Australia -Establishment period: 1917-1922.
Urgent rate delivery envelope: AE-EU-2
.

 
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: No form number.
URGENT TELEGRAM with three lines of charges details.
Message area: Plain except for the window.
Reverse side: Blank.
Colours (text & envelope): Red on white/grey.
Size of envelope overall: 90 × 146 mm (approx - see below).
Distinctive characteristics of this form:

 These envelopes were the first window design issued by Australia. The use of a window in an envelope had been approved by the Universal Postal Union in 1921 and approved for Australia on 1 January 1922. They were introduced for telegrams in 1923.

AE-EU-2A AE-EU-2A.

No information about printing date but window envelopes were introduced in 1923.

Characteristics:

  • heading is left justified but not underlined;
  • has thick borders on three sides;
  • window is surrounded by a thick border;
  • flap is pointed with straight sides;
  • window and border are 40 mm high.
Flap
Flap for the above delivery envelope showing the sharp, pointed peak and the straight sides.
AE-EU-2A (flap).

Details of the flap for the above delivery envelope.

AE-EU-2B AE-EU-2B.

No information about printing date.

Characteristics:

  • heading is left justified and double underlined;
  • has thick borders on all sides;
  • window has no border;
  • flap is rounded with curved sides;
  • window is 35 mm high.
AE-EU-2C AE-EU-2C.

No information about printing date.

Characteristics:

  • URGENT TELEGRAM justified right and has a double lined octagonal frame;
  • CHARGES TO PAY at left;
  • has thick borders on all sides;
  • window has no border;
  • flap is rounded with deeply curved sides;
  • window is 41 mm high.

The envelope was printed by at least two printers (see below). There were only very minor, trivial differences between the two printings.

AE-EU-2C flap AE-EU-2C(flap).

Details of the flap for the above delivery envelope including the printer's (CLEAR VIEW) insignia.

Invicta flap AE-EU-2C (flap).

Details of the flap for the above delivery envelope including the printer's (INVICTA REGISTERED) insignia.

 

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number
Schedule number Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
EU-2A None.   RR
EU-2B None.   RR
EU-2C None.   RR