VC-EO-1

Cover is franked with an 1854 6d dull orange Calvert woodblock which has large margins on three sides. It is tied by a "1" barred oval cancelation of Melbourne.
There is a sender's directive "Pr Mail Ship Red Jacket", a red crayon "5" credit and note to indicate that the cover was carried on the White Star contract Clipper Red Jacket from Melbourne on January 10 via Cape Horn to Liverpool (arriving on April 8). There is also a faint red "Australian Packet Paid Liverpool AP 8 56" datestamp.

Provenance: Cavendish Auction, 2017.
John H. Barwis.
Siegel Auctions February 2025 Lot 2063.
Johnstone.

VC-EO-1.

TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE in red on blue cover sent from Williamstown Office - Gellibrand's Point to Nottingham England.

Earliest recorded delivery envelope in Australia's telegraphic history.

Only known example of this format.

Characteristics:

printed on very thick blue paper;
shows Office address.
has colourless embossed Belt and Buckle seal on flap (see scan below).

VC-EO-1:

The reverse side of this cover has a red seal for the peak and two date stamps:

an oval Melbourne/Victoria of January 9 1856;
for Northampton of April 9 1856.

There are offsets on this reverse side for the printing on the front (at the top and here on the lower right corner).

Details of use and rarity.

Form sub-number	Schedule number	Earliest recorded date	Rarity rating
EO-1	None	9 January 1856 at GPO Melbourne.	RRRR

Heading and notes:	TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE in red block letters at top spanning the crest.
Message area:	Blank with station details in the lower left corner.
Reverse side:	Blank.
Colours (text & envelope):	red letters on blue.
Size of envelope overall:	82 × 132 mm.