Western Australia.
Oval date stamps produced for Cue.

Other listings of Cue oval date stamps list three formats. The formats were RO2, RO6 and RO7. The following analysis extends these previous classifications to eight distinct types. There were two different inscriptions at the top - either TELEGRAPH OFFICE or POST AND TELEGRAPH OFFICE (with variations). There were also the three different formats for the ovals.

Information which extends any of the statements is most welcome. An overview of date stamp classification and a description of eccentricity to measure their shape is provided elsewhere.

The Cue Telegraph Office opened in November 1894.

The date stamps are arranged below in order of inscription and then in order of complexity of design.

  1. Telegraph Office date stamps;
  2. Post and Telegraph Office date stamps.

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

RO2 - TO.

Two formats depending on the eccentricity of the oval - the lower the value, the more circular.
No separation markings between upper and lower inscriptions.

No W.A. after Cue but it is followed with a stop.

Used: 30 September 1946.

Sizes: 35 × 43 mm (e = 0.58).

Rated: RRRR.

No. in the Census: 1.


30 September 1946.
In violet.

Used: 13 October 1947.

Sizes: 34 × 54 mm (e = 0.78).

Rated: RRRR.

No. in the Census: 1.

13 October 1947.
In violet.
RO6 - TO.

Has stars for separation between upper and lower inscriptions.

Used: 28 November 1894 to 10 February 1897;

Size: 27 × 45 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 4 (where date is discernable).

Many of these date stamps are very light and the 9 is missing im many.

Telegraph Office.
28 November 1894.

Used on WC-DO-4Ca.

21 June 1895.
Telegraph Offive in violet.
On piece.
10 September 1895.
Telegraph Office in violet.
Used on WC-DO-4Ca.
RO7 - TO.

Has separations rosettes between upper and lower inscriptions.

Used in violet: 14 July 1898 to 10 January 1901.

Size: 25 × 38 mm (e = 0.75).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 5.

See rare use of both this format and format RO2-P&TO on the same delivery form.

14 July 1898.
Telegraph Offoce in violet.
Used on WC-DO-4C.

29 October 1898.
Telegraph Office in violet.
On piece.
Telegraph Office in violet.
10 January 1901.

Used on a rare international Cablegram form IWI-DC-1.
Some examples - especially the later ones, the C of CUE has no gap.


6 May 1899.
Telegraph Office in blue.
Used on WC-DO-5A.
12 September 1899.
Telegraph Office in blue.
Used on WC-DO-5A.
 

 
RO2 - P & TO.

Post & Telegraph Office.
Has "&" after POST.

Used in violet:: 16 February 1900
Used in blue: 24 November 1900.

Size: 29 × 43 mm (e = 0.74).

Rated: RRR.

Number in the Census: 4.

See rare use of this format and format RO7-TO on the same delivery form.


17 Jume 1988.
In blue.
Although few examples of this format are recorded, all have an overinked C or the letter had not been cut correctly.
24 November 1900.
In blue.
4 March 1901.
in violet.
RO6 - P and TO.

Has "AND" after POST and no space after "W.".

Used in blue: 28 March 1899.

Size: 30 × 50 mm
(e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

No. in the Census: 1.


Post and Telegraph Office - in blue.
28 March 1899.

Very rare use of 'AND' not '&'.

  
RO6 - P&TO.

Has "&" after POST.
No separation markings between top and lower inscriptions.

Used: 21 March 1902 to
1 September 1907.

Size: 29.5 × 50 mm (e = 0.81).

Rated: RRR.

No, in the Census: 2.


21 March 1902.
Post & Telegraph Office in purple.
1 September 1907.
Post & Telegraph Office in violet.
Used on WI-DO-2A.
RO7 - P & TO.

Letters in the outer area are larger than previously and extend beyond the horizontal diameter on both sides. Separation arcs are small dashes and they are indented from the ends and placed on either side of CUE WA.

Used in violet: 8 June 1905.

Size: 29 × 49 mm (e = 0.80).

Rated: RRRR.

No. in the Census: 1.
8 June 1905.
   
RO7 - P & TO.

Post & Telegraph Office in top border confined above horizontal diameter.

Type 1: Words in the top half of the outer ring are separated from words in the lower half by lozenges.

Used in blue: 13 July 1910 - 8 March 1913.

Size: 24 × 47 mm (e = 0.86).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 3.


13 July 1910.
Used on WI-DO-2Ba.
(separation lozenges can just be seen in the original).


12 January 1912.
Oval used in blue on an urgent rate telegram.
Note the small split in the LH of the inner scalloped ellipse.
8 March 1913.
Note the deterioration of the small split in the LH of the inner scalloped ellipse.

Used in red: 25 June 1918 - 22 August 1919..

Size: 24 × 47 mm (e = 0.87).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

  

25 June 1918.
22 August 1919.
Overinking on C of Cue.
RO7 - P & TO.

Post & Telegraph Office in top border confined above horizontal diameter but the lozenges for separation are moved a shortway into the lower half of the outer ring.

Used in violet: 21 March 1907 and 16 September 1912.

Size: 24 × 48 mm (e = 0.87).

Rated: RRRR.

Number in the Census: 2.

NOTE: the inner ring is broken at the LH end on both date stamps.
 
21 March 1907.
16 September 1912 - in violet.

No separation markings in outer ring.

Used in blue: 18 July 1916.

Size: 24 × 48 mm (e = 0.87).

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.


18 July 1916.

Has small vertical dash separation marks at either end of the outer ring.
NOTE: Month before Day.

Used in violet: 16 December 1931.

Size: 30 × 48 mm (e = 0.78).

Rated: RRRRR.

Number in the Census: 1.
16 December 1931.
Used on Commonwealth delivery form AB-DO-6A.