The Fifteen-cent Prexie
Fourth class use
A number of fifteen-cent fourth class first pound rates were possible during the Prexie period, depending on the time sent and the zone. There was also a fifteen-cent COD one-pound book parcel rate from July 1, 1942 to March 25, 1944.
The item shown is part of a wrapper from a parcel sent locally in 1952. Fifteen cents is the correct local rate for the first pound from October 1, 1951 until October 1, 1953.
This portion of a wrapper cannot be dated and its weight cannot be determined, so it could have been sent at various times. Prior to March 26, 1944 it would have weighed seven pounds, between March 26, 1944 and January1, 1949 the one cent surcharge would have meant that the weight would have been six pounds, and mailed from January 1, 1949 to October 1951 the weight woud have been only two pounds.
There is only one logical combination of rates and weight that make sense for a fifteen cent franking on this portion of wrapper sent within zones 1 and 2 in 1939. Minimum insurance of five cents combined with eight cents for the first pound and 1.1 cents for the next pound or fraction thereof, gives 14.1 cents, rounded up to fifteen.