Victoria - Colonial: 1854-1900.
Delivery envelope: VI-EO-1.

  
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: No form number.
Heading is TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE which is reverse printed. Early printings in red while later printings were in pink. The font in the heading is 5 mm high.
Message area: Blank.
Reverse side: Blank - red seal on first printing.
Colours (text & envelope): Red on cream.
Size of envelope: 80 × 137 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of this form:

  Issue date of this envelope is unknown. As noted below, the first recorded use is 1911. Although there is no indication of Commonwealth of Australia, it is classified as an Interim period envelope until evidence to the contrary is obtained.

VI-EO-1A.

For delivery from the Bendigo Telegraph Office 6 December 1911. Delivery form is inside.

Characteristic:

  • has red seal printed on flap on reverse side.
Reverse side of the above delivery envelope showing the printed seal.

Same format as for DE-8 but thinly printed.
VI-EO-1B.

For delivery from Fitzroy 7 May 1917.

Has a small St. Kilda handstamp in the lower right corver - commonly used at telegraph counters.

Characteristic:

  • has no red seal printed on flap on reverse side.

Contains a message from Jim at the Mil(itary) Camp in Bendigo imploring Miss Morris not to miss the train.
VI-EO-1B.

Reverse side of the above St Kilda delivery envelope showing no printed seal.

 

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number		 Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
EO-1A None 6 September 1911 at Bendigo Telegraph Office. NC
EO-1B None 10 September 1915 at St. KIlda. NC