Actually, in VMS (as well as in RSX), ;-1 means the oldest version
available.
I think you only have ;-1 and ;0 which are special.
Can't speak for RSX's problems, but for VMS none of this is true.
-----
$ create foo.txt
one
^Z
$ create foo.txt
two
^Z
$ create foo.txt
three
^Z
$ dir foo.txt
Directory USERS:[BOB]
FOO.TXT;3 1/80 22-SEP-2009 18:52:28.94 [BOB]
(RWED,RWED,RWED,RE)
FOO.TXT;2 1/80 22-SEP-2009 18:52:26.34 [BOB]
(RWED,RWED,RWED,RE)
FOO.TXT;1 1/80 22-SEP-2009 18:52:21.09 [BOB]
(RWED,RWED,RWED,RE)
Total of 3 files, 3/240 blocks.
$ type foo.txt;1
one
$ type foo.txt;0
three
$ type foo.txt
three
$ type foo.txt;
three
$ type foo.txt;-1
two
$ type foo.txt;-2
one
$ type foo.txt;-3
%TYPE-W-SEARCHFAIL, error searching for USERS:[BOB]FOO.TXT;-3
-RMS-E-FNF, file not found
$ type foo.txt;-0
one
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Give it a try for yourself (there are lots of VMS systems on HECnet!).
Bob