VI-RO-1

Victoria - Interim period: 1901-1917.
Reply paid form: VI-RO-1.

General characteristics:

Heading and notes:	Form number E.T. No. 10. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA added above previous post office telegraphs colonial heading.
Message area:	8 lines of 4 boxes.
Reverse side:	Blank.
Colours (text & form):	Black on green.
Size of form overall:	144 × 212 mm (top section only).
Size of datestamp box:	35 × 35 mm.

Distinctive characteristics of this form:

no lines of text under the heading;
four vertical lines of vertical text at the left;
the main distinction between the two formats is:
1A: wavy line under the COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA and M in 4th vertical line of text begins after "r" of received in the 3rd line;
1B: straight line under the COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA and M in 4th vertical line of text begins before "r" of received in the 3rd line.

VI-RO-1A.

Ballarat to Maryborough.
24 November 1903.

Top section (original telegram) only.
Lower section returned to Telegraph Office and retained.

Characteristics:

VI-RO-1B.

Bendigo to Maryborough.
11 October 1904.

Top section (original telegram) only.
Lower section returned to Telegraph Office and retained.

Characteristics:

straight line with central decoration under COMMONWEALTH ... part of the heading.
the two long vertical lines at the left begin at the same vertical distance.

Details of use and rarity.

Form sub-number	Schedule number	Earliest recorded date	Rarity rating
RO-1A	None	24 November 1903 at Maryborough.	RRRR if a complete form with two sections. RR if one section used.
RO-1B	None	11 October 1904 at Maryborough.