Australia - 1917-1988.
Overview of ordinary rate delivery forms.


There were 12 main types of ordinary rate delivery forms issued between 1917 and 1988 plus a very early form issued soon after Federation which is difficult to classify.

The images in the right column represent the general type of format for the heading of each of the issues. There are variations in colour and layout within each type of form.

Interim period.

AI-DO-1 Has the heading of COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA above TELEGRAM.

No reference to POSTMASTER-GENERAL in the heading.

No reference to a State name.

Form Number is E.T. 1.

AI-DO-1

 

Australian period.

AE-DO-1. TELEGRAM in capital letters in top left corner.
An instruction on how to open is above the heading.
Combined form and envelope design.

Form number E.T. No. 2 (although not printed on all forms).

Paper colour was usually green although some forms are blue-green.

ADO-1
AE-DO-2. TELEGRAM in capitals in centre.

Form number E.T. 2 in top left corner.

Heading occupies only 30% of the form and it has no separate sections.

 

ADO-2
AB-DO-3. TELEGRAM in capitals in centre.

Form number E.T. 2 in top left corner.

The heading occupies about 60% of the form and consists of two side by side sections plus a box for the date stamp.

 

ADO-3
AB-DO-4. New heading of RECEIVED TELEGRAM.

Form number E.T. 2.

The heading occupies about 50% of the form and it consists of three sections plus a box for the date stamp.

The date stamp box extends down past the horizontal line.

 

ADO-4
AB-DO-5. RECEIVED TELEGRAM heading.

Form number E.T. 2 - the last format with this number.

Heading occupies only 30% of the form. It has no separate sections.

 

ADO-5
AB-DO-6. RECEIVED TELEGRAM heading with a one line advertisement above.

Form number changed to T.G. 42.

Has "THE INFORMATION ON THE BACK OF THIS FORM WILL INTEREST YOU" across the centre of the form.

 

 

ADO-6
AB-DO-7A.

or

AB-DO-7B.
RECEIVED TELEGRAM heading.

Form number is either T.G. 42 or T.G. 42B depending on whether the form was produced in sheet form or in rolls. Printed in the top left corner.

Heading is one section plus the advertising box on the left and it occupies about 30% of the total form. Horizontal line is continuous and also includes date stamp box.


AB-DO-7
AB-DO-8. RECEIVED TELEGRAM heading.

Heading consists of three sections plus the advertising box and the date stamp box. It occupies about half of the total area.

There is an advertising box in the top left corner. The border for the box is either solid or double lines (both with rounded corners) or a single rectangular line.

Advertisements on the reverse are printed in either blue or orange - it was during the printing of the 1935 form that the changeover took place and so that printing is known in both colours.

 

AB-DO-8_menu
AW-DO-9. New heading of TELEGRAM.

Has advertising box at left for MONEY ORDER TELEGRAM. The text to the right of the heading is unboxed and relates to the date stamp.

 

ADO-9
AW-DO-10. Heading is TELEGRAM.

Has boxes on both sides of the heading - the left box is for conditions of receipt and the right box relates to the date stamp.

There were many variations almost each year this form was printed from 1943 to 1960. This link goes to a general summary page to link to specific issues by year.

ADO-10
Fatal Casualty. Heading is TELEGRAM within a box made up of many small squares.

Printed in deep purple on yellow paper. Has special accompanying delivery envelope.

AA-DO-11. New caption above TELEGRAM is
AUSTRALIAN POST OFFICE which is reverse printed in blue.
ADO-11
AA-DO-12. Caption above TELEGRAM is
AUSTRALIAN POST OFFICE which is direct printed in green.
AA-DO-12 menu
AA-DO-13. Heading on side mast began as
POST OFFICE AUSTRALIA COMMUNICATIONS
which is reverse printed. Variations on this heading include a change of order of these words and the direct printed
AUSTRALIAN POST OFFICE TELEGRAM.

Forms were all printed in continuous rolls.

ADO-13

 

Dirct Form 13D
AT-DO-14. Heading is TELECOM AUSTRALIA.

Printed in sheet format for pads.

AT-DO-14A
AT-DO-15. Heading on side mast is direct printed.

The first forms had only TELEGRAM while later forms also included a reference to TELECOM.

AT-DO-15A
  Printed in a continuous roll. AT-DO-15B