Tasmania - Colonial period: 1857-1900.
Ordinary rate delivery form: TC-DO-5.

 
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: Form number T. No. 8 used only on the last printing.
TASMANIA above
POST AND TELEGRAPH which spans the crest.
Message area: 25 numbered boxes in 5 lines.
Reverse side: Blank.
Colours (text & form): Black on white.
Size of form overall: 183 × 183 mm (without tab).
Size of datestamp box: 26 × 30 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of this form:
 
5A Scottsdale TC-DO-5A.

Ringarooma to Scottsdale.
26 August 1896.

Characteristics:

  • no form number;
  • POST is outdented slightly to the left of "NO. (of words)";
  • has serrated edge at left.

Has a one line serif Office name Stamp (just above the boxes to the right) -
see Scottsdale.

 

Amazing telegram message -

"Can I inter body. Awaiting reply".

CT-DO-5Ab TC-DO-5B.

Orford to Hobart
19 July 1902.

Annotated 1/- COLL(ECT) for charges to pay.

Characteristics:

  • no form number;
  • TASMANIA has letters closer together - for example S and M and I and A;
  • POST is indented to right of "N (No. of words)";
  • font in more rounded than for DO-5Aa;
  • heading is 148 mm wide;
  • has serrated edge at left.
TC-DO-5Ac TC-DO-5C.

Moonee Ponds, Vic to Launceston.
21 July 1900.

Characteristics:

  • no form number;
  • POST is indented to right of "NO. (of words)";
  • heading is 152 mm wide.

 

 

DO-5c complete
A very rare complete form with the tab/butt at the left for recording the message details.
This form and that for TC-DO-5D following are perhaps the only complete (DO-5) forms still in existence as no others have been sighted.

Used at Apslawn for a telegram from Campbell Town on 19 April 1902.
The Apslawn date stamp is in manuscript as usual for 1902.

TC-DO-5B TC-DO-5D.

Mt. Magnet to Hobart
11 November 1903.

Characteristics:

  • incorporates a form number for the first time on a Taasmanian delivery form;
  • POST is indented to right of "NO. (of words)" like DO-5Ab;
  • has serrated edge at left.

Is a rare use of this datestamp on a telegram form.

TC-EO-2 env

Delivery envelope used for the 1903 Mt Magnet to Hobart telegram above.

Note the number "28" ties the two items together.


5C complete
A very rare complete form with the tab/butt at the left (Schedule number A6081...12) for recording the message details.
This form is perhaps the only complete (DO-5D) form still in existence as no other has been sighted.

Used at Kellevie for a telegram from Waratah on 24 June 1904.

Provenance: Clemente, Johnstone.

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number
Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
DO-5A None. 26 August 1896 at Scottsdale. NC
DO-5B None. 16 April 1902 at Launceston. NC
DO-5C None. 21 July 1900 at Launceston. NC
DO-5D None. 11 November 1903 at Hobart. NC