Registered Labels

Adhesive Registered labels were introduced into Australia for overseas mail in lieu of the 'R' handstamps in late 1908, The Queensland type was a framed rectangle, 43 x 21 mm with a large 'R' 15 mm high in a compartment about 11 mm wide at the left; near the top of the remaining space is the name of the post office in small serifed capitals about 1.5 mm high, and towards the bottom 'No', at left and the registration number at right. While the printing is in black, it is evident that the names and registration numbers were added later. The label is perforated about 9.5 all round but according to Campbell the sheets were imperforate at the edges. It is thought they were printed in strips of ten Campbell has listed this registered label as Q1. The earliest date seen so far is Rockhampton, 13 October 1908

Q1 in black

Later on a new but similar adhesive registered label was introduced. It was 39 x 12 mm with thinner lines and the 'R" in the left compartment is serifed about 10 mm high; in the section to the right, the name in serif letters is about 2 mm high, followed by a stop. At lower left is 'No.' and the registration number at lower right, evidently printed by the same or similar machine that printed the numbers on Q1. The numbers are in black but the rest of the printing is in red, and this is the easiest way to distinguish them from Q1. These labels are imperforate at the sides and rouletted top and bottom, being printed in strips of 10. Campbell has listed this registered label as Q2. The earliest date seen so far is Brisbane, 3 February 1911

Q2 in red

Further research has been done on these labels by Dr Kevin Burt, who had identified four Q1 subtypes (different numerals and roulettes) and two Q2 subtypes (different numerals). Further information is available in his book, "Post Office Registration Labels of Australia and its territories, including Papua and New Guinea" published by the Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria in September 2018.

For the Queensland period (1908 to about 1913) These labels are best collected on cover. Here is a list of post offices with registered labels seen by Campbell or myself and the known dates:

Albion Q1 - 14 April 1909
Albion Q2 - 10 August 1912 - 7 February 1913
Atherton Q2 - 26 April 1912

Banana Q1 - 24 May 1910
Bororen - Q2 - 9 December 1912 - 18 August 1913
Brisbane Q1 - 20 January 1909 - 12 September 1910
Brisbane Q2 - 3 February 1911 onwards
Bulimba - Q2  - 20 January 1913 listed by Campbell but not seen by me
Bundaberg - Q2 - 25 January 1913
Byrnestown - Q2 - 3 December 1912
Caboolture - Q2 - 14 February 1912
Cairns Q1 - 17 January 1910 - 1911

Cairns Q2 - 11 November 1912
Cardwell Q1 - 4 August 1910
Cardwell Q2 - 2 November 1911
Charters Towers - Q1 listed by Campbell but not seen by me
Charters Towers - Q2 - 25 August 1913

Chillagoe - Q1 listed by Campbell but not seen by me

Chillagoe - Q2 15 August 1913
Clifton Q2 - 5 August 1912

Dalby Q2 - 30 December 1912 - 11 January 1913
Degilbo Q2 - 9 December 1912
Didcot - Q2 - 9 December 1912
Dulacca - Q2 - 13 December 1912
Esk - Q1 - 12 May 1911
Finch Hatton - Q2 - 8 March 1912
Fortitude Valley Q1 - 21 November 1908 - 24 October 1910

Gargett Q1 - 27 January 1913 listed in Philately from Australia March 1960 p. 19 but not seen by me
Gatton Q2 - 20 May 1913
Gayndah - Q2 - 30 September 1912
George Street Q1 - February 1911

Geraldton Q1 - 13 March 1909

Goombungee Q2 - 3 November 1914
Gympie - Q2 - 20 September 1912
Halifax Q1 - 25 December 1908
Hambledon Junction Q1 - 23 March 1911
Hatton Vale Q1 - 18 April - 22 August 1911
Herberton Q2
Ingham - Q2 - 30 December 1911
Ipswich Q1 - 26 March 1909 - 9 April 1910
Isisford Q2 - 25 May 1918
Jundah Q2 - 3 December 1912
Kingsthorpe Q2 - 3 November 1914
Lake Clarendon - Q1 listed by Campbell but not seen by me
Mackay Q2 - 2 August 1922
Maryborough Q1 - 2 July 1910
Maryborough Q2 - 20 April 1912
Mossman Q2 - 3 May 1911

Mount Larcom Q2 - 16 November 1912
Mount Morgan Q1 listed by Campbell but not seen by me
Mount Surprise Q2 listed by Campbell but not seen by me

Mourilyan Q2 - 13 June 1912
Mungallala Q2 - 20 September 1912
Muttaburra Q2 - May 1911 - 1 July 1912
Nambour Q2 - 29 July 1911
Nambour Q1 - 27 December 1910
Nerang Q2 - 6 September 1913
One MIle Creek Q2 - 17 May 1914
Palmerville Q2 listed by Campbell but not seen by me
Parliament House Q2 listed by Campbell but not seen by me
Peak Crossing Q1 - 0 March 1911
Pialba Q2 - 2 September 1914
Port Douglas Q1 - 1912
Queenton Q1 - 1 February 1909 - 14 April 1910
Queenton Q2 - 1 September 1911
Rockhampton Q1 - 13 October 1908 - 3 April 1911
Rockhampton Q2 - 23 February 1912 - 14 November 1913

Roma Q2 - 26 September 1912
Southbrook Q2 - 13 September 1912

Spring Bluff Q1 - 9 November 1912 listed in Philately from Australia March 1960 p. 19 but not seen by me

Stanthorpe Q2 - 27 May 1912
Texas Q2
Thursday Island Q1 listed by Campbell but not seen by me
Thursday Island Q2 - 17 October 1911 - November 1913

Tingoora Q2 - 1912
Toowoomba Q2 - October 1911 - 30 December 1913
Townsville Q1 - 21 April 1909 - 24 November 1910
Townsville Q2 - 3 April 1911 - June 1913
TPO No. 1 Northern Railway Q2 - 19 September 1915
TPO No. 3 Western Railway Q2 - 12 October 1918 - 11 July 1921
TPO No. 6 Central Railway Q2 - 15 August 1932
TPO No. 7 S and W Railway Q2 - 6 August 1932
Warwick Q2 - November 1911 - 20 January 1912
Wetheron Q2 - 9 December 1912
Wondai Q2 - 12 December 1914
Wyandra Q2 - 10 December 1913
Wynnum Q2 listed by Campbell but not seen by me
Yatala Q1 listed by Campbell but not seen by me

Yungaburra Q2 - 13 January 1913 listed in Philately from Australia March 1960 p. 19 but not seen by me