Victoria - Colonial period: 1854-1900.
Post Office Telegraphs ordinary rate delivery form VC-DO-15.

 
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: Form number only on the last printing. Heading is
POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS.
Message area: 20 unnumbered boxes in 5 lines.
Reverse side: Blank.
Colours (text & form): Blue on cream.
Size of form overall: 187 × 226 mm.
Size of date stamp box: 35 × 35 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of this form:
 
CV-DO-15A VC-DO-15A.
Warrnambool to Richmond
21 October 1893.

Characteristics:

  • no form number
    above the left box;
  • date stamp box has its base level with the "Telegram from" line;
  • third line in "FOR..." is very close to the line above the boxes.

Message ends with "Reply Paid" and note in top LH corner indicates a cost for the reply of 2/10 has been paid.

CV-DO-15b VC-DO-15B.
Hawthorne to Kilmore
8 April 1895 duplex with barred numeral 54.

Characteristics:

  • no form number
    above the left box;
  • date stamp box has its base extending below the "Telegram from" line;
  • third line in "FOR..." is spaced away from the line above the boxes.
CV-DO-15v_env VC-EO-9.
Delivery envelope probably accompanying the above telegram.
CV-DO-15c VC-DO-15C.
Macedon Rail to Richmond
26 January 1897.

Characteristics:

  • has form number
    E.T. No. 1 above the left box.
  • date stamp box has its base extending below the "Telegram from" line;
  • third line in "FOR..." is spaced away from the line above the boxes.

 

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number
Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
DO-15A None 17 August 1893 at Maryborough. C
DO-15B None 23 August 1894 at Geelong. C
DO-15C None 27 January 1897 at Richmond. C