AE-EU-2

Australia -Establishment period: 1917-1922.
Urgent rate delivery envelope: AE-EU-2.

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Special aspects

General characteristics:

Heading and notes:	No form number. URGENT TELEGRAM with three lines of charges details.
Message area:	Plain except for the window.
Reverse side:	Blank.
Colours (text & envelope):	Red on white/grey.
Size of envelope overall:	90 × 146 mm (approx - see below).

Distinctive characteristics of this form:

window envelopes;
all three types have the provision for CHARGES on the front;
thick red borders on 3 or 4 sides;
reverse side is plain;
has a security pattern printed inside;
the main distinctions between the varieties are:
2A: URGENT TELEGRAM is at left in small font and is neither boxed nor underlined;
2B: URGENT TELEGRAM is at left in large font and is underlined;
2C: URGENT TELEGRAM is at right in medium sized font and is boxed.

These envelopes were the first window design issued by Australia. The use of a window in an envelope had been approved by the Universal Postal Union in 1921 and approved for Australia on 1 January 1922. They were introduced for telegrams in 1923.

	AE-EU-2A. No information about printing date but window envelopes were introduced in 1923. Characteristics: heading is left justified but not underlined; has thick borders on three sides; window is surrounded by a thick border; flap is pointed with straight sides; window and border are 40 mm high.
Flap for the above delivery envelope showing the sharp, pointed peak and the straight sides.	AE-EU-2A (flap). Details of the flap for the above delivery envelope.
	AE-EU-2B. No information about printing date. Characteristics: heading is left justified and double underlined; has thick borders on all sides; window has no border; flap is rounded with curved sides; window is 35 mm high.
	AE-EU-2C. No information about printing date. Characteristics: URGENT TELEGRAM justified right and has a double lined octagonal frame; CHARGES TO PAY at left; has thick borders on all sides; window has no border; flap is rounded with deeply curved sides; window is 41 mm high. The envelope was printed by at least two printers (see below). There were only very minor, trivial differences between the two printings.
	AE-EU-2C(flap). Details of the flap for the above delivery envelope including the printer's (CLEAR VIEW) insignia.
	AE-EU-2C (flap). Details of the flap for the above delivery envelope including the printer's (INVICTA REGISTERED) insignia.

Details of use and rarity.

Form sub-number	Schedule number	Earliest recorded date	Rarity rating
EU-2A	None.		RR
EU-2B	None.		RR
EU-2C	None.	6 February 1931 at Prahran, Vic with AB-DU-3B.	RR