WESTERN UNION TELEGRAM PRINTING AND FOLDING
Print on light yellow paper, if possible, or newsprint.
Type name, address, message, etc.
Option 1: use built-in Acrobat form fields.
Option 2: delete default entries in Acrobat form and print telegram "blank." Then put blank
prop into an actual typewriter, or use your choice of word-processor / page layout
software with alternative fonts. Using a real rubberstamp for the date adds authenticity.
NOTE: sometimes telegrams were handwritten by the clerk, so you can also write the
message in longhand if desired.
After address, message, etc. are entered, trim the telegram to the correct size. Real
Western Union telegrams were 8 inches wide and 6
1
/2 inches high. Fold telegram
according the the diagram below. When properly folded, the telegram fits into a standard
#6
3
/4 window envelope. The name and address of the recipient should be visible through
the window.
TIPS ON TYPING TELEGRAMS: The first line of most telegrams was called the "check,"
and consisted of in-house Western Union codes and abbreviations indicating where the
message was sent from and how many words it contained. Telegrams were priced by the
word, so people used the smallest number of words possible. Many telegrams were sent
in code, since it was one way to convey lots of information with very few words. Standard
commercial code books were commonly available.
C
LASS
OF
S
ERVICE
This is a full-rate
Telegram or Cable-
gram unless its de-
ferred character is in-
dicated by a suitable
sign above or preced-
ing the address.
SIGNS
DL
Day Letter
NM
Night Message
PATRONS ARE REQUESTED TO FAVOR THE COMPANY BY CRITICISM AND SUGGESTION CONCERNING ITS SERVICE
NEWCOMB CARLTON, president J. C. WILLEVER, first vice-president
The filing time as shown in the date line on full-rate telegrams and day letters, and the time of receipt at destination as shown on all messages, is STANDARD TIME.
Received at Main Office. 608-610 South Saltonstall St.
Alway s
Open
HPLHS
WU30
Fold first here
Fold second here
RANDOLPH CARTER
ARKHAM MASSACHUSETTS
message
This HPLHS Prop Document is for entertainment purposes only. It is intended for personal use in role-playing games, and
you are free to customize and print copies for such purposes. Any commercial or illegal use of this digital file or the prop you can
make from it is entirely prohibited. Designed and implemented by Andrew Leman. ©2008 by HPLHS Inc. This work is licensed
under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license,
visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/us/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300,
San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. Questions? Ask them! leman@cthulhulives.org
www.cthulhulives.org
