Every radiogram transmitted should bear a number. When a radiogram is filed at your station for transmission, complete all parts of the preamble except the number, leaving this blank. When you send the radiogram, assign a number to it from the number sheet, crossing out numbers on the sheet as they are used and making a notation, after the number, of the station to whom the radiogram was sent and the date. Such a system is convenient for quick reference purposes. Most traffic handlers start with number 1 at the beginning of each year.
Every radiogram has a precedence in amateur procedure.
It is a separate part of the preamble and is transmitted as such, not as part of the number. Handling stations should agree on the check before the message is considered handled. Full information on checking radiograms is given later. If a message is sent to your station by mail or otherwise not filed in person, the preamble should show the place the radiogram originally came from. Any radiogram received at an amateur station by any means other than Amateur Radio is an origination when put on an amateur circuit by that station.