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: straight line under the COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA and M in 4th vertical line of text begins after "r" of received in the 3rd line;
1B: wavy 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.

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.