Victoria - Colonial period: 1854-1900.
Post Office Telegraphs ordinary rate delivery form VC-DO-16.

  
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: Form number E.T. No. 1.
Heading is
POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS, VICTORIA.
No Crest.
Message area: Either 20 or 28 boxes.
Reverse side: Blank.
Colours (text & form): Blue on cream.
Size of form overall: 145 × 223 mm.
Size of datestamp box: 34 × 34 mm (slight variations for type B and C).
Distinctive characteristics of this form:
 
CV-DO-16A
Probably printed during 1897.		 VC-DO-16A.
Bourke Street to Richmond
(1 February 1898).

Characteristics:

  • two lines of vertical text at left;
  • no form number;
  • two lines in top left box;
  • heading is underlined with a wavy line;
  • two lines beginning "This despatch ..." under heading;
  • 20 boxes for message in 5 lines;
  • "Times.." in lower left corner are in ordinary serif font.

 
CV-DO-16b
Probably printed during 1898.		 VC-DO-16B.
Camberwell to Telegraph Branch, Melbourne
(16 November 1898).

Characteristics:

  • two lines of vertical text at each side;
  • form number in top left corner;
  • two lines in top left box;
  • no line or text under heading;
  • 28 boxes for message in 7 lines;
  • "Times .."in lower left corner are in italic sans serif font.

Probably printed during 1900.		 VC-DO-16C.
Kew to Richmond
(23 May 1901).

Characteristics:

  • four lines of vertical text at left side;
  • form number in top left corner;
  • four lines in top left box;
  • no line or text under heading;
  • 28 boxes for message in 7 lines;
  • "Times .." in lower left corner are in italic sans-serif font.

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number		 Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
DO-16A None. 1 February 1898 at Richmond. C
DO-16B None. 20 June 1898 at Northcote. C
DO-16C None. 23 May 1901 at Richmond South. C