Australia - International - Eastern Extension.
Delivery form: IAX-DO-4.

  
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: Message form No. 5/-174.
"The Eastern ... Limited" above reference in small type to Cable and Wireless.
Message area: Blank.
Reverse side: Blank.
Colours (text & form): Red on cream.
Size of form overall: A and B: 220 × 214 mm;
C: 201 × 196 mm.
Size of datestamp box: 33 mm diameter.
Distinctive characteristics of this form:
 

As is noted elsewhere, Cable & Wireless Ltd took over responsibility for all telegraphic services within the British Empire.
That involved a gradual change in the heading of forms and envelopes especially. The Via Imperial designation was also added to replace the Via Cable and Via Beam silent advertisements.

DO-4A
Printed in England in September 1935.		 IAX-DO-4A.

To Balwyn, Victoria
4 February 1936.

Characteristics:

  • has / before the 174 in the top right corner;
  • font in heading is 5 mm high;
  • third line "Associated with ...." is in small text;
  • three lines of vertical text from lower left corner.

This form was the second printing of the delivery forms under the changed administration - the first being in September 1934 (see below).

Cable & Wireless Limited is included following the Eastern Extension heading and the new indicator Via Imperial - approved in April 1934 - has been added at the base.

It was presumably printed for use as single sheets;
3B DE
Provenance: Dave Elsmore.		 IAX-DO-4B.

Ballymenapo to Melbourne
15 January 1939.

Characteristics:

  • third line "Associated with ...." is in very small text;

Was sent at Letter Cable (LC) rate on 14 January at 10:15 am.

DO-3B
Printed in England in July 1938.		 IAX-DO-4C.

Auckland, NZ to Sydney.
6 November 1939.

Characteristics:

  • has no / before the 174 in the top right corner;
  • printed for use in (3,000) pads;
  • font in heading is 3.75 mm high;
  • third line "Associated with ...." is in large text;
  • three lines of vertical text from lower left corner.
  • "Mark your Reply" shifted about 9 mm to left compared to form DO-2A.
DO-4CPrinted in England in June 1941. IAX-DO-4D.

To Brighton, Victoria
30 November 1943.

Characteristics:

  • printed for use in (6,000) pads;
  • vertical text raised to level of map and now requires four lines of smaller font;
  • third line "Associated with ...." is in small text (as for 3A);
  • smaller size due to war-time paper restrictions;
  • font in heading is 3 mm high;

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number		 Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
DO-4A Sept. 1934 23 October 1937. R
  Sept. 1935 5/-/174. 4 February 1936 at C.T.O. Melbourne. R
DO-4B September 1937 (3,072) pads 5/-174 16 January 1939 at Melbourne. R
DO-4C July 1938 (3,000) pads 5/-174 6 November 1939 at Sydney. R
DO-4D June 1941 (6,000) pads 5/-174 30 November 1943 at C.T.O. Melbourne. R