Victoria - Colonial period.
Use of the PMG Frank Stamp on telegraph-related items.


 

On this page, details are provided about:
  1. the short history of Victorian Frank Stamps;
  2. the dies used for the design;
  3. the telegraphic-related stationery items to which the PMG Frank Stamp was applied.
Design Die 3

 

 

1. Brief historical background.

Frank Stamps were introduced to Victoria in 1864. They were for use on official mail sent from various governmental offices and agencies. Initially nine Government Ministries anf five military departments were issued with frank stamp. These numbers increased so that a total of 33 government departments were authorized to use frank stamps.

From 1864 to 1888, the frank stamps were impressed on official OHMS envelopes - and soon after occasionally on postcards and wrappers. Hand stamps were issued to the Departments by the Government Printing Office.

Printed frank stamps were used subsequently although the Postmaster-General's Department used printed franks from 1873.

The frank stamps were applied or printed in a number of different designs/electros and printing colors (black, red, violet and purple).

Frank stamps were withdrawn from use in 1902 when the new Post and Telegraph Rates act of 1902 came into effect on 1 November 1902.  As the Act required Government Departments at state and Federal level to pay postage costs, the frank stamps were replaced by adhesive stamps of regular issue which were perforated OS. 

See elsewhere for further detail about Victoria's Frank Stamps as well as in Geoff Kellow's The Stamps of Victoria (pp377-381).

Probably the best and most readily available reference is that prepared by Gary Watson and Torsten Weller as Mossgreen Catalogue for Sale 135 (especially Lots 177 to 303).

 

The Dies.

Five dies are considered to have been developed for the basic design:

Die Diameter (mm) Characteristics  
   

The first design used an oval and was struck on a Post Office Memorandum dated 7 March 1864.

The Mossgreen catalogue reference provides excellent background to the development of the frank stamp.

Oval
Mossgreen Sale 135 Lot 189.
Only recorded strike.

1 28.5
  • OF has no dashes to the left or the right;
  • no ornament below VICTORIA;
  • known used in blue and black from 1865 until 1877.
    Telegraphic-related usage is not recorded.
Die 1
5 January 1869.
Mossgreen April 2017 Sale 135, Lot 254.
2 29.5
  • OF has dashes to the left and to the right;
  • has small letters;
  • has separation lozenges;
  • VICTORIA stretches from R to M below;
  • has an ornament below VICTORIA which is continuous and has a separator extending above the ornament;
  • known used in blue from 1864 until Sept 1873 (see Mossgreen, Sale 135, Lot 254).

Die 5

3 29
  • OF has dashes to the left and to the right;
  • has large letters close to the frame;
  • has separation dots;
  • VICTORIA is 12 mm wide;
  • has an ornament below VICTORIA which is not continuous;
    lettering is closed to the surrounding frame;
  • known used in blue, black and red from 1871 until 1901.
   

Used in blue on telegraphic-related items (especially on postcards for Accounts Branch, Receipt for Telegram, etc):
16 February 1875 to 17 October 1895;

Die 3
18 February 1888.
Used on a postcard for a Receipt
for a Foreign Telegram
.

   

Used in black on telegraphic-related envelopes:
17 October 1895 - 16 July 1896..

Die 3 black
16 July 1896.
Used on a cover to Leipzig, Germany
but not uprated for the foreign destination.
Mossgreen April 2017 Sale 135 Lot 262.

   

Used in red on telegraphic-related items (especially on Telegram Delivery envelopes):
14 July 1896 to 4 December 1900.

Die 3 1900 red
4 December 1900.
Used in red on a TELEGRAPH MESSAGE
delivery envelope.

5 31
  • OF has dashes to the left and to the right;
  • has a 1 mm gap between the letters and the circular frame - especially noticeable under FRANK STAMP;
  • VICTORIA is 14 mm wide;
  • has an ornament below VICTORIA with the two parts separated by a dot.

 

Used in violet: 10 March 1893.

Used in blue: ??

Die 5
Used in blue on an undated "Salvation Army Free Labour Bureau" envelope.
Mossgreen April 2017 Sale 135 Lot 259.

 For the Postmaster-General's Department:

The stationery items used for the Frank Stamps.

ENVELOPES - headed:

    1. FOREIGN TELEGRAM;
    2. TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE;

POSTCARDS - headed:

    1. ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH OFFICE;
    2. RECEIPT FOR TELEGRAM;
    3. RECEIPT FOR FOREIGN TELEGRAM.
    4. ACCOUNTS BRANCH.

The stationery items are shown below together with more specific details.

Foreign Telegram.

Two types of envelopes were printed with this heading:

  • they are identical except for the entry for the date.
  • the Frank was Die 3 and it was printed in blue.

 

Foreign telegram 1 Foreign Telegram delivery envelope used in Melbourne for local delivery
(9 October 1883 - earliest recorded date for this envelope).

Characteristics:

  • envelope made from white laid paper;
  • Frank Stamp in printed in blue;
  • date in the lower left corner starts "188_";
  • has an albino Belt & Buckle seal on flap.

S & W 250.

Albino B&B The albino Belt & Buckle seal on the flap (darkened to highlight the embossed design).
NO IMAGE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE

Characteristics:

  • envelope made from white laid paper;
  • Frank Stamp in printed in blue;
  • date in LLC starts "188_";
  • has an albino Belt & Buckle seal on flap.
Telegraphic Message.

Three types of envelopes were printed with the TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE heading and a die 3 Frank Stamp. They are identical in most respects with the differences being in:

  • the printed date;
  • the seal on the flap.;
  • the colour of the Frank Stamp.
VC-EO-4
Delivery envelope printed in October 1872.
VC-EO-4.

Melbourne to Urana
16 February 1875.

Characteristics:

  • Delivery envelope headed "TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE" with printed date as 187_.
  • seal on the flap was the Crown on a pink ground (Special 1);
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed on the envelope in blue (S & W PMG type 980);
  • size 72 × 121 mm.

Earliest recorded use.

Flap special 1 The embossed Crown on a pink ground (15 mm diameter) showing round peak of flap below.
VC-EO-7
Delivery envelope printed in October 1878.
VC-EO-7.

Hamilton to Hochkirch
5 February 1883.

Characteristics:

  • Delivery envelope headed "TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE". Has a printing date of October 1878 but no provision for a date of use;
  • seal on the flap was the Crown on a pink ground as previously (Special 1);
  • not included in Steig & Watson.
  • size 72 × 121 mm.

 

NO IMAGE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE

Frank Stamp Die 3 printed on the envelope in blue (S & W PMG type 990);

size 88 × 138 mm.

Red Frank
NOTE: the outer circle of the Frank Stamp is broken at the right.
VC-EO-7.

Melbourne to P.O. Box Room (on reverse).
4 December 1900.

Characteristics:

  • Delivery envelope headed "TELEGRAPHIC MESSAGE". Has no printing date or provision for a date of use;
  • seal on the flap was a printed ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH OFFICE oval (Special 2);
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed in red on the flap (S & W PMG type 1000).
  • size 78 × 135 mm.
Flap special 2 The printed ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH oval
(31 mm major diameter).
  Need another with Her as title ...

Electric Telegraph Office.

Only one type of postcard was printed with this heading. The Frank was Die 3 and it was printed in blue.

 
NO IMAGE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE

Has heading "Her ..." and the date begins "188_".

Frank Stamp Die 3 printed on envelope in blue (S & W PMG type 10).

Receipt for Telegram.

Only one type of postcard was printed with this heading. The Frank was Die 3 and it was printed in blue.

Local Local 460
Unused postcard headed "ON HER MAJESTY'S SERVICE" followed by "RECEIPT FOR TELEGRAM".

ERD is 2 September 1887.

 

Characteristics:
  • postcard has provision on reverse side for a date of use "188_";
  • printed on buff card;
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed in blue (S & W PMG type 320).
  • size 83 × 128 mm.
Receipt for Foreign Telegram.

Three types of postcards were printed with this heading. All had the Die 3 Frank printed in blue. The heading of each type was "Her ...". The date for use was "188_" on the first two printings and "189_" on the third printing.

Foreign 1881_460 1881_460_rev
Unused postcard headed RECEIPT FOR FOREIGN TELEGRAM.

 

Characteristics:
  • Postcard headed "On Her Majesty's Service" at front;
  • has printing date of July 1881 and provision for a date of use as "Melbourne......, 188 ";
  • text in serif italic script font;
  • seal on the reverse side is TELEGRAPH Branch oval;
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed in blue on the front
    (S & W PMG type 370).
  • size 74 × 133 mm.
Foreign 2 460 188_Rev 460
Postcard for a RECEIPT FOR FOREIGN TELEGRAM used
on 18 February 1888 for a telegram from Berlin.
Characteristics:
  • Postcard headed "On Her Majesty's Service" at front;
  • has no printing date but a provision for a date of use as
    "Melbourne ......, 188 ";
  • text in serif italic font;
  • seal on the reverse side is TELEGRAPH Branch oval;
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed in blue on the front
    (S & W PMG type 380).
  • size 79 × 140 mm.
NO IMAGE PRESENTLY AVAILABLE

Characteristics

As above but date is "..., 189 ".

(S & W PMG type 390).

Post Office and Telegraph Department, Accounts Branch.

Accts 1883 reply Accts 1883 reply rev
Reply card for POST OFFICE AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT
ACCOUNTS BRANCH used on 19 December 1883 and cancelled with a Melbourne Victoria duplex.
Characteristics:
  • Reply card headed "On Her Majesty's Service" at front;
  • has no schedule number but has provision for a date of use as" ......, 188 ";
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed in blue on the front
    (not listed in S & W).
  • size 97 × 125 mm.
Accts - 1884 Accts 1884 rev
Postcard for POST OFFICE AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT
ACCOUNTS BRANCH used on 11 July 1884 (the month after printing) and cancelled with a Melbourne Victoria duplex.

NOTE the signatory is Samuel McGowan.

Characteristics:
  • Postcard headed "On Her Majesty's Service" at front;
  • has a schedule number of M.B. - No. 10./5000 - 6/84 and a provision for a date of use as"Melbourne ......, 188 ";
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed in blue on the front
    (not listed in S & W).
  • size 83 × 145 mm.
Accst small Accts small rev
Postcard for POST OFFICE AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT
ACCOUNTS BRANCH used on 17 October 1895 and cancelled with a Melbourne Victoria duplex.
Characteristics:
  • Postcard headed "On Her Majesty's Service" at front;
  • has no printing date but a provision for a date of use as
    "Melbourne ......, 18 ";
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed in black on the front
    (not listed in S & W).
  • size 74 × 128 mm.
Accts large Accts large rev
Postcard for POST OFFICE AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT
ACCOUNTS BRANCH used on 5 September 1895 and cancelled with a Melbourne Victoria duplex.
Characteristics:
  • Postcard headed "On Her Majesty's Service" at front;
  • has no printing date but a provision for a date of use as
    "Melbourne ......, 189 ";
  • Frank Stamp Die 3 printed in blue on the front
    (not listed in S & W).
  • size 92 × 141 mm.