Tasmania - Colonial and Interim periods.
Administration envelopes: TC-EA-1 & 2.


In 1894, the Telegraph Department merged with the Postal Department to form the Post and Telegraph Department.

Two types of envelope are therefore known - produced to support the respective administrations of the Telegraph Department:

  1. Colonial envelopes with the words TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT;
  2. Interim-period envelopes with the words POST & TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT.

1. Telegraph Department.

Has the return address in the lower left corner as Telegraph Department/ Tasmania.

These envelopes also had a blue embossed crest of the Telegraph Department impressed into the flap on the reverse side. Engraved by Hermann Dürre of Melbourne.

Probable die proof of the embossed design used on the flap.

Mounted on thin card.

Diameter: 21 mm.

Die proof
TC-EA-1

TC-EA-1.

Hobart for local delivery.
Hobart duplex of
15 September 1893.

Also has an ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH Frank Stamp in violet.

Characteristics:

  • has large red R in a circle in top left corner;
  • reverse flap has an embossed blue ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH crest.

Size: 79 mm × 135 mm.

Used: March 1887 to 31 October 1902.

TC-EA-1 seal  
Tel Dept
Addressed to the Telegraph Office.
TC-EA-1.

Hobart to New Norfolk
28 February 1895.

Reverse TC-EA-1 (reverse).

Reverse side of the above administrative cover showing the beautiful heavily embossed flap decoration.

 

2. Post & Telegraph Department.

Has the return address in the lower left corner as Post and Telegraph Department/ Tasmania.

 

 

  Seal on the flap of the Registered cover above.
TC-EA-1
Provenance: Clemente.
Spink Sale 20 September 2016 Lot 269.

TC-EA-2.

Wynard to Launceston.
4 July 1898.

Addressed to the Telegraph Office at Launceston.

Characteristics:

  • heading is ON PUBLIC SERVICE ONLY;
  • has a note "To be used on Post & Telegraph business only";
  • size: 79 × 138 mm;
  • reverse flap is blank.

 

P&T cover TI-EA-3.

Registered cover from Hobart to South Melbourne
7 April 1905.

Characteristics:

  • heading changed to ON HIS MAJESTY'S SERVICE;
  • reverse flap is plain.