Victoria - Colonial period: 1854-1900.
Post Office Telegraphs ordinary rate delivery form VC-DO-19.

 
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: No Form number.
Has usual POT, Victoria heading above FREE BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT.
Message area: Boxes only.
Reverse side: Printed with space for address.
Colours (text & form): Red on cream.
Size of form overall: 106 × 214 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of this form:
 In the late 1890s, there were a number of outbreaks of communicable diseases - especially Typhoid, Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever.

The easiest way to ensure doctors could convey the required information was to use a specially designed Telegram form. These could be posted to the nearest Telegraph Office and sent at no cost – as established by Act 1098 of the Victorian Parliament, Section 125.

Occasionally a usual form would be used - presumably when none of the pre-printed forms was available.

VC-DO-19A VC-DO-19A.

Malmsbury to Metcalf.
9 August 1897.

Informs the Municipal Shire Secretary of a case of Scarlet Fever.

Characteristic:

  • has date printed as
    ____ 189___;
  • fancy scroll at left.
VC-DO-19B Reverse VC-DO-19B - showing exterior of form.

Maryborough for local delivery.
28 November 1904.

Details on the other side inform the Municipal Shire Secretary of a case of Typhoid Fever.

Has 1d Postage Due below printed "FREE BY ACT No. 1098, Sec 125".

Characteristic of format inside:

  • has date printed in the same place as for the above but as
    ____ 190___.

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number
Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
DO-19a None 9 August 1897 at Metcalf and Malmsbury (on reverse). NC
DO-19b None 22 April 1904 at Maryborough, Vic. NC