New South Wales: 1856 - 1900.
Technical details of the 1893 stamped transmission forms.

Details on this page describe, for both the 6d form (NC-TO-8) and the 1/- form (NC-TO-9) issued in 1893:

    1. the background of the images for the stamp indiciums;
    2. 6d die proofs;
    3. 1/- die proofs;
    4. 1/- plate proofs;
    5. printing of the forms;
    6. Use of the forms.

The stamp images.

The images adopted for the two telegram forms had originally had been prepared by De La Rue. They showed the Queen Victoria design for both:
  • the 6d (first issued in 1872);
  • the 1/- (first issued in 1876).

The designs had been engraved in the usual way and die proofs taken.
At least for the 1/- design, plate proofs were also taken.

 6d lilac
6d mauve.
 1 bob
1/- black.

Both stamp designs had been replaced by the issue of the Centennial series in 1888-89 - about five years before the decision to introduce the stamped transmission forms.

 

6d die proofs.

It is claimed only 6 die proofs for the 6d design were made from the final die by De La Rue. All recorded examples are from the De La Rue Archives.

Corin 1870

6d black sunken die proof for the completed die.

Sunken into the white card and covered with a piece of mica (see darker mark in front of the Queens chin).

Card is struck with BEFORE HARDENING and dated FEB, 28. 1870.

  • Velvet Collectibles, October 2013, Lot 356.
  • Corinphila Besaçon Collection, May 2018 Lot 3107.

Only recorded example of this format.

6d black sunken die proof for the completed die.

Same as above but this example does not have a mica cover.

 

Abacus Auctions, August 2019, Lot 33 (part).

6d black die proof for the completed die.

The Card is struck with BEFORE HARDENING and dated Mar 11, 1870.

 

Another black die proof (not sunken) is also recorded dated FEB 26 1870.

Spink February 2013 Sale, Lot 519
(from the Hutson Collection).
Bright mauve

6d bright mauve (first colour issued) on glazed card.
60 × 92 mm. Rare.

One of two examples recorded in this colour.

  • Spink February 2013 Sale, Lot 519 (from the Hutson Collection).
  • Millennium Auctions April 2007, Lot 17;
  • Corinphila Besaçon Collection, November 2018, Lot 3155.

6d bright mauve (first colour issued) on glazed card.
60 × 92 mm. Rare.

The die proof is rotated slightly counterclockwise and there are some aging marks in the top left corner.

One of two examples recorded in this colour.

  • Corinphila 'Dubois" Collection, June 2023, Lot 220068.
6d brown

6d pale brown die proof on glazed card.
60 × 91 mm. Rare.

Two examples are recorded in this colour.

  • Spink April 2004 Sale, Lot 629.
  • Spink February 2013 Sale, Lot 519 (from the Hutson Collection).
  • Millennium Auctions,
    November 2012, Lot 679;
    April 2013, Lot 272;
  • Spink Sale 18047, Lot 57
    from the Chartwell Collection;
  • Corinphila Besaçon Collection,
    May 2018, Lot 3108.
  • Millennium July 2019, Lot 69.

 
6d ochre yellow

6d yellow-ochre die proof on glazed card.
60 × 91 mm. Rare.

One of two examples recorded in this colour.

  • Spink September 2004 Sale, Lot 1069 (from the Ron Butler Collection);
  • Spink February 2013 Sale, Lot 519 (from the Hutson Collection).
  • Millennium Auctions:
    November 2012 Lot 680;
    April 2013, Lot 273;
    July 2018, Lot 66.
  • Corinphila Besaçon Collection, November 2018, Lot 3155.

 
Green

6d green die proof on glazed card.
61 × 92 mm.

Produced for the 1871 International Exhibition at South Kensington.

Two examples are recorded:

  • Spink February 2013 Sale, Lot 519 (from the Hutson Collection).
  • Prestige Philately November 2006, Lot 438;
  • Millennium Auctions April 2007, Lot 17;
  • Mossgreen Sale February 2017 Lot 331.
  • Corinphila Besaçon Collection, May 2018, Lot 3108.

6d pale rose

6d pale rose die proof on glazed card.
60 × 92 mm.

One of two examples recorded in this colour.

Has small hand stamp for E.F.H./HARPENDEN on reverse.

Spink February 2013 Sale, Lot 519
(from the Hutson Collection).

6d blue die proof on glazed card.
61 × 91 mm.
Only example recorded in this colour.

  • Spink September 2004 Sale, Lot 1069 (from the Ron Butler Collection);
  • Millennium Auctions April 2007, Lot 15;
  • Prestige Philately Rarities Auction, June 2009, Lot 102.
  • Millennium Auctions, April 2020, Lot 108.

6d bright yellow die proof on glazed white card.
61 × 91 mm.
Only example recorded in this colour.

  • Dubois Collection, Corinphila Sale 302, November 2023, Lot 30061.

 

1/- die proofs.


Dated AUG 11. 1875.

  
Clear corners 1s 1/- die proof on glazed card. Corners uncleared.
60 × 92 mm. Very scarce.

Provenance: Slade Slade.

Millennium Auctions November 2012 Lot 685.

A second example has the left upright of the u and the left part of the g as being indistinct or missing. It was offered by Corinphila in May 2018 as Lot 3109 (from the Besaçon Collection). It had also offered by Spink in September 2004 Sale as Lot 1070 (from the Ron Butler collection).

 

Dated AUG 13. 1875.Aug 13 1/- die proof on glazed card.
Handstamped AUG 13 1875 and
BEFORE HARDENING.
60 × 92 mm.

Status Auctions February 2007 Lot 1444..

 

1/- die proof on glazed card.
Handstamped AUG 13 1875 and
BEFORE HARDENING.
60 × 92 mm.

The A and g of AUG are doubled underneath.

Millennium Auctions November 2012 Lot 686.
Abacus Auctions September 2019 Lot 38.

Dated AUG 16. 1875.

Gibbons Aug 16
1/- die proof in black dated AUG 16. 1875.
Stanley Gibbons June 2018 Direct sale.
Also possibly Velvet Collectibles October 2013 Lot 357.

Printing of BEFORE HARDENING is faint.

Prestige
1/- die proof in black dated AUG 16. 1875.
Prestige Philately Rarities Auction, April 2010, Lot 112.
Spink Sale 4028 as Lot 1070 (from the Ron Butler collection).
Mayfair Philatelic Auctions, January 2020, Lot 705.

Printing of HA and of NG is doubled.
There is also a third die proof with the date of August 16 marked BEFORE HARDENING.

It too is printed with a counter-clockwise rotation. There is a mark about 2 cm to the left of the lower left corner of the image and another mark at the edge just above the right of G of HARDENING. In addition, the BEF of BEFORE is clearer and the HA of HARDENING is not double printed.

Stanley Gibbons Spring Sale April 2021, Lot 326 and December 2023.
There are two other die proofs are dated AUG 17 and stamped AFTER HARDENING.
One was twice dated "Aug. 17, 1875" and offered at the Spink September 2004 Sale as Lot 1070 (from the Ron Butler collection). The other was offered at Millennium Auctions April 2007 as Lot 19 but dated once (at an angle and with a faulty A(fter).

A single die proof on thin card (the same as for the above die proofs) together with the vignette of the head only showing slight engraving differences.

Abacus Auctions, August 2019 Lot 33 (part).
single A single die proof is known on a similar card to that above,

 

Blue 1s

1/- pale blue die proof on glazed card.
60 × 92 mm.

Two examples recorded.

  • Spink September 2004 Sale, Lot 1070 (from the Ron Butler Collection);
  • Spink February 2013 Sale Lot 520 (from the Hutson Collection);
  • Millennium Auctions November 2012 Lot 688.
  • Corinphila Besaçon collection, May 2018,
    Lot 3110.
Violet Corin
 1/- pale lilac die proof on glazed card.
60 × 92 mm.
  • Spink September 2004 Sale, Lot 1070 (from the Ron Butler Collection);
  • Millennium Auctions November 2012 Lot 687.
  • Corinphila Besaçon Collection, May 2018 Lot 3110.
1/- green die proof on glazed card.
60 × 92 mm.
Slightly soiled along the base due to the De La Rue printing works being subject to the German bombing raids in World War 2.
  • Spink February 2013 Sale, Lot 520 (from the Hutson Collection);
  • Millennium Auctions July 2019 Lot 71.

There are two examples of this colour known. Both have the central image rotated slightly clockwise. The other example does not have such edge soiling.

  • Dubois Collection, Corinphila Sale 320 November 2023 Lot 30063.

 
1/- black die proof on glazed card.
60 × 92 mm.
  • Spink February 2013 Sale, Lot 520 (from the Hutson Collection);
  • Spink May 2018 Sale, Lot 57 from the Chartwell Collection;
  • Millennium Auctions July 2019 Lot 72.

1/- red-brown die proof on glazed card.
60 × 92 mm.

Spink September 2004 Sale, Lot 1070 (from the Ron Butler Collection);
Corinphila "Dunpois collection" June 2024 Sale, lot 40056.

Both the die and the printing plates were dispatched by De La Rue to the Government Printing Office in Sydney.

 

1/- plate proofs.

Sheets of plate proofs with two panes per sheet were printed by De La Rue in green and left imperforate.
The June 1936 letter accompanying the interpanneau strip below indicates that "one sheet each of the of these two proofs on watermark and no watermark paper were deposited with the Sydney Treasury on the 19th of January 1876".

The proofs were made during September 1875 and were submitted to the New South Wales Government together with the printing plate.

Given the variations below, it might be asued that there were four sheets printed.

Unwatermarked paper. 1s no wmk
Plate proof in a block of 4 from the right pane.
Light green.		 plate 1
Plate proof in a block of 4 from the lower left corner. Gummed.
Green.
Has plate number (control) '1'.

Gartner, June 2018, Lot 11638.

  blk 3 no wmark
Imperforate plate proof.
Right marginal block of 4 in green.
Unwatermarked gummed wove paper.

Margin endorsed in pencil "Proof 19.1.76".

Spink Sale February 2013 Lot 521 (the Hutson Collection) .
Stanley Gibbons Direct Sale, June 2018.
 


Imperforate plate proof strip of 4.
Unwatermarked gummed wove paper.
Abacus sale May 2024, Lot 416.

Special documentation for the inter-panneau strip of 4 is included elsewhere.
Crown over NSW
upright watermark.		 1s wmk
Plate proof from right pane in darker green.
  
Crown over NSW inverted watermark. Plate proof from lower left corner of right pane in darker green.
  

Crown over NSW reversed watermark.

 

rev wmark
Scan of reverse side of the lower left proof.

Inv wmarkImperforate plate proof.
Lower left corner block of 4 from the right pane in green.
Ungummed. Watermark reversed.

Extra margin endorsed in pencil "local G.P.O. proof (to Treasury) 19.1.76.

Probably only one such sheet was printed.

Spink Sale February 2013 Lot 521 (the Hutson Collection).
Stanley Gibbons Direct Sale, June 2018.

Printing details.

The basic telegram transmission form was of the same design as the 1893 transmission form with the new POST AND TELEGRAPH heading (NC-TO-7). There were 35 numbered boxes for the message on the front and from box number 36 to 110 on the reverse side.

The pre-printed telegram forms were printed by the NSW Government Printer on the same "Quadruple Demy" paper used for the non-stamped transmission forms. They were delivered to the Post and Electric Telegraph Department on 23 February 1894 and issued to the public on 27 February.

The first printings in February 1894 were very large:

At that time, over 2 million telegrams were being sent in New South Wales.

The six electros used for each of the forms were formally destroyed on 28 October 1904.

Usage.

The pre-printed forms were not popular - as was the case in the other three Colonies which had issued similar stamped stationery. Very few forms were actually sold and no used example is known. They were withdrawn from sale in 1898 - almost certainly in late November 1898.

Number of pre-printed telegram forms sold.
Year 6d forms 1/- forms
1894 8,180 36,900
1895 43,120 171,480
1896 38,140 164,840
1897 30,320 183,900
1898 19,320 115,860
Totals 130,420 757,120
Source: Personal communication from Dingle Smith.

A communication from Dingle Smith contained the following:

"The large stock of forms stored at the Government Printing Office alarmed William Applegate Gullick when he was appointed the Government Printer in November 1896.  The 2½ tons of forms were stacked on the floor and lacked the security that would normally be given to such items.

The archives contain a sequence of requests from Gullick for permission to destroy such a large and unwieldy surplus stock. Permission was finally forthcoming and on the 15 January 1898 the bulk of the stored forms was pulped at the Waterloo [Paper] Mills. This form of destruction was used as the normally practice of supervised burning was inappropriate for such a large mass of paper!

It was then with surprise, and one imagines to the annoyance of the Government Printer, that on 1 February 1898 the Postmaster-General ordered 10,000 6d forms and a further 50,000 1/- forms on 7 April 1898. These required reprinting the forms".