these areas have nothing to do with the areas defined for the air mail surcharges). These areas are the following ones:

• area A: Canada and border rate (when departure and arrival offices are situated less than 30 km as the crow flies) for Belgium, Spain and Switzerland

• area B: Germany and Luxemburg

• area C: Belgium and the Netherlands

• area D: Italy and San Marino

• area E: Switzerland and Liechtenstein

The list of countries covered by these particular rates will vary somewhat over time, in particular with the limitation to only Spain of the border rate on 1.8.71.

From metropolitan France

Rates on 4.1.71

International postal rates for special regimes on 1.4.1971
régimes spéciaux

area	up to 20 g
A	0,50 F up to 20 g and 0,40 F per 20 g increment beyond
B	internal regime fot letters up to 20 g and postcards
C	internal regime fot letters up to 20 g and postcards
D	internal regime fot letters, postcards and parcel post up to 100 g ; general regime beyond
E	general regime

 

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

Rates on 1.8.71

International postal rates for special regimes on 1.8.1971
régimes spéciaux

area	up to 20 g	between 20 and 50 g	between 50 and 100 g	between 100 and 250 g	between 250 and 500 g	between 500 g and 1 kg	between 1 and 2 kg
A	0,50 F	0,90 F	1,20 F	2,50 F	3,30 F	4,20 F	5,70 F
B	0,50 F	0,90 F	2,00 F	4,50 F	8,50 F	14,00 F	23,00 F
C	0,50 F	1,60 F	2,00 F	4,50 F	8,50 F	14,00 F	23,00 F
D	0,50 F	0,90 F	1,20 F	4,50 F	8,50 F	14,00 F	23,00 F
E	0,60 F	1,60 F	2,00 F	4,50 F	8,50 F	14,00 F	23,00 F

 

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

Rates on 16.9.74

International postal rates for special regimes on 16.9.1974
régimes spéciaux

area	up to 20 g	between 20 and 50 g	between 50 and 100 g	between 100 and 250 g	between 250 and 500 g	between 500 g and 1 kg	between 1 and 2 kg
A	0,80 F	1,40 F	1,90 F	4,00 F	8,00 F	13,00 F	20,00 F
B	0,80 F	1,40 F	2,80 F	4,50 F	8,50 F	14,00 F	23,00 F
C	0,80 F	2,20 F	2,80 F	4,50 F	8,50 F	14,00 F	23,00 F
D	0,80 F	1,40 F	1,90 F	4,50 F	8,50 F	14,00 F	23,00 F
E	1,00 F	2,20 F	2,80 F	4,50 F	8,50 F	14,00 F	23,00 F

 

Rates on 2.8.76

International postal rates for special regimes on 2.8.1976
régimes spéciaux

area	up to 20 g	between 20 and 50 g	between 50 and 100 g	between 100 and 250 g	between 250 and 500 g	between 500 g and 1 kg	between 1 and 2 kg
A	1,00 F	1,70 F	2,40 F	4,80 F	10,00 F	13,00 F	20,00 F
B	1,00 F	1,70 F	3,20 F	6,50 F	12,50 F	22,00 F	35,00 F
C	1,00 F	2,50 F	3,20 F	6,50 F	12,50 F	22,00 F	35,00 F
D	1,00 F	1,70 F	2,40 F	6,50 F	12,50 F	22,00 F	35,00 F
E	1,25 F	2,50 F	3,20 F	6,50 F	12,50 F	22,00 F	35,00 F

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

Rates on 15.5.78

International postal rates for special regimes on 15.5.1978
régimes spéciaux

area	up to 20 g	between 20 and 50 g	between 50 and 100 g	between 100 and 250 g	between 250 and 500 g	between 500 g and 1 kg	between 1 and 2 kg
A	1,20 F	2,10 F	2,90 F	5,80 F	12,00 F	18,00 F	28,00 F
B	1,20 F	2,10 F	4,00 F	7,50 F	14,50 F	25,00 F	40,00 F
C	1,20 F	3,00 F	4,00 F	7,50 F	14,50 F	25,00 F	40,00 F
D	1,20 F	2,10 F	2,90 F	7,50 F	14,50 F	25,00 F	40,00 F
E	1,50 F	3,00 F	4,00 F	7,50 F	14,50 F	25,00 F	40,00 F

 

From overseas territories

 

 

 

Specific Study of Switzerland

We will present a number of covers to Switzerland to illustrate the complexity of mail rates during the validity period of the stamp 0,50F Marianne de Béquet, with tariff changes and the kinds of services provided by La Poste. It should be noted, however, that there is no air surcharge between France and Switzerland, except for D.O.M. and T.O.M.

Letters, postcards, parcel mails

Rates on 4.1.71

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

We may note that the above covers can only be found during seven months with the correct fare, until the tariff change on 1.8.71.

Rates on 1.8.71

 

Rates on 2.8.76

Rates on 15.5.78

Routing of mail services

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

Mail sent from overseas territories

 

 

Miscellaneous

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

Miscellaneous

Prepaid postcard in international regime

 

The above postcard was posted in Port Vila (New Hebrides) with a country’s stamp for France (1^st picture) and a New Hebrides’ stamp for return (2^nd picture), stamp franked on 19.1.71. This letter was forwarded from France on 13.4.71 with a registered fee of 3,00 F. It arrived at Port Vila on 23.4.71, but was not able to be distributed for not adequate address. It has been returned to Paris where it arrives on 21.7.71 and is distributed on 22.7.71.

It should be noted that this kind of postcard with prepaid answer in international regime was cancelled by an instruction of the Post Office on 1.7.71.

Suspended mail relationships

It happens that, for various reasons, mail relationships between France and a given country are suspended. Letters to these countries are then returned to their sender with a P. & T. label explaining the return.

Here are some covers illustrating these price rates presented in the form of a manual slideshow.

 

Letters mailed abroad with a French stamp

In principle, the 0,50F Marianne de Béquet stamp is only valid for franking mail posted in France. However, if mail is posted in a foreign country and franked using French stamps, how should this case be handled by the postal administrations concerned, on departure and/or arrival, and how is it dealt with in practice?

Union Postale Universelle texts

First of all, I would like to remind you of a few texts that apply to the problem defined in the introduction and which I will present in the form of rules (to make the text easier to write and read). These rules are taken from the "authentic French text of the international instruments adopted in Tokyo on 14 November 1969 by the Congress of the Union Postale Universelle" [1], which was in force during the period when the Marianne de Béquet stamp was in use.

Rule 1: Postage shall be paid either by means of postage stamps printed or affixed on the items and valid in the Country of origin, or by means of impressions made by franking machines officially adopted and operating under the immediate control of the Postal Administration, or by means of impressions made by a printing press or by another printing or stamping process when such a system is authorized by the regulations of the Administration of origin. 1

This rule means, in particular, that an envelope bearing only stamps from a country other than the one in which it was posted is considered to be without postage.

Rule 2: Postage stamps and franking impressions that are not valid for franking are not taken into account. In this case, the figure zero (0) is placed next to these postage stamps or impressions, which must be framed in pencil. 2

Rule 3: Items for which a tax must be collected after deposit, either by the addressee or by the sender in the case of undeliverable items, shall bear a T stamp (tax payable) in the middle of the upper part of the front; next to the imprint of this stamp, the Administration of origin enters very legibly, in the currency of its Country, the double or single amount, as the case may be, of the missing postage and, under a fraction bar, that of its tax valid for the first weight step for letters sent by surface mail. 3

Rule 4: The delivering Administration charges the items with the fee to be collected. It determines this charge by multiplying the fraction resulting from the data mentioned in § 1 (rule 3 here) by the amount, in its national currency, of the charge applicable in its international service for the first weight step of letters sent by surface mail. 4

Rule 5: Any item not bearing the T stamp is considered to be duly franked and treated accordingly, unless there is an obvious error. 5

Rule 6: If the fraction provided for in §1 (rule 3 here) has not been indicated next to the T stamp by the Administration of origin or by the reconsigning Administration in the case of non-delivery, the Administration of destination has the right to distribute the item with insufficient postage without collecting tax. 6

Fiduciary aspect of postage stamps in France

In addition to the UPU texts, the fact that postage stamps have a fiduciary value guaranteed by the French State must also be taken into account in the problem that interests us: a postage stamp only loses its value after use, i.e. after it has been cancelled. In particular, if the postage stamp has not been cancelled by a date stamp or a cancellation machine imprint, it regains its value when it arrives in France and this must be taken into account when the tax is applied [2].

Mail posted abroad with a 0,50 F Marianne de Béquet postage stamp

We will now show some examples of the processing of items posted abroad and franked with a 0,50 F Marianne de Béquet stamp, looking in particular at how the UPU rules mentioned above were applied (or not). We will distinguish between two cases: where the item has been processed manually (date stamp) and where the item has passed through a cancelling machine.

Mailpieces with date stamps

We are going to show six items posted abroad with a 0,50 F Marianne de Béquet postage stamp and having undergone six different treatments.
 

 
This treatment is the simplest imaginable, since the stamp was (wrongly) considered valid.
 

 
Here, the postman detected that the postage stamp was invalid, framed it in pencil and affixed his date stamp next to it. However, there is no indication of tax on the envelope and no tax was applied in France (by application of rule 5). It should be noted that the postage stamp was cancelled by a linear mark on arrival.
 

 
In this case, the postman detected that the postage stamp was invalid, as he affixed his date stamp next to the stamp, but without framing it. The tax T stamp was struck, but without calculating the tax and therefore without taxation in France, according to rule 6.
 

 
This time, the postage stamp was detected as invalid, as it was framed in pencil and not stamped with the date stamp. The T stamp was affixed and the tax was calculated in accordance with rule 3. However, it seems that the French administration did not apply rule 4 and therefore the tax was not collected.
 

 
In this case, the postage stamp was detected as invalid because it was framed in pencil. The T stamp was affixed, the tax calculation was explicitly indicated (T 1,20 in red) but without the fraction of rule 3 and the tax was materialised using tax stamps.
 

 
In the latter case, the postage stamp was detected as invalid, since it was framed by 0’s. On the other hand, this postage stamp was not framed in pencil, as stipulated by rule 2 (however, the 0’s simulate a line framing the stamp). The T stamp has been affixed and the fraction in rule 3 appears next to the T. According to the tariff of 1.7.74 in Switzerland, the postage for an international letter weighing less than 20 g is 70 c (the denominator of the fraction) and the postage for a CEPT country (European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations) is 60 c, hence the numerator of the fraction is 120, i.e. double the missing postage. As the postage in France for an international letter in the 1st weight step is 90 c on the date of dispatch, the amount of the tax is 120/70 x 90, i.e. 1,54 F, which has been (curiously) rounded up to 1,70 F in the form of tax stamps.

Covers with mechanical impression

We are going to describe two cases of mail posted abroad with a 0,50 F Marianne de Béquet stamp and passed through a cancellation machine.
 

 
In the first case, the stamp was considered valid.
 

 
Here, the postage stamp was detected as invalid after passing through the cancelling machine. The postage stamp was framed in pencil, the T stamp was affixed and the fraction quoted in rule 3 was indicated on the card. On arrival, the tax was calculated in accordance with rule 4 (in 1972, the tariff for an international letter at the first weight level was 0.90 F in France; 60/45 x 0.90 = 1,20, hence the tax of 1,20 F) and then marked with tax stamps.