Queensland - Colonial: 1861-1900.
Ordinary rate delivery form: QC-DO-6.
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: No form number.
ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH, QUEENSLAND in gothic font below Crest.
Message area: Blank.
Reverse side: Blank.
Colours (text & form): Black on blue.
Size of form overall: 226 × 211 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of the form:

The message related to the departure of the schooner Lookout. She was 108 tons.
Some of the routes she serviced were:

Melbourne to Brisbane in May 1872 and March 1874 under the charge of Capt, H, Bastian.
On Friday 9 May, the Sydney Morning Herald advertised:
"WANTED. 40 to 60 tons FREIGHT Schooner LOOKOUT to Newcastle. Apply Markey Wharf".

Sydney-Auckland route under Captain Sullivan in May 1875;

The inter-colonial rate for the first 10 words was 4/- and 3d for each additional word.
Hence for this telegram of 12 words, the cost was 4/6.

DO-6A JJ
Provenance: Dave Elsmore.		 QC-DO-6A.

Sydney to Brisbane.
7 May 18??.

Characteristics:

  • has BRISBANE under heading;
  • both animals in the Crest have had their tails lowered.
QC-DO-6B QC-DO-6B.

Toowoomba to Townsville.
4 December 1872.

Characteristics:

  • does not have BRISBANE under heading;
  • the tails of both the Lion and the Unicorn in the Crest are raised high.

 

Delivery envelope for the above message - note the journal number "18" corresponds across both documents.

One of the few recorded examples of a set.

See QC-EO-2 for further details.

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number		 Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
DO-6A None 7 May 18?? at Brisbane. RRR
DO-6B None 4 December 1872 at Townsville RRR