VC-DO-19

Victoria - Colonial period: 1854-1900.
Post Office Telegraphs ordinary rate transmission form VC-TO-10.

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Special aspects

General characteristics:

Heading and notes:	No Form number. Has usual POT, Victoria heading above FREE BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT.
Message area:	Boxes only.
Reverse side:	Printed with space for address.
Colours (text & form):	Red on cream.
Size of form overall:	106 × 214 mm.

Distinctive characteristics of this form:

Special form for use to inform the identification of a communicable disease;
forms were issued bound into books with tabs. Possibly bound into a book as forms are serrated at top and left/right. The side serrations were to enable closing with a gummed tab;
although the forms are clearly marked for free postage, many were delivered with Postage Due stamps;
no schedule number;
has a fancy scroll at the left where it was attached to a booklet but this is generally covered when form is closed for mailing.

In the late 1890s, there were a number of outbreaks of communicable diseases - especially Typhoid, Diphtheria and Scarlet Fever.

The easiest way to ensure doctors could convey the required information was to use a specially designed Telegram form. These could be posted to the nearest Telegraph Office and sent at no cost – as established by Act 1098 of the Victorian Parliament, Section 125.

Occasionally a usual form would be used - presumably when none of the pre-printed forms was available.

There are two formats:

TO-10A: date is __189_;

TO-10B: date is __190_.

	VC-TO-10A. Malmsbury to Metcalf. 9 August 1897. Inside section of the form to inform the Municipal Shire Secretary of a case of Scarlet Fever. Characteristic: has date printed as ____ 189___; fancy scroll at left.
	VC-TO-10A. Outside section of the above form showing it had posted and accepted with no stamp - as was the intention. Has date stamps for Kyneton and Metcalfe - both 10 August 1897.
	VC-TO-10B - showing exterior of form. Maryborough for local delivery. 22 April 1904. Inside section of the form to inform the Municipal Shire Secretary of a case of Typhoid Fever. Has 1d Postage Due below printed "FREE BY ACT No. 1098, Sec 125". Characteristic of format inside: has date printed in the same place as for the above but as ____ 190___.
	VC-TO-10B. Outside section of the above form showing it had been charged 1d Postage Due for lack of postage and the stamps was affixed on the top of the printed "FREE BY ACT No. 1098, Sec 125".
	VC-TO-10B. Melbourne (Hospital) to North Melbourne. 7 May 1903. Outside section of another form notifying health authorities of a case of Typhoid in an 11 year old boy. Has a 1d rose Postage cancelled at Melbourne 10.

Details of use and rarity.

Form sub-number	Schedule number	Earliest recorded date	Rarity rating
TO-10A	None	9 August 1897 at Malmsbury.	NC
TO-10B	None	7 May 1903 at Melbourne.	NC