Australia: 1927-1988.
Images of Hermes.

Hermes is regarded in many ways throughout literature.

Hermes' attributes and symbols include the herma, the rooster, the tortoise, satchel or pouch, talaria (winged sandals), and winged helmet or simple petasos, as well as the palm tree, goat,
the number fourHence four rows of images below!!! :-)., several kinds of fish, and incense. However, his main symbol is the caduceus - a winged staff intertwined with two snakes copulating and carvings of the other gods which he shares with Iris.

See Wikipedia for much more and such interesting information.


Depictions of Hermes on Australian telegrams.

The images of Hermes, as depicted below, were always on the reverse side of the telegram delivery form.

The earliest inclusions of the Hermes image on a telegraph form were:

  • on a transmission form - AB-TO-7D printed in November 1934.
  • on a delivery form - AB-DO-7Bc printed in November 1933.


    • Format 1: Circular blue frame and the area behind Hermes is shaded.
    Hermes_1_blue
    On ordinary rate delivery form
    (AB-DO-7Bc) printed in November 1933.    		 Blue image:
    Circular frame and shaded background.

    Diameter: 25 mm.
    Height: 34 mm.


    Format 2A: Circular black frame is and the area behind Hermes is not shaded.
    Type_2_unlined
    On ordinary rate transmission form
    (AB-TO-7D - C.1237) printed in November 1934.         		Black image.
    Circular frame and unshaded background. Hermes leaning forward.

    Diameter: 17 mm.
    Height: 24 mm.


    Format 2B: Circular blue frame and the area behind Hermes is not shaded.
    Type_2_blue On ordinary rate delivery form
    (AB-DO-8Eb) printed December 1933.         		Blue image.
    Circular frame and unshaded background.
    Hermes leaning forward.

    Diameter: 18 mm.
    Height: 24 mm.



    Format 3A: Elliptical blue frame and the area behind Hermes is unshaded.
    Hermes_3_blue
    On ordinary rate delivery form
    (AB-DO-7Be) printed April 1936. During this printing the change was made to orange.         		Blue image:
    Oval frame and unshaded background.
    Hermes leaning forward.

    Diameter: 16 mm.
    Height: 28 mm.

    Reverse side of AB-DO-7Be with elliptical frame for the Hermes design.
    Printed April 1936 and used at CTO Sydney on 18 August 1936.


    Format 3B: Elliptical orange frame and the area behind Hermes is unshaded.
    Hermes 3A_orange
    On ordinary rate transmission form (AB-DO-8G) printed October 1935.     		Orange image:
    Oval frame and unshaded background.
    Hermes leaning forward.

    Diameter: 16 mm.
    Height: 28 mm.


    Format 4: Elliptical orange frame and the area behind Hermes is unshaded.
    Hermes is standing more upright.
    The raised arm is straighter and thinner than for the previous image and there are less body markings/decorations.
    Type_4_orange
    On ordinary rate delivery form
    (AB-DO-8B) printed October 1939.         		The September 1940 printing of transmission form AW-TO-9A was the last to print the Hermes logo on the reverse side.

    Diameter: 17 mm.
    Height: 30 mm.

    Reverse side of delivery form AB-DO-8H printed in October 1939.


    The October 1939 transmission form (AB-TO-8B) was also printed without the Hermes logo and the reverse side was blank.