Australia - Establishment period: 1917-1922.
Reply paid delivery form: AE-RO-2.

  
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: Form number E.T. No. 3.
REPLY PAID TELEGRAM in 4 mm high font.
Message area: Blank - occupies 75% of message area.
Reverse side: Blank.
Colours (text & form): Black on dark green.
Size of form overall: 144 × 208 mm.
Size of datestamp box: 26 × 32 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of this form:
 
AE-RO-2A.

Hobart to Brisbane
13 April 1923.

Top half of form only.

Characteristics:

  • lower edge is serrated and lower form has been detached to enable the paid reply to be sent;
  • heading is 9 mm long;
  • no full stop at end of heading.

 

Datestamp with rare format RC4 - Hobart in violet.

Made by a rubber stamper for use in the Telegraph Office (RC-4).

Has an unusual scalloped inner band with a single circle on the outside.
AE-RO-2B.
Original telegram section for a message from C.E.T.O Melbourne to Horsham on 8 February 1924.

Has stop after main heading.

Serrations at the base for the REPLY SECTION.
AE-RO-2B AE-RO-2B.
Bendigo to M.O.Richmond.
29 December 1923.

Has the same format as the form above. The Reply Paid section has been torn off along the serrations at the base.

The important feature of this form is that the message begins with the word URGENT. The message also ends with the words REPLY PAID URGENT in accordance with the Regulations.

As noted previously, there was no special form for the urgent rate.

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number		 Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
RO-2A None 13 April 1923 at Hobart. RRR
RO-2B None 29 December 1923 at Richmond. RRR