3. Commercial goods—
| Weight. | Miles. | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | 4-6 | 7-9 | 10-12 | 13-15 | 16-18 | 19-21 | 22-24 | 25-27 | 28-30 | |
| Pounds. | Gr. | Gr. | Gr. | Gr. | Gr. | Gr. | Gr. | Gr. | Gr. | Gr. |
| 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 |
| 3 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| 10 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 13 | 17 | 23 | 24 | 32 | 38 | 44 |
| 100 | 14 | 24 | 34 | 50 | 58 | 70 | 79 | 90 | 110 | 124 |
The weight was calculated for each pound up to 10 pounds, then for 15 pounds and 20. For parcels weighing more than 20 pounds the rate increased for each 10 pounds.
4. Valuable goods, e.g. gold, silver, cloth of gold, brocade, were charged double the rate for commercial goods.
In 1741 a parcel rate was established in Brunswick and Lüneburg, based simply on weight and distance, without reference to the nature of the contents.[439]
The Prussian rates of 1712 continued in force until 1762, when a general revision of postal rates was necessitated by the financial difficulties resulting from the outbreak of the Seven Years' War. The rates for ordinary commercial transport in Prussia rose to such a degree that the post, still working on rates fixed in 1712, became the cheapest means of transport.
Consequently the parcel post traffic increased, but it was found that the expenses of the service were not covered by the revenue derived from the parcels. The rates were accordingly increased on the simple plan of raising them all by 100 per cent. (except in Ostfriesland, where the increase was 50 per cent.). A further revision of the rates was made in 1766. Apart from the fact that the rates were further increased, this revision was in many respects beneficial, since it introduced
a uniform and definite rate for the whole country.[440] In 1770 the rates of 1712 were restored.
Up to this time the rates had been based partly on the actual length of the post routes, partly on the time occupied by the post-messengers in traversing the routes. They therefore varied according as the roads were good or bad.[441] In 1801 a mathematical measurement of the roads of Prussia was made, and thereafter the time factor was eliminated and the rates based on distance only. The distance was measured, not in a direct line, but by way of the post routes.