INLAND TELEGRAM RATES 1870 - 1982


This information is from the Great Britain Philatelic Society.

Fees for telegrams were normally paid by means of postage stamps attached to or embossed on the form on which the telegram was written.  The rules and services can be found in the Post Office Guides, some of which are linked below.

Extract from the Post Office Guide - 1875

Extract from the Post Office Guide - 1920
 

Date Ordinary Sunday Priority Greetings Overnight
1870
(5 Feb)
1s – 20 words
3d each extra 5 words
       
1885
(1 Oct)
6d – 12 words
½d each extra word
       
1915
(1 Nov)
9d – 12 words
½d each extra word
       
1920
(1 Sep)
1s – 12 words
1d each extra word
6d extra      
1935
(31 May)
6d – 9 words
1d each extra word
6d extra 6d extra    
1935
(24 Jul)
6d – 9 words
1d each extra word
6d extra 6d extra 3d extra  
1940
(1 Jul)
9d – 9 words
1d each extra word
6d extra 6d extra 3d extra  
1943
(1 May)
9d – 9 words
1d each extra word
6d extra 6d extra    
1943
(19 Jul)
1s – 9 words
1d each extra word
6d extra 6d extra    
1950
(20 Nov)
1s – 9 words
1d each extra word
6d extra 6d extra 2s – 12 words
1d each extra word
 
1951
(1 Jul)
1s 6d – 12 words
1½d each extra word
9d extra 9d extra 6d extra  
1954
(1 Aug)
3s – 12 words
3d each extra word
1s 6d extra 1s extra 6d extra 1s 6d – 12 words
1½d each extra word
1957
(1 Mar)
3s – 12 words
3d each extra word
1s 6d extra 1s extra Standard: 6d extra
Birthday: 6d extra
Wedding: 2s extra
1s 6d – 12 words
1½d each extra word
1959
(14 Feb)
3s – 12 words
3d each extra word
1s 6d extra 1s extra Standard: 6d extra
Deluxe: 2s extra
1s 6d – 12 words
1½d each extra word
1963
(29 Apr)
5s – 12 words
5d each extra word
2s 6d extra 2s extra Standard: 6d extra
Deluxe: 2s extra
2s 6d – 12 words
2½d each extra word
1971
(15 Feb)
25p – 12 words
2p each extra word
12½p extra 10p extra Standard: 2½p extra
Deluxe: 10p extra
12½p – 12 words
1p each extra word
1973
(15 Oct)
40p – 10 words
4p each extra word
25p extra   20p extra 30p – 10 words
1p each extra word
1974
(12 Aug)
60p – 10 words
5p each extra word
35p extra   30p extra 40p – 10 words
2p each extra word
1975
(28 Apr)
30p + 5p per word 45p extra   40p extra 20p + 3p per word
1975
(1 Oct)
70p + 7p per word 45p extra   40p extra 50p + 4p per word
1980
(1 Apr)
£1 + 10p per word 60p extra   50p extra 50p + 5p per word
1981
(1 Apr)
£1.50 + 15p per word     50p extra 75p + 7½p per word
1981
(26 Oct)
£1.50 + 15p per word     50p extra  
1982
(1 Apr)
£2.00 + 16p per word     50p extra  
1982
(1 Jun)
£1.50 + 15p per word     50p extra  
1982
(30 Sep)
Last day of inland telegram service

 

 

 
BACK Home page CTO Main Page Search the Site Glossary of Telecom Terminology Quick Find All Telephone Systems

Last revised: August 20, 2023

FM2