NSW ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH date stamps

A number of oval date stamps were issued in New South Wales incorporating the words ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH or some variation of those words and abbreviations.

Formats also varied with ovals being either format RO2 or format RO7.

Click on the following hyperlink for details of the Australian classification scheme for Telegraph date stamps.

Most of these date stamps were used at the Central Telegraph Office in Sydney. Some were however used in regional offices. At present there is no listing of the various formats used in either type of office.

Examples are provided below for:

oval Elec(tric) Tel(egraph)Dep(artment) date stamps used at Sydney;
oval Electric Telegraph Office date stamps;
oval Electric Telegraph and other office names on date stamps used in regional areas.

Examples of large multiples to which the date stamps have been applied are also shown below.

Electric Telegraph Department.

There are at least five formats with this heading:

Format 1: RO2 - ETD (38 mm).

Top heading: ELEC. TEL. DEP.

Bottom heading: Sydney N.S.W.

Size: 23 mm × 38 mm (e = 0.80).

Used: 2 January 1886 to 29 January 1886.

Rated: RRR.

Number in Census: 1 pair & 3 blocks.

2 January 1886.
Detail of the block of 4 below left.
29 January 1886.
Detail of the block of 19 below.

2 January 1886.
Block of 4.
11 March 1886.
Block of 4.

3 January 1886.

Sydney N.S.W. 29 January 1886.
Block of 19 - largest recorded multiple with this date stamp.

Format 2: RO7 - ETD (51 mm).

Top heading: ELEC. TEL. DEP.

Bottom heading: Sydney N.S.W.

Size: 29 mm × 51 mm (e = 0.80)

Used: 25 January 1886 to 4 March 1886.

Number in the Census: 2 blocks.

25 January 1883.
Marginal pair of the 5/- Stamp Duty overprinted POSTAGE.
Provenance: Dave Elsmore.

4 March 18?6 (probably 1886).
Block of 8.

Electric Telegraph Dept. at the base.

Electric Telegraph Dept. is at the base.

SYDNEY is at the top of the inside scalloped border.

RO7-ETD.

Two line date.

1885 - 1887.

Electric Telegraph Depart. is at the top.

SYDNEY is at the top of the inside scalloped border.

RO7-ET

One line date.

1893 -1894.

4. Electric Telegraph Office.

Top heading: ELEC. TEL. DEP.

Bottom heading: Sydney N.S.W.

Electric Telegraph Office is at the base.

RO7-ETO.

Size: 38 × 50 mm (e = 0.65).

Used between 6 May 1887 and 1893.

Electric Telegraph Office.
6 May 1887.

Rated RRRR.

5. Electric Telegraph Office - Check Branch.

9 March 1886.

2 January 1886. Detail of the block of 4 below left.	29 January 1886. Detail of the block of 19 below.
2 January 1886. Block of 4.	11 March 1886. Block of 4.
3 January 1886.

Sydney N.S.W. 29 January 1886. Block of 19 - largest recorded multiple with this date stamp.