Australia - APO years: 1957-1975.
Confirmatory Copy envelopes: AA-EC-3.

  
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: Form number T.G. 65H which was replaced in 1970 with T.X. 65H.
TELEGRAM in top left corner with boxed "CONFIRMATORY COPY ..." underneath.
Message area: No slogans above or below rectangular window.
Reverse side: Two slogans.
Colours (text & envelope): Green on white.
Size of envelope overall: (A) 85 × 136 mm. (B) 90 × 145 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of this form:

 The main distinctions amongst the varieties are:

Format: Form number Flap design Top slogan Lower slogan
3A TG 65H Rounded and shallow for 3Aa. TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY ...
TO A TELEPHONE NUMBER		 PLEASE POST ...
3B TX (T.G.) 65H Pointed peak with straight sides. TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY ...
TO A TELEPHONE NUMBER		 PLEASE POST ...
3C TX 65H Rounded peak with straight sides. TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY ...
OR TELEX NUMBER.		 1872-1972
Adelaide-Darwin Overland...
3D TX 65H Rounded peak with straight sides. TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY ...
OR TELEX NUMBER.		 PLEASE POST ...
3E TX 65H   TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY ...
OR TELEX NUMBER.		 ADDRESS MAIL ...
POSTCODE
3F TX 65H   ADDRESS MAIL ...
POSTCODE		 TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY ...
OR TELEX NUMBER.
3G TX 65H Pointed peak with straight sides. None TO EXPEDITE DELIVERY ...

 

AA-EC-3Aa (65).  
AA-EC-3A AA-EC-3A_rev
Reverse side showing two advertisements and flap.
Characteristics:
  • printed in 1965 by Downlands Secretive.
  • form number T.G. 65H;
  • size is 85 × 136 mm;
  • flap is rounded and shallow;
  • top slogan on reverse mentions only "TELEPHONE NUMBER";
  • same schedule number (2948 - 65) is printed under the flap on opposite sides in two different printings.
 3AbAA-EC-3Aa (65): Schedule number printed on left.
AA-EC-3Aa_sch1AA-EC-3Ab (65): Schedule number printed on right.
AA-EC-3Ab (66) to AA-EC-3Ag (68):

Characteristics:

  • six printings by three companies for this format. Variations were mainly the location of the details printed under the flap - see code numbers in the table below;
  • form number T.G. 65H;
  • size is increased to 90 × 145 mm;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides;
  • top slogan on reverse mentions only "...TELEPHONE NUMBER";
  • lower slogan on reverse is same as for EC-3A - "PLEASE POST ...".
 AA-EC-3Ab-sch 66
AA-EC-3Ac (66): Printed in 1966 by DOWNLANDS SECRETIVE:
Detail under flap.
AA-EC-3B (70).  
AA-EC-3C
Printed in 1970 by B&P VANLINER OPAQUE.		 AA-EC-3C_sch
Characteristics:
  • change of form number to TX (T.G.) 65H;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides;
  • top slogan on reverse mentions only "TELEPHONE NUMBER";
  • lower slogan on reverse is same as for EC-3A - "PLEASE POST ...".

 

AA-EC-3C (71) - the Overland Telegraph commemorative.

  
AA-EC-3D
Printed in 1971 by SGGS GRAYSMITH.		 AA-EC-3D_rev
Reverse side showing Overland Telegraph annotation.
Characteristics:
  • form number changed to TX 65H;
  • flap is rounded with curved sides;
  • top slogan on reverse changed to include
    " ... A TELEPHONE OR TELEX NUMBER";
  • commemorative reference to the OVERLAND TELEGRAPH
    as the second slogan on the reverse side;
  • printer's logos under flap at left but some printings
    do not show the schedule number at right.
 AA-EC-3D_no sch
AA-EC-3Ca (71): No schedule number printed.
AA-EC-3D_sched
AA-EC-3Cb (71): Schedule number printed under flap at right.

 

AA-EC-3D.

  
C3
Printed in 1972 by SGGS GRAYSMITH.
Used at North Melbourne Telegraph Office 8 December 1975 (RRRR).

 AA-EC-3E_rev
AA-EC-3D (reverse side).

Characteristics:

  • form number continues as TX 65H to the last printing in 1975;
  • flap is rounded with slightly curved sides;
  • top slogan on reverse incorporates reference to TELEX and
    lower slogan is still "PLEASE POST ...".
  

 

AA-EC-3E (a to c).

  
AA-EC-3F-rev
Printed in 1973 - probably three printings by B&P.

Characteristics:

  • front is the same format as previously with form number TX 65H;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides;
  • top slogan on reverse is the same as previously and incorporates the reference to TELEX;
  • lower slogan is changed to "ADDRESS MAIL FULLY ..." and includes an explicit reference to using the POSTCODE.
 AA-EC-3F rev det
AA-EC-3Ea: no printer details and no schedule number.

 
AA-EC-3FbAA-EC-3Eb: no printer details but schedule number (5589/73) at right.
AA-EC-3Fc
AA-EC-3Ec: printer logo for B&P and schedule number (5589/73) at left.

The first format (EC-3Ea) was probably printed in early 1973.

The new wording for the second slogan incorporates POSTCODE and is the same for all three envelopes above - two certainly from 1973 printings. The flap design is also the same for all three envelopes. Details under the flap may therefore be added progressively.

  

 

AA-EC-3F.

  
AA-EC-3G_rev















Printed in 1974 by B&P Griffin.		 AA-EC-3G_sch
AA-EC-3Fa: Schedule number printed under flap at left.
AA-EC-3H_sch right
AA-EC-3Fb: Schedule number printed under flap at right.
Characteristics:
  • slogans on reverse side have been interchanged -
    "ADDRESS MAIL ..." has been moved to the top in small font
    and "TO EXPEDITE .." is at the base in large letters;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides.
  

 

AA-EC-3G.

  
AA-EC-3H_rev
Printed in 1975 by B&P Griffin.		 AA-EC-3H_sch

Characteristics:

  • only one slogan on reverse side - "TO EXPEDITE .." is at the base in large letters;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides.

 

 

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number		 Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
EC-3Aa (65) SCH C.T.B - 2948 - 65 (left)
(DOWNLANDS SECRETIVE)		   As previously, all type EC-3 Confirmatory envelopes are rated as C except those which are clearly dated and tied to a telegram form which are rated as RR.
EC-3Ab (65) SCH C.T.B - 2948 - 65 (right) (DOWNLANDS SECRETIVE)  
EC-3Ac (66) SCH. C.T.B. 3229 - 66 (right)
(DOWNLANDS SECRETIVE)		 6 July 1967 at Hobart.
EC-3Ad (67) SCH. C.T.B. 3229 - 67 (right)
(DOWNLANDS SECRETIVE)		 16 May 1968 at Telegraph Toowoomba.
EC-3Ae (68) SCH. C.T.B. 3773 - 68 (right)
(REDI-VIEW)		 19 January 1970 at Mount Gambier Telegraph Office, SA.
EC-3Af (68) SCH. C.T.B. 4135 - 68 (left)
(B&P VANLINER)		    
EC-3Ag (68) SCH. C.T.B. 4135 - 68 (right)
(B&P VANLINER)		 25 June 1970 at Hobart.  
EC-3B (70) SCH. C.T.B. 4135-70
(B&P VANLINER OPAQUE)		 11 November 1970 at Hobart.  
EC-3Ca (71) No schedule number.
(SGGS GRAYSMITH).		 20 December 1971 at Hobart.  
EC-3Cb 15654/71 (right)
(SGGS GRAYSMITH)		    
EC-3D 16214/72 (right)
(SGGS GRAYSMITH)		 8 January 1973 at Adelaide.  
EC-3Ea No schedule number.    
EC-3Eb SCH. CTB 5589/73 (right)
(No printer information)		 15 April 1976 at Hobart.  
EC-3Ec SCH. CTB. 5589/73 (left)
(B&P)		 30 January 1974 at Hobart.  
EC-3Fa SCH. CTB 5811-74 (left)
(B&P Griffin)		 30 December 1975 at Adelaide.  
EC-3Fb SCH. CTB 5811-74 (right)
(B&P)		 5 January 1975 at Hobart 2.  
EC-3G SCH. A.T.B. 6109 - 75 (right)
(B&P Griffin)		 23 May 1985 at Hobart.