Overview of NSW Colonial delivery envelopes

The following overview summarises:

Colonial period:

ordinary rate delivery envelopes;

administrative envelopes.

Interim period:

ordinary rate delivery envelopes;

urgent rate delivery envelopes.

Ordinary rate delivery envelopes - Colonial period.

NC-EO-1:

Heading is ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH DESPATCH.

Very plain front.

Black printing on grey or white paper.

Hancock hupothesises that the first delivery envelope for New South Wales had a heading of "New South Wales Electric Telegraph" either spanning a central Crest or positioned under the Crest. It is assumed it was printed in black on blue paper.

Hancock notes : "Examples .. have not been located but, from reports in old auction catalogues, they probably resembled the telegram forms then in use".

See a similar approach for the Queensland form and envelope.

NC-EO-2:

Has two octagonal frames with blue grounds which are embossed.

Heading is ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH DISPATCH which is embossed.

(Note: spelling has been changed).

NC-EO-3:

Heading is TELEGRAM, IMMEDIATE which is printed.

Printed on blue paper.

Has embossed seal on the flap on the reverse side:

outer oval of the seal has
NEW SOUTH WALES/ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH;
inner oval has one of 26 Telegraph Office names or SYDNEY or is blank.

Has DE LA RUE & Co, LONDON printed under the left side of the flap.

Has printed rectangular frame for the heading with decorations at the corners and midway along the top and bottom.

NC-EO-4:

Heading is TELEGRAM, IMMEDIATE which is printed.

Printed on blue paper.

Has a printed seal on the flap on the reverse side.

Hasa printed rectangular frame for the heading with decorations at the corners and midway along the top and bottom.

NC-EO-5:

Heading is TELEGRAM, IMMEDIATE which is printed.

Printed on white to cream paper.

Has a printed seal on the flap on the reverse side which is blank in the inner oval.

Has a printed frame for the heading in shades ranging from light blue through blue-green to green (later printings). The rectangular frame has decorations at the corners and midway along the top and bottom.