Letters sent were copied into out-letter books. Regular series of books exist from the arrival of Governor Macquarie, with two earlier letter books of Lieutenant Governors Foveaux (NRS 933, [SZ760]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6001) and Paterson (NRS 934, [SZ757]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6001).

The earliest letter books form two series. Letters to persons around Sydney and overseas are together (NRS 935, [4/3490B-3491]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6002) as are letters to the distant settlements, Newcastle, Norfolk Island and Van Diemen's Land (NRS 936, [4/3490A, 4/3492]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6003).

In 1814 these divisions were recast and all letters sent to persons within the colony including its 'dependencies' were together in one series (NRS 937, [4/3493-516]; microfilm copy SR Reels 6004-6016) while letters to 'foreign parts', including England and other colonies were in another (NRS 939, [4/3521-22]; microfilm copy SR Reels 6018-6019). Letters to Van Diemen's Land are with the local letters until 30 December 1823 from which date they are with the foreign.

Separate books were opened for letters to Port Macquarie (NRS 992, [4/3864-65]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6019) in June 1822, Melville Island (NRS 981, [4/3792]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6019) and Moreton Bay (NRS 983, [4/3794]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6019) in August 1824, and Norfolk Island (NRS 988, [4/3821]; microfilm copy SR Reel 6019) in May 1825. These volumes also contain lists of convicts transported to the settlements.

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