South Australia - Colonial period: 1855-1900.
Ordinary rate delivery envelopes: SC-EO-5.

 
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: TELEGRAPHIC DESPATCH spanning Crest.
Reverse side: Blank - no flap seal.
Colours (text & envelope): Red on cream.
Size of envelope overall: 80 × 138 mm (with some variation).
Distinctive characteristics of this form:
 
EO-5 SC-EO-5.
Used 31 August 1898.
Arrival backstamp for London
3 October 1898.

Used delivery envelope.

Characteristics:

  • IMMEDIATE is in the top left corner;
  • has entries indicating amounts to be collected (if any) in the lower left corner.

 

Date stamp in top left corner is for TELEGRAPH OFFICE/ADELAIDE (also on 31 August).

Provenance: Spink May 2015
Lot 2174.

EO-5 Crest SC-EO-5 - details of the Crest.
  • Crest is oval horizontally;
  • the Crown on the top of the shield is slightly curved;
  • Lion is facing towards the shield;
  • animals and the circumference of the shield are heavily shaded;
  • the tails are thinner and the decorations under the rear feet are considerably simplified.

SC-EO-5.
Used 4 March 1905.

Arrival backstamp on reverse is a very different format from the above example for TELEGRAPH OFFICE/ADELAIDE (here on 4 March 1905).

Provenance: Spink May 2015
Lot 2174.

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number
Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
EO-5 None 31 August 1898. R
Stamped: RRRR
(2 covers known).