Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope

Dead Letter Office Page

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelopes were used by the Brisbane Dead letter Office to return unclaimed mail back to the sender. A number of different types are known. All are extremely rare. Later examples were preprinted with registration markings. Griffiths has identified three different printings for type 5 (The Postal Stationery of Queensland p. 116). The last one shown (Returned Registered Letter Envelope type 1) has slightly different wording - 'Registered' instead of 'Unclaimed'.

Being on Her / His Majesty's Service, none of these envelopes had postage stamps affixed. However some of the receiving post offices were evidently confused as to the official status of these items as they have had tax marks applied.

Bernie Beston in March 1994 wrote an article in Philately from Australia, "Returned Registered Letters of Queensland", pp. 5-8 on these and it can be accessed here and is also reproduced below. The different types are as follows:

• Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 1 in blue - larger size (288 x 120 mm), no explanatory text (1890 - 1892) rated 3R

• Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 2 in blue - smaller size (155 x 108 mm), explanatory text (1890) rated 3R

• Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 3 in buff - smaller size, explanatory text (1895) rated 3R

• Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 4 in buff - larger size (280 x 123 mm), explanatory text (1909) rated 3R

• Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 5 on buff  linen-lined stock and printed Registered - smaller size (152 x 98 mm), explanatory text - "On her Majesty's Service" and a printed stamp box (1898 - 1899) rated 3R

• Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 6 on buff  linen-lined stock and printed Registered - smaller size (152 x 98 mm), explanatory text - "On His Majesty's Service" (1908) rated 3R

• Returned Registered Letter Envelope type1 in buff  and printed Registered - smaller size, explanatory text (1912) rated 3R

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 1

1890

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 1 rated 3R. Dated 23 May 1890. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 179 lot no 1292. Ex Griffiths

1892

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 1 rated 3R. Dated 1892. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 179 lot no 1293

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 2

1890

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 2 rated 3R. Dated 20 February 1890. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 3

1895

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 3 rated 3R. Dated 17 July 1895. Seen at Abacus auction no 234 lot no 27

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 4

1909

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 4 rated 3R. Dated 19 February 1909. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Unknown year

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 4 rated 3R. Courtesy of Dave Elsmore

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 5

1891

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 5 rated 3R. Dated 8 June 1891. Seen in Philately from Australia March 1994, p. 5

1892

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 5 rated 3R. Dated 30 November 1892. Seen in Philately from Australia March 1994, p. 6

1898

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 5 rated 3R. Dated 1898. Seen at Abacus auction no 240 lot no 616. Ex Griffiths

1899

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 5 rated 3R. Dated 10 April 1899. Seen in Philately from Australia March 1994, p. 6

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 5 rated 3R. Dated 12 April 1899. Seen at Abacus auction no 240 lot no 616. Ex Griffiths

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 6

1905

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 6 rated 3R. Dated 2 April 1905. Seen in Philately from Australia March 1994, p. 7

1908

Returned Unclaimed Letter Envelope type 6 rated 3R. Dated 23 August 1908. Seen at Abacus auction no 240 lot no 616. Ex Griffiths

Returned Registered Letter Envelope type 1

1912

Returned Registered Letter Envelope type 1 rated 3R. Dated 20 July 1912. Seen at Prestige Philately auction no 110 lot no 737