reduced postage

[inquisition]

Does anyone remember back in the 1950's when you could send an unsealed card for a halfpenny less than standard postage or is my memory playing tricks on me?

[mike11111]

No, your memory is not playing tricks. The rate for postcards and unsealed letters was a halfpenny less. I don't know the reasoning behind this but I still have the stamped, self-address postcard I had to give to the school to receive my O level results in 1964. It has 2 x 1d and 1 x ½d stamps, when the full letter rate was 3d.

[Cowtipper]

I knew you were old Mike but I didn't know you had one foot in the grave already. 1964? Was it in hieroglyphs?

[mike11111]

Cheeky sod! I'll have you know I am one of the younger members on this site. Mind I must confess that when I studied Latin and Greek they were classed as modern languages!

[Cowtipper]

I tried to look up "cheeky sod" in Google translate. Apparently they only speak American English. I'll just assume that means "supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus ".

[mike11111]

"Cheeky" means impertinent. "Sod", literal meaning a lump of turf, is used in England as a mild term of abuse.

[Cowtipper]

Ah. Old country stuff. From an old man. How quaint. :P I knew what it meant I was just attempting humor. Like this comment. I'm not that far behind you, but I'll never be as old as you :D

[mike11111]

Verily thou art an insolent scurvy knave,and poltroon. I shall stap thy vitals with my poignard erelong, sirrah!

[Cowtipper]

I actually understand that better than modern Br. English. The first time I heard "taking the Fosters out on some one" I heard it as "taking a Fosters on someone". Then I found out it wasn't really that different.

[Cowtipper]

Gah, the language filter is killing me. The other day I got my boa ruffled.

[mike11111]

Fosters is a very new term. Derived from an Australian lager which is supposed to taste like the word for which it is substituted.

[Cowtipper]

We have Foster's here. I don't drink it though. It just doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

[atalanta]

I always understood that the cheap rate applied only if you wrote five words or less.
"Happy Birthday, love, Aunty Tess"
The postman could open it to check.

[heathfield]

That was for postcards, Atalanta, when more than 5 words cost more to send.

[NOX]

According to my mother in law that's correct , hence you often sent cards unsealed but letters sealed.

[boxtops]

Mike, we had to give a brown envelope, not a postcard - but same year as you.... ;-)

[mike11111]

I don't remember a word limit. Letters as well as postcards could be sent unsealed. I always opened my sealed birthday cards first as I knew there would be money in them.

[ABerrant]

mike11111 - you seem to be better at remembering events from 1964 than those from 8 months ago!

http://www.theanswerb...y/Question934732.html

[mike11111]

I had not seen that thread. I believe the five word restriction for reduced rate had gone out by the 50s. I don't predate that period. I have in my possession a postcard from the early 60s with many more than 5 words, sent at the reduced rate.

[ABerrant]

You may not remember seeing that thread but yours is the 11th answer!

[mike11111]

Oh dear. Just realised I posted on that thread! I plead Old Timer's disease.