Johannesburg J1a Telegraph Postmark
A framed oval rubber stamp with 'Johannesburg' (with a full stop at the end) around the top following the curve of the oval, the date in one line in the middle (month in 3 letters with a full stop at the end and year in 2 figures) and an ornament (3 dots over two lines) at the bottom. Size is approximately 32 x 23 mm
This postmark appears to have been used for telegraph purposes. The telegraph office opened in Johannesburg in April 1887. As it has been seen used in both black and purple ink, it is possible that the black ink was for postal purposes and the purple for telegraphic. No covers have yet been seen by me and until one is, it unclear whether or not these were ever used for postal purposes
- Postmark type J1a - Purple ink (10 July 1888 - July 1889) rated 2R
- Postmark type J1a - Black ink rated 3R
Left is from the Putzel Update, in the middle is an actual composite example and on the right an actual example, suggesting that there may have been more than one implement used
Postmark type J1a in Purple
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in purple ink. Dated 11 February 1888. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmarks type J1a in purple ink. Dated February 1888. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in purple ink. Dated 5 May 1888. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in purple ink. Dated 5 May 1888. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in purple ink. Dated 10 July 1888. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmarks type J1a in purple ink. Dated 8, 10 and 15 September 1888. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in purple ink. Dated 13 November 1888. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in purple ink. Dates include 16 November 1888. Rated 2R
Johannesburg postmarks type J1a in purple ink. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmarks type J1a in purple ink. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in purple ink. Dates include May, 27 November and December 1888. Rated 2R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in purple ink. 1889. Rated 2R. Seen in the collection of Morgan Farrell
Postmark type J1a in Black
Johannesburg postmark type J1a in black ink. Rated 3R. Seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
The original telegraph office building which opened at 74 Market Street, Johannesburg on the 26 or 27 of April 1887. The two gentleman are Mr Preston, director of the Telegraph Office from 1887-9 and Mr Taplin, the telegraph line constructor, Postcard produced for the 1936 Empire Exhibition in Johannesburg and seen in the ZAR & Transvaal Philately Facebook Group
For more information on the operation of the early telegraph office, see Symons, J. E, "The First Telegrams Sent From Johannesburg" in The Transvaal Philatelist vol 31 no 4 (120), November 1996, pp. 114-6
Putzel ratings
J1a - A1 (Update) rated 1 000 on stamp and 10 000 on cover
Matthews
J1a - 7a
