Australia - APO years: 1957-1975.
Ordinary rate delivery envelopes: AA-EO-18.
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: Form number T.G. 65 in lower left corner which was changed in 1970 to T.X. (T.G) 65 and then in 1972 to TX 65.
TELEGRAM in top left corner.
Message area: No slogan.
Reverse side: Blank.
Colours (text & envelope): Blue on white.
Size of envelope overall: 90 × 146 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of the form:
This format was printed by various private printers and has the printer's name under the flap on either the left or the right side. The schedule number is also printed under the flap on the side opposite the printer's name.

The front and reverse sides of each envelope are shown to indicate the differences in font and security patterns.

The main distinctions amongst the formats used for these envelopes are:

Format: Form number
and placement		 Flap on reverse 1st slogan
on reverse		 2nd slogan
on reverse
18A T.G. 65 under window Curved flap TO EXPEDITE ... PLEASE POST ...
18B T.G. 65 to left of window Pointed peak,
straight sides		 TO EXPEDITE ... PLEASE POST ...
18C T.G. 65 to left of window Rounded peak,
straight sides		 TO EXPEDITE ... PLEASE POST ...
18D TX (T.G. 65) under window Pointed peak,
straight sides		 TO EXPEDITE ... PLEASE POST ...
18E TX 65 to left of window. Pointed peak,
straight sides		 TO EXPEDITE ...
(1st reference to TELEX)		 1872 - 1972
ADELAIDE-DARWIN ...
18F TX 65 to left of window and slightly below. Rounded peak,
straight sides		 TO EXPEDITE ... PLEASE POST ...
18G TX 65 under lower left corner. Pointed peak,
straight sides		 TO EXPEDITE ... ADDRESS MAIL ...
(1st reference to POSTCODE)
18H TX 65 to left of window and slightly below. Pointed peak,
straight sides		 ADDRESS MAIL ...
POSTCODE!		 TO EXPEDITE ...
18I TX 65 to left of window and slightly below. Pointed peak,
straight sides		 NONE. TO EXPEDITE ...
18J TX 65 to left of window and slightly below. Rounded peak,
straight sides		 NONE. TO EXPEDITE ...

 

AA-EO-18A.  
AA-EO-18Aa
Printed in 1965 by Downlands Secretive. 		AA-EO-18Aa_rev

Characteristics:

  • Form number T.G. 65;
  • overall size of envelope 80 × 136 mm;
  • TELEGRAM in thick sans serif letters 6 mm high;
  • window 49.8 mm high with mid-blue border;
 18A security
Characteristics (reverse):
  • top slogan is in a small thin font;
  • second slogan is in a larger font;
  • flap is rounded and shallow (33 mm wide);
  • structure of join is flat.
AA-EO-18B.  
AA-EO-18Ab
Printed in 1966 by Downlands Secretive.		 AA-EO-18Ab_rev

Characteristics:

  • Form number T.G. 65;
  • overall size of envelope 90 × 146 mm;
  • TELEGRAM in thick sans serif letters 6.3 mm high;
  • window 52 mm high with light blue border.
 BA Security
Characteristics:
  • both slogans as previously;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides.
The earlier of two used examples of this envelope.
It is dated 10 March 1975.
The other used envelope was also used at Exmouth but dated
5 September 1975.
Both are from the Katy Wild collection.
   
AA-EO-18C.  
AA-EO-18Ae
Printed in 1968 by BP Vanliner.		 AA-EO-18Ae_rev

Characteristics:

  • Form number T.G. 65;
  • overall size of envelope 89 × 146 mm;
  • TELEGRAM in thick sans serif letters 6 mm high;
  • window 49.7 mm high with light blue border.
 18 BC sec
Characteristics:
  • both slogans as previously;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides.
AA-EO-18D.  
18D 68
Printed in 1968 by Redi-View.		 18B rev

Characteristics:

  • Form number T.G. 65;
  • TELEGRAM in thinner sans serif letters 5.8 mm high and printed lower;
  • final letter "M" has legs spread out;
  • window 52 mm high with light blue border;
  • overall size of envelope 90 × 146 mm.
 18C sec
Characteristics:
  • both slogans as previously;
  • flap has a rounded peak with straight sides.
   
AA-EO-18E - the Overland Telegraph commemorative.  
AA-EO-18Ca (71)
Printed in 1971 by SGGS Graysmith.
Used 28 August 1972 at Melbourne.

AA-EO-18Ca(71)_rev
AA-EO-18E (71) - reverse side.

Characteristics:

  • top slogan introduces a reference to TELEX;
  • flap has a rounded peak with straight sides.

Characteristics:

  • form number changed to TX 65;
  • top slogan same as for previous version (EO-18B);
  • flap is rounded with curved sides;
  • 2nd printing has no Schedule Number.
 18E sch
Schedule number printed under flap at right.
AA-EO-18F.  
AA-EO-18C
Printed in 1972 by SGGS Graysmith.		 AA-EO-18Ca_rev
Reverse side of delivery envelope showing registration markings.

Delivery envelope used at Brooklyn Park, SA (16 August 1974).
Rare registered item.

Characteristics:

  • Form number changed to T.X. 65 printed slightly below
    and to the left of the window;
  • overall size of envelope 90 × 146 mm;
  • TELEGRAM in thick sans serif letters 6 mm high;
  • window 51 mm high with light blue border.
 18F sec

Characteristics:

  • top slogan "TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY ..." now includes a reference to "TELEX" and is printed in very small font across three lines;
  • flap has a round peak and slightly curved sides.
AA-EO-18G.  
18G
Printed in 1973.		 18G rev
AA-EO-18G (73) - reverse side.

Delivery envelope with a telegram used at (Telegraphs) Mortdale, NSW
(18 June 1976) but no explicit link between them.

Characteristics:

  • Form number T.X. 65 printed slightly below
    and partly under the window;
  • overall size of envelope 90 × 146 mm;
  • TELEGRAM in thick sans serif letters 6 mm high;
  • window 50.5 mm high with light blue border.
 18G sec

Characteristics:

  • flap is pointed with straight sides;
  • no printer's name;
  • lower slogan introduces a reference to the POSTCODE.
AA-EO-18H.  
AA-EO-CdPrinted in 1974. AA-EO-18Cc_rev

Characteristics:

  • Form number T.X. 65 printed away from the window;
  • overall size of envelope 90 × 146 mm;
  • TELEGRAM in thick sans serif letters 6 mm high;
  • window 51 mm high with light blue border;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides;
  • order of slogans is reversed with lower slogan printed in two lines.
 Ha sec
AA-EO-18Ha (74): Logo for B&P with schedule number on right.

AA-EO-18Cd_secAA-EO-18Hb (74): Logo for B&P Griffin with schedule number on right.
AA-EO-18I.  
AA-EO-18CePrinted in 1975 by BP Griffin. AA-EO-18I rev

Characteristics:

  • Form number T.X. 65 printed away from the window;
  • overall size of envelope 91 × 146 mm;
  • TELEGRAM in thick sans serif letters 6 mm high;
  • window 51 mm high with light blue border.
 18I sec

Characteristics:

  • top slogan "ADDRESS MAIL ..." has been removed;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides;
  • lower slogan printed in two lines.
AA-EO-18J.  
Printed in 1976 by Olympic.

Characteristics:

  • Form number T.X. 65 printed away from the window;
  • overall size of envelope 89 × 145 mm;
  • TELEGRAM in thick sans serif letters 6 mm high;
  • window 44 mm high with no border.
  • printing under the flap on right sdide only.

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number		 Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
EO-18A SCH C.T.B. . 2948 . 65
(Downlands Secretive).		   C
EO-18B SCH. C.T.B. 3229 - 66
(Downlands Secretive).		 8 July 1969 no identifiable Office but envelope has a large habdstamp " A CARD WAS LEFT ....". C
  SCH. C.T.B. 3229 - 67
(Downland Opaque).		   C
  SCH. C.T.B. 4135 - 68
(BP Vanliner).		 10 March 1975 at Exmouth, W.A. C
EO-18C SCH. C.T.B. 3778 - 68
(Redi-view).		   C
EO-18D SCH. C.T.B. 4135 - 70
(BP Vanliner Opaque).		 31 December 1970 at Flemington,Vic. NC
  No Schedule number.
(BP Vanliner)		    
EO-18E 15654/71
(SGGS GRAYSMITH)		 24 December 1971 at Hobart. R (used)
EO-18F 16214/72
(SGGS Graysmith).		 16 August 1974 at Brooklyn Park, SA. R (used)
EO-18G SCH C.T.B. 5598/73   C
EO-18Ha SCH. CTB 5811 - 74 (on left)
(BP Griffin).		   C
EO-18Hb SCH. CTB 5811 - 74.
(BP Griffin).		 18 September 1974 at Broadway, NSW. R (used)
EO-18I SCH. A.T.B. 6109 - 75.
(BP Griffin).		   C
EO-18J SCH. C. 8551/76.
(Olympic).		   R