Australia: 1917-1988.
Slogan cancellations: Send Greetings by Telegram - Melbourne.


 

The SEND GREETINGS BY TELEGRAM slogan is recorded as being used in Brisbane from the first day of issue on 19 December 1932 (Circle) to 6 January 1940 (Box 4).

All 11 identified dies used at Melbourne with this slogan:

  • have a circle date stamp; or
  • are boxed with no code number.

Within each of the broad types of dies, there are various formats incorporating different letter positions, State references at the base and letter heights.

The listing below is generally chronological by type of format. The following Table provides a guide with hyperlinks:

 

Shape of date stamp Words at the base Earliest date Latest date % in Melbourne Census
Circle VIC. 20 December 1932   4%
  VICTORIA 18 December 1933 4 April 1935 34%
  VIC. AUST. 22 December 1937   4%
Box VICTORIA 6    
  Die 3 20 December 1938   2%
  Die 4 22 December 1936 6 January 1940 54%
  PAID 22 December 1938   2%

There are 50 examples of this slogan for Melbourne in the Census.

Datestamp: Circle.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription: VIC.

Earliest date of this format:
19 December 1932 (Occleshaw).

Latest date of this format:
20 December 1932.

Characteristics:
Die 4: Y to the right of G.

Number in the Census: 2.

Dec 20 VIC
20 December 1932.
Datestamp: Circle.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription: VICTORIA.

Characteristics:
Die 3: Y is over the G.

Only recorded date of this format:
19 December 1933.

Number in the Census: 1.

 

Cole
19 December 1933.

Datestamp: Circle.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription: VICTORIA.

Characteristics:
Die 4: Y to the right of G.

Earliest date of Melbourne Vic:
18 December 1933.

Earliest date of Melbourne Vic:
4 April 1935.

Number in the Census: 14.

Melb circle 1933
18 December 1933.
Has a double impression.

Datestamp: Circle.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription: VIC. AUST.

Characteristics:
Die 4: Y to the right of G.

Only recorded date of this format:
22 December 1937.

Number in the Census: 2.

Vic Aust
22 December 1937.

Datestamp: Box.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription:
VICTORIA (3 mm font).

Characteristics:
Die 3: the B (of BY) is under the GR (of GREETINGS);

The B (of BY) just overlaps the E of TELEGRAM;

The Y (of BY) is to the right of the G below.

Only recorded date of this format:
20 December 1938.

Number in the Census: 1.


20 December 1938.

Datestamp: Box.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription:
VICTORIA (3 mm font).

Characteristics:
Die 4: Y starts to the right of the G.
G (of TELEGRAM) is rounded.

Dates of use of this format:

  • 22 December - 24 December 1936.
  • 5 January 1937.
  • 4-6 January 1938.
  • 22-29 December 1939.
  • 6 January 1940.

Number in the Census: 13.

Round G
22 December 1936.

Datestamp: Box.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription:
VICTORIA (3 mm font).

Characteristics:
Die 4: Y starts to the right of the G.
G (of TELEGRAM) is thin.

Dates of use of this format:

  • 21 -28 December 1937.
  • 20 December 1938 - 6 January 1939.
  • 20 December 1939.

Number in the Census: 8.

Thin G
21 December 1937.

Datestamp: Box.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription:
VICTORIA (4 mm font).

Characteristics:
Die 4: Y starts to the right of the G.
G is narrow.

Only recorded date of this format:
29 August 1938.

Number in the Census: 1.

Melb box 1938
29 August 1938.

Datestamp: Box.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription: VICTORIA.

Characteristics:
Die 4: Y starts to the right of the G.

The information in the date stamp was rearranged several times - perhaps during date changes or repairs:

  • DD-MM is on the top line;
  • TIME is in the middle line;
  • YEAR is the third line.

The re-ordering is recorded for:

  • 6 January 1938;
  • 2 September 1938;
  • 5 January 1939 (2 examples - one is below).
Turnbull
6 January 1938.
The latest recorded date for the reordering of the lines in the MELBOURNE datestamp box for this slogan. Fishers Wax
5 January 1939.

Datestamp: Box.

Top inscription: MELBOURNE.

Base inscription: PAID.

Characteristics:
Die 4: Y starts to the right of the G.
TIME not included in the datestamp.

Only recorded date of this format:
22 December 1938.

Number in the Census: 1.

Melb Paid
22 December 1938.