Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery Part 43

To prove this we take two of the latter cards (in the absence of an uncut sheet which we have never seen), place them end against end, measure the distance from the left end of the scroll on one card to the outer circle enclosing the figure "1" on the other card, and the result will be as stated above.

This fact and the letter from the Canadian P. O. Department, quoted above, removes all doubts as to the true character of this rarity, known as the "Canada Error Card".

We have several used specimens in our collection.

The _Monthly Journal_[231] later received a copy of the error card which was postmarked in September, 1884, and which is the earliest date that has been recorded for it.

[231] =Monthly Journal=, IV: 171.

Direct evidence is given in a letter from H. F. Ketcheson to _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News_; he writes as follows:[232]--

Regarding the Canadian reply card (error with stamp on upper left hand corner) issued in 1884 (not 1885) would say that I purchased a quant.i.ty of them from various post-offices. I was at that time an employe of the Canada Post-Office Department and saw a number of these pa.s.sing through the mails and writing to the offices at which they were posted found that they had received a supply from Ottawa, and one office informed me at the same time that they had re-received instructions to forward all they had on hand to Ottawa as they had been issued in error.

[232] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, VI: 216.

The cards were identical in every respect with the regular ones, except for the peculiarity, and therefore call for no further description than has already been given them.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

In the _Philatelic Monthly_ for March, 1887, is noted a change in the stamp on the single post card, which otherwise remained as before. The new stamp has the foliations around the numerals and is identical with Type 3 of the wrapper stamps, already described, and which it preceded, in fact, by two or three months. As was to be expected, the reply card followed with the same change in the stamps, but no particular notice seems to have been taken of it in the contemporary magazines. The article in the _Dominion Philatelist_ records it as having appeared in 1887 in "black" and in 1888 in "dark green", but the only chronicles that seem to have noted it were the _Philatelic World_ for January, 1888, which says merely that "the stamp on the reply paid card has been slightly altered," and the _American Journal of Philately_ for February, 1888, which says a new reply card in "gray on buff" has just been issued. The information is added that the inscription "Postage" had been changed to "Postcard", but inasmuch as this was a hoax which apparently started with _Le Timbre-Poste_ in the fall of 1887[233] and went the rounds of the philatelic press, the value of the rest of the information is considerably lessened in consequence and we shall therefore take the dates as given in the _Dominion Philatelist_, which seem in the main to be correct. The wrapper stamp of 1875, with wavy line inside the oval, ill.u.s.trated by _Le Timbre-Poste_ as appearing on the cards in May, 1888, was never employed. It was probably confounded with the third type.

[233] =Le Timbre-Poste=, XXV: 94.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The next change in the cards was likewise due to a new variety in the stamp, which once more lost its foliations and had only a quatrefoil ornament beneath the numerals, as described for Type 4 of the wrappers, which it again preceded by a couple of months. The new card was apparently first noted in the _Canadian Philatelist_[234] as having been issued at London, Ont., on the 7th December, 1891. This of course may not have been its earliest date of issue but is doubtless not far from it. The normal color of the impression is a dull ultramarine, but the _Dominion Philatelist_ chronicled it in January, 1892, in a "very light skim milk shade of blue", which may be listed as a very pale ultramarine.

[234] =Canadian Philatelist=, I: 49.

The reply card in the new type is again an uncertainty. _Le Timbre-Poste_ for June, 1892, chronicled it in _blue_, which it never appeared in. _The Philatelic Monthly_ for July, 1892, noted that the reply card had appeared in the latest type, but gave no color; probably the item was borrowed from the French Journal without credit. Meanwhile the _Dominion Philatelist_ for June, 1892, merely mentions that "the reply cards of Canada are now appearing on a glazed thin card; design same as before," which would indicate no change from the current type 3.

In December, 1892, however, the _Philatelic Journal of America_ reported that it had received from Toronto "one of the new Canadian reply cards.

The message card bears a stamp the same type as that of the current 1 cent postal card, but on the reply card the stamp is of the old type.

Perhaps this is an error as the former double card had the same die on both." It may have been an error but it troubled no one but the philatelist. The _Monthly Journal_ for 31st January, 1893, also notes the receipt of a similar copy from Mr. D. A. King. The account says:--"The specimen was found in a packet of reply-paid cards, the remainder of which had the stamp of the now obsolete type upon both halves." It would seem that the end of 1892 was therefore about the time of the "semi-appearance" of the stamp of type 4 upon the reply cards; nor does it appear that the double card with stamp of type 4 on both halves was issued _before_ the "half-breed" card, as the latter continued to be used for nearly two years, the card with type 4 alone not being definitely chronicled until the issue of 30th November, 1894, of the _Monthly Journal_.

The next change recorded was the issue of a large sized card for business purposes, which took place, according to the _American Journal of Philately,_[235] on the 17th February, 1893, in company with the two high value postage stamps and the letter card. The new card was of the usual light buff stock and measured 6 3-1/8 inches (152 92 mm.). The design was the same as for the ordinary card, the stamp being of the wrapper type 4 but at a slightly greater distance from the end of the banderole--4 mm. in the small card and 12 mm. in the large card. The impression was in black. This new card was designated as No. 1, and the ordinary small card became known as No. 2. The small sized card, 5 3 inches, soon followed the large one in the color of its impression, appearing in a very dark slate that was almost a black and being first chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st July, 1893.

[235] =American Journal of Philately=, 2nd Series, VI: 102.

In the Postmaster General's Report for 1893 we find the following:--"The introduction of the large size post card has not met with the success which was antic.i.p.ated, and it has been found expedient in Canada, as in the United States, where the experiment has also been tried, to return to the former practice, and for the future to have only one size which will be somewhat smaller than the large card and a little larger than that first issued." As the stamp accounts kept the number of large sized cards separate from the small sized, we are able to give the amount received from the manufacturer, which was 5,396,000. The number issued is given as 4,983,900, but nothing is said about the disposition of the remaining 412,100.

The new medium sized card, which took the place of both the large and the small sized cards, was apparently issued about February, 1894, as it was chronicled in the _Monthly Journal_ for 31st March, 1894. The new card measured 5-1/2 3-3/8 inches (140 85 mm.) and the stock was of a lighter tone than before--almost a cream. The impression was in black and the distance between the banderole and the stamp was changed to 8 mm.

Whether issued especially for advertising purposes or not, this new card appeared on a heavier stock of rough surface and straw color early in 1896, being chronicled in _Meheel's Weekly Stamp News_ for 30th April, 1896, as on a "thin card board."

In its issue for 30th May, 1896, the _Monthly Journal_ chronicles the receipt of the reply card in black on a very smooth buff card. This indicates that the better grade of stock first used for the medium sized single card was being employed for the reply card, and that the latter was being printed in the dead black ink used for the medium card instead of the dark slate color previously employed.

It may be of interest to note here that on the 1st January, 1895, regulations went into force in Canada providing for the admission to the mails of advertising cards with a 1 cent stamp attached. This was very likely due to the failure of the Department's large sized card which was intended to fill such a want. As a sort of "rider" upon the circular dealing with the special delivery service and stamps, issued by the Department on 7th June, 1898, there is a paragraph headed:--

PRIVATE POST CARDS.

Postmasters are informed that, as regards Private Post Cards posted in Canada addressed to places in Canada, the words "Private Post Card" may either be placed thereon or omitted according to the option of the sender. Private Post Cards addressed to other countries must, however, in every case bear on the address side the words "Private Post Card."

It is understood, however, that only in the domestic mails were private cards allowed to pa.s.s at the usual post card rate. If addressed to a foreign country a private card, if in writing, would be taxed at letter rates. In the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ for 19th November, 1898, however, it is announced that the Postmaster General had issued an order admitting private mailing cards into the foreign mails provided the size conformed to that of the official post cards.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The next official card that we have to consider is a new Postal Union card which made its appearance suddenly in the latter part of 1896. This is one of the most striking cards that Canada has produced, being beautifully engraved on steel and printed in a brilliant orange red.

There is no frame, such as bordered the previous 2 cent card, and the stamp in the upper right corner much resembles in size and design the large 2 cent adhesive of the 1868 issue, except that the head of the Queen is turned to the left. The inscriptions follow out, in a way, the general style of British Colonial Postal Union cards, a small reproduction of the British arms with supporters occupying the center at the top. The arrangement will be seen from the ill.u.s.tration.

The card is approximately 5-1/8 3-1/8 inches (130 80 mm.) in size and printed on a very light buff stock. A variety in shade occurs, of some degree of rarity, printed in carmine. The card was first chronicled in the _American Journal of Philately_ for 1st November, 1896, and was the last "new issue" put forth by the British American Bank Note Co.

before its long contract was closed. The card was noted in the Postmaster General's Report for 1897 as follows:--"During the year a Universal Postal Union Card, conforming more closely to the regulations of the Union was introduced, thus superseding the old card." The new dimensions of the card, the removal of the frame, and the completing of the inscriptions in both English and French were among these requirements.

The American Bank Note Co., as we all know, began its work for the Canadian Government by the production of the Jubilee Issue. As will be seen by reference to the prospectus of this series already given,[236]

there was included a special post card of 1 cent to the number of 7 millions. These were delivered and all issued with the exception of 3000 on hand as shown by the stamp accounts in 1903. They do not appear in the 1904 accounts, so it is not known what became of them.

[236] See page 148.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The cards were issued with the Jubilee stamps on the 19th June, 1897.[237] They were the size of the ordinary 1 cent cards and on the same quality of stock. The stamp is a reproduction of the 1 cent adhesive of the Jubilee issue, but engraved for typographic printing.

"Canada Post Card" is enclosed in a fancy frame at the left and the usual instructions are found beneath it.

[237] =Ibid.=

A curious variety of this card was noted in the _Metropolitan Philatelist_ for August, 1897, as follows:--"We have seen the new jubilee card bearing the stamp only. This is an error caused by the design being in two pieces and in this case the inscription has dropped out."

The regular post cards produced by the new contractors did not make their appearance until several months after the first adhesives of the new type were out. The two cent card was the first issued, having been reported by the Canadian correspondent of the _Weekly Philatelic Era_ under date of 4th December, 1897, as just out. It was a copy of the 2 cent card of 1896 in every respect except the stamp, which was naturally of the new maple leaf type, and the color was a deeper shade of orange red.

The 1 cent card does not appear to have been chronicled until the number for 1st February, 1898, of the _American Journal of Philately_, so that it doubtless appeared early in January or possibly the latter part of December, 1897, following closely the 2 cent card. It was also of the usual size and same stock as before and, like the Jubilee card, had a copy of the 1 cent adhesive printed in the corner. This was of the maple leaf type, engraved for typographic printing and therefore of rather coa.r.s.er appearance than its prototype. The inscriptions were simply CANADA POST CARD in plain Gothic letters, with the usual line of instructions beneath, all printed in black; while the stamp was printed in dark green.

Early in December, 1897, the following news item appeared in the Canadian daily press:--

Postmaster-General Mulock has formulated a scheme with respect to postal cards which he has been thinking over for some time and which he has now got so far into shape as to be ready for publication. It is to remove the restriction which has. .h.i.therto existed with respect to using the address side of the card for any purpose other than the address. It is intended to allow pictures, ads., etc., on the face of the card so long as there is room for the address. This will enable a business man to advertise his business and will no doubt be appreciated by both the advertiser and the public. It is intended the cards shall be printed in sheets instead of singly for the benefit of printers and lithographers.

The following was the official announcement:--

NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC.

Regulations under which designs, ill.u.s.trations, portraits, sketches, or other forms of advertis.e.m.e.nt may be engraved, lithographed, printed, etc., on the "address" side of the one-cent Post-Card.

1. A clear s.p.a.ce of, at least, a quarter of an inch shall be left along each of the four sides of the postage stamp.

2. There shall be reserved for the address a clear s.p.a.ce at the lower right hand corner on the "address" side of the card immediately below the words "The s.p.a.ce below is reserved for address only," such s.p.a.ce so reserved for the address being, at least, 3-1/4 inches long by 1-1/2 inches wide.

N. B. It is in the interest of both the Department and those availing themselves of the privilege hereby, granted that the s.p.a.ces in question should be unconditionally reserved for the purposes intended. If any printing, engraving, or other matter appears on the s.p.a.ces thus reserved, the Post-Cards cannot be permitted to pa.s.s through the mails.