NC-DO-7

New South Wales - Colonial period: 1858-1900.
Ordinary rate delivery form: NC-DO-7.

General characteristics:

Heading and notes:	Heading has three lines starting "ISSUED../NEW.../COLONIAL...".
Message area:	Boxes numbered to 40 in 8 rows on both left and right sides of the form.
Reverse side:	Boxes numbered 45 to 110 in 14 rows on both left and right sides.
Colours (text & form):	Red on blue paper.
Size of form overall:	231 × 215 mm.

Distinctive characteristics of this form:

printed in red on blue paper;
curved heading for NEW SOUTH WALES ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH;
has NSW Stores number St 637 at left above the top line;
has boxes numbered to 40 on the front and numbered to 110 on the reverse side;
has 13 regulations printed towards the base on the reverse side;
the main distinctions across the varieties are:
7A: no text at the base of the main "Telegram from ..." box;
7B: two lines of text at the base of the main "Telegram from ..." box and 13 Regulations on the reverse side;
7C: two lines of text at the base of the main "Telegram from ..." box and 13 Regulations plus a SPECIAL DELIVERY note on the reverse side;

The general format instituted here became the standard for all following NSW delivery forms.

NC-DO-7Aa and 7Ab.

Manilla to Tamworth
(19 December 1879).

One of the earliest uses of a NSW date stamp on a telegram.

Characteristics of DO-7A:

Another example of NC-DO-7A was used to provide a detailed account of one of the Kelly incidents.

NC-DO-7A (reverse side).

Characteristics:

NC-DO-7Aa - reverse side, top left corner:
St. 637 on the front but no stores number above (Line) 45 on the reverse side.

NC-DO-7Ab - reverse side, top left corner:
Stores number St 637 above (Line) 45.

The distinguishing characteristic between DO-7Aa and DO-7Ab is the absence or presence of the Stores number on the reverse side.

NC-DO-7B (a, b, c and d).
Windsor to Sydney
(21 September 1882).

Scarce Sydney date stamp on a telegram. This form is DO-7Bb.

Characteristics of DO-7B:

has additional text at the base of the "TELEGRAM FROM ..." box which starts "(You are requested to give no fee...)";
13 regulations at the base on the reverse side (like for
DO-7A).

NC-DO-7Ba - reverse side, top left corner:
No stores number above (Line) 45.

7Bb
NC-DO-7Bb and DO-7Bc - reverse side, top left corner:

NC-DO-7Bb has Stores number 627 above (Line) 45.
NC-DO-7Bc has Stores number 637 above (Line) 45.

NC-DO-7Bd - reverse side, top left corner:
Stores number St. 2147 above (line) 45.

NC-DO-7C.

Parramatta to Mudgee
(21 August 1885).

Characteristics:

has additional text at the base of the "TELEGRAM FROM ..." box which starts "(You are requested to give no fee...)";
has 13 regulations on reverse side as well as an added regulation for SPECIAL DELIVERY (see below);
has Stores Number St. 637 left justified above the line on the front and St. 937 in the top left box and immediately below line (45) on the reverse side.

NC-DO-7C (reverse side).

Characteristics:

NC-EO-5B.

Delivery envelope for telegram above from Parramatta.

Very rare franking on such a cover.

Details of use and rarity.

Form sub-number	Schedule number	Earliest recorded date	Rarity rating
DO-7Aa	St. 637 on the front only.	25 January 1879 at Windsor.	R
DO-7Ab	St. 637 on the front and reverse side.	5 April 1882 at Windsor.	RR
DO-7Ba	637 on the front and no stores number on the reverse.	10 May 1884 at Windsor.	R
DO-7Bb	637 on the front and St. 627 on the reverse.	31 July 1880 at Sydney.	R
DO-7Bc	t. 637 on the front and St. 637 on the reverse.	13 May 1882 at Windsor.	R
DO-7Bd	St. 637 on the front and St. 2147 on the reverse.	4 August 1884 at Windsor.	R
DO-7C	St. 637 on the front and St. 937 on the reverse.	21 August 1885 at Mudgee.	R