Australia.
Delivery envelopes - background details.


Envelopes were prepared in various locations and often the finish of the envelope was more dependent on the printer than on the requirements of the order. Most distinctively, printers were able to cut the shape of the envelope into one pattern with their "knife" which produced a distinctive design on the flap.

There are eight distinctive patterns for the flaps of Australian delivery envelopes. Often two patterns are known on the same issue which simply reflects two different printers - or at least two different machines - were used to fulfil an order.

The patterns can be summarised as follows:

Round curved
Example: AE-EU-2C.		 Point: rounded.
Sides: deeply curved.

Height: 50 mm.
Width - bottom: 147 mm;
Wide curved
Example: AW-EO-14.		 Point: rounded and very wide.
Sides: curved.

Height: 39 mm.
Width - bottom: 138 mm;
EO-18a Point: rounded and gradual taper.
Sides: straight.

Height: 33 mm.
Width - bottom: 137 mm;

The shallowest flap of any of the delivery envelopes.
pointed medium
Example: TX 65A		 Point: rounded and wide.
Sides: slight curve.

Height: 51 mm.
Width - bottom: 146 mm;
rounded slight
Example: AW-EU-6b.		 Point: rounded and narrow.
Sides: slight curve.

Height: 53 mm.
Width - bottom: 145 mm;
Ponted straight 1
Example: AA-EU-9Ab.		 Point: rounded and sharper.
Sides: straight.

Height: 53 mm.
Width - bottom: 145 mm;
pointed straight
Example: AE-EU-2A.		 Point: pointed.
Sides: straight.

Height: 49 mm but, by 1967, 46 mm..
Width - bottom: 145 mm;
Rectang flap Point: straight.
Sides: major curve.

Height: 31 mm.
Width - top: 70 mm; bottom: 134 mm;

Referred to as rectangular (although, strictly speaking, trapezoidal!!).
   
rectan straight
Example: AB-EU-3.		 Point: straight.
Sides: straight.

Height: 36 mm.
Width - top: 95 mm; bottom: 144 mm.

Also commonly described as rectangular.
NOTE: sizes are given for the envelope shown.
They might vary for the same shape on an envelope of a different overall size.