Australia Ipswich Rts Postmark

Looking for some information on this example. The postmark is listed by the Toowoomba Stamp Club as 4R, so glad to have this copy. However, I am unsure of the meaning of R.T.S in the postmark. The only other RTS listed in the Queensland Steel Datestamp book is for Brisbane. Any help? (Scott 9, ACSC 24)

Guess
Railway Telegram Service

RTS = Railway Telegraph Station.

Was issued to Ipswich Railway office for Telegram Use

3 known

Was used on Postal Items only after March 1915

Thanks Rod. Railway Telegram Service is a good possibility. Where/how did you come up with 3 known? (Source?)

There are hundreds of Queensland RTS's
I had a devil of a time finding the Acronym explained...strange.

You need to write to the webmaster, and register your excellent find.
If you do, ask what letter count 9d would cover, or what service?

Let us know any info...


https://telegramsaustralia.com/Form...%20line.html

I see a couple of strange "errors" in all of this. Very interesting article and thank you Rod!
Now, the first "error": In the OP's scan the stamp is dated 18 Dec 1913. According to Rod's picture " It is seen used on postal items only after March 1915".
The second error is in Rod's picture. Under the small purple stamp the date 4 April 1913 is printed. The stamp is cancelled on 4 April 1915.

But again, very interesting!


Peter

Hi Peter,
Nice observations, thanks for your interest.

May I politely advise.

1. Yes the RTS hammer was used for TELEGRAMS, only after 1915 was it used for POSTAL.
So Steve's find is a cracker (Only 3 in census dated prior to 1915)

2. It Looks like 1915 in the purple stamp, but her majesty's "bun" is making the "3" look like a "5"
So indeed it is 1913 (Enlarge the image by clicking)
(The top arm of the "3" is a small "7" in the engraved font)

My chestnut..
"Postmarks can make fools of us all"

Isn't the rarity of the cancel (RRRR), based on being cancelled in violet. All three cancels look to me to be in black. Am I missing something here??

Interesting.
I have completely missed that, thank you.
It remains ambiguous to me
Need to contact the author.

I am writing to the webmaster, for clarification.

From what I can gather
9d violet Kangaroo and Map. ACSC 24-26
Issued in February 1913.

Paid the intrastate rate until
1 October 1920.

9d paid for 16 words (including address and signature) not including Town and Suburban (6d)
Not including Holidays Christmas day etc, or urgent.

Thanks to all for their contributions. I went to the website and also saw the discrepancies in some of the wording. It is also interesting in that the Toowoomba's Club excellent book on Queensland Steel Datestamps does not quite agree with the Telegramsaustralia website. The Datestamps book lists the range of dates as August 22, 1913 through December 19, 1913, and the rating as 4R (very rare). At least the rating agrees with Telegramsaustralia. What is nice is that Datestamps actually shows an example, as shown here, and on the same stamp as mine:

This is clearly dated as August 22, 1913, within the date range from both reference materials. Also, this would be the previously known third copy, along with the two from Telegramsaustralia (and I am calling the pair as a single known copy):


So, I will send a note to both entities to see if they are interested in my latest finding, which appears to be the latest datestamp of the group.

I am awaiting a reply.

I need to ask, also, the scarcity is due to the stamps being adhered to the Telegram form, which is later destroyed ?
(That's from a foggy memory)

Amazing find and great information.

It is real nice when someone shows a stamp find. Especially when the person has been looking hard for so long.

Response from Webmaster today

(I shall direct the webmaster, to this thread, for transparency)

Hi Rod
Thanks for your email and apologies for the delay in responding. I had a major computer crash late last year and am still trying to get access back to the site but have had repeated problems with Go Daddy "service". Even an appointment for 9:30 today was postponed.

I have made very extensive changes to so many pages over the last few months with a complete re-do of the SA and Queensland lines and Telegraph Offices - plus so much unique material added.
Hopefully the new version can be uploaded in the next week. Will let you know.

To your question. An error (corrected on my computer about a month ago). I have not seen a violet Ipswich RTS - only black. I may have seen a fourth strike (incomplete) in black but did not record it. Hence the RRRR rating still stands. Any comment you have on that would be appreciated.

Appreciate your kind comments. Hope you found the site useful.

Updated and edited Entries from Webmaster
With appreciation.

Great outcome, Rod. Everything falls into place now. Also impressed by the willingness of the "webmaster" to follow through. My head is now tuned into Ipswich postmarks that may randomly cross my path in the future.

Yes, the Webmaster contacted me also with the issues concerning his computer and the revised page. Now the census is up to 6. If a few more are found, the rating may drop below RRRR. I'll keep looking, as Railway Telegraph Stations are an interesting field of study.