Australia: 1917-1988.
The Ornamental Greetings telegrams - forms and envelopes.


One of the great initiatives of the Australian Telegram service was the introduction in December 1929 of special decorative telegram forms to mark special occasions. This radical change was brought about by H.P. Brown's commitment to encourage people to make greater use of the general Post and Telegraph services.

The first special ornamental forms were to convey Christmas and New Year greetings but the use of these commemorative forms soon spread to include Birthdays, national anniversaries, etc.

Small books with examples of the forms then available were issued in 6 May 1937 and 1940 to advertise the service.

The forms can be accessed from the links below which are organised in the following order:

See also:

On 1 January 1937, a Deluxe telegram service for international telegrams was introduced between Australia and certain other countries. Examples of the designs are included elsewhere:

 

Christmas and New Year Greetings

Xmas 1929 Xmas 1931
The 1929 Christmas Greetings form was issued in single sheet form and with an opaque envelope. The 1931 Christmas Greetings form was issued in single sheet and roll form with a window envelope.
Xmas 1933 Xmas 1935
The 1933 Christmas Greetings form was issued in two sheet forms and in both opaque and window delivery envelope formats. The 1935 Christmas Greetings form was issued in sheet and roll form and with both opaque and window delivery envelope formats.
Xmas 1938 Xmas 1953
The 1938 Christmas Greetings form was issued in two sheet forms and in two types of window delivery envelopes. The 1953 Christmas Greetings form was issued in one format but without a matching delivery envelope.
Xmas 1956 Generic Xmas
The 1956 Christmas Greetings form was issued in one format
but without a matching delivery envelope.
Christmas Greetings envelopes with any of five designs above the window.

Birthday Greetings

Special forms to convey Birthday Greetings were introduced in 1934 and in 1939.

Birthday 1934 Birthday 1939
The 1934 Birthday Greetings form was issued in three form sizes/designs and two envelope formats. The 1939 Birthday Greetings form was issued in two form sizes and three envelope formats.

Mothers' Day Greetings

Special forms to convey Mother's Day Greetings were introduced in 1934, in 1937 and in 1939.

MD 1934 1937 MD
The 1934 Mother's Day Greeting form was issued in one format
with a matching opaque delivery envelope.

 

The 1937 Mother's Day Greeting form was issued in one format with a matching opaque delivery envelope.
1939 MD
The 1939 Mother's Day Greeting form was issued in one format for the form
and two formats for the delivery envelope.

Easter Greetings

AB-GE-34_menu The 1936 Easter Greetings form was issued in one format with a matching opaque delivery envelope.

 

Congratulations

1934 Cong Menu 1939 Cong Menu
The 1934 Congratulatory Telegram form was issued in two formats each with accompanying opaque and window delivery envelopes. The two formats were produced using different printing techniques. The 1939 Congratulations Telegram form was issued in one format for the form and in two formats for the delivery envelope.
1959 Cong Menu
The 1954 Congratulations Telegram form was printed in one format
for the form but there was no matching delivery envelope.

Social and Greetings Telegrams

AB-GS-36 AW-GS-54_menu
The 1936 Social Greetings form was printed in one format for the form and with both opaque and window delivery envelopes. The 1954 Greetings telegram was printed in one format and there were no matching delivery envelopes.

 

National Anniversaries

Anzac AB-GV-34_menu
The 1934 Anzac Day Greeting form was issued in one format with a matching opaque delivery envelope. The 1934 Victorian and Melbourne Centenary Greeting form was issued in one format with a matching opaque delivery envelope.
AB-GS-38_menu
The 1938 Sesqui-Centenary of New South Wales (aka Australia's 150th Anniversary)
Greeting form was issued in one format with a matching opaque delivery envelope.