IAA-DR-1

If a passenger on a ship had a Radiogram to send, the message was transmitted by the Marconi Radio Operator on board to the nearest coastal station whence it was passed on by the land telegraph lines to its destination.

Every wireless-equipped ship was a floating telegraph office, and formed part of the world's telegraphic system. Wireless messages could be handed in on board for delivery to an addressee in any part of the world. Likewise a message could be handed in to the A.W.A. Central Radio Office in Sydney or Melbourne or to any telegraph office in Australia, for transmission to a ship at sea.

The first messages received using the Beam were delivered on forms headed RADIOGRAM with the message VIA BEAM added prominently in a reverse printed red box at the right.

Printed in October 1927.

IAB-DR-1.

Croydon, UK to Sydney
(7 August 1932).

Has Sydney Central Radio oval date stamp.

Characteristics:

very thin paper as shown by annotations on the reverse being readable (on left);

Message begins WLT (Weekend Letter Telegram).

As the Beam only commenced commercial operations in April 1927, this form had to be the first delivery form issued for the new operation..

Printed in 1932.

IAA-EB-2A.

Delivery envelope for the above telegram.

Details of use and rarity.

Form sub-number	Schedule number	Earliest recorded date	Rarity rating
DR-1	TO 3 500M 10/27	7 August 1932 at AWA's Sydney station.	RR

Heading and notes:	Form No. TO 3. Heading is RADIOGRAM.
Message area:	Blank.
Reverse side:	Blank.
Colours (text & form):	Red and blue on cream.
Size of form overall:	210 × 213 mm.