THE POST CARDS
We have already remarked that Canada lagged behind the United States in
adopting adhesive stamps and also stamped envelopes, but when we come to
post cards we find the United States to be the laggard by nearly two
years. In the Postmaster General's Report for 30th June, 1870, we find
the following:--
The introduction of what are known as "post cards" in the United
Kingdom, and the convenience which is stated to have attended their
use, have induced the Department to make arrangements for the
manufacture of similar post cards for the use of the public in
Canada. These post cards will be sold at one cent each, and may be
posted for any address within the Dominion--and will be conveyed to
destination, and be delivered in like manner with letters--the one
cent covering the cost both of the card and of postage.
They may be used for any communication, which can advantageously be
written and sent by such a medium; and, it would seem
unquestionable, must, in Canada as in England, prove to be extremely
convenient for many objects and purposes.
The next year's Report states:--"Post Cards have been issued to the
public from June, 1871, and it is believed have been found to be of
material convenience. The number issued up to the 31st December was
1,470,600."
[Illustration]
These cards were cut to a size approximately 4-5/8 x 3 inches (116 x 75
mm.). The design consists of an engine turned border set about 3/16 of
an inch in from the edge, with the stamp in the upper right corner of
the enclosed space. This stamp shows a medallion bearing the head of
Queen Victoria that appears on the "large" cents issue of 1868,
surrounded by a frame that makes a roughly rectangular outline. The
arrangement and style of the inscriptions on the card are shown by the
illustration. At the bottom, just above the frame, is the imprint in
letters of "diamond" size, "British American Bank Note Co. Montreal &
Ottawa." The card is not of particularly heavy stock, has a somewhat
rough surface, and is of a light buff tint that varies some in tone. The
printing was done in sheets of several impressions and the engravings
were separated by thin colored lines running the whole length between
them. The color of the impression is a deep blue, though specimens in a
lighter tone are not uncommon.
In the Postmaster General's Report for 1872 we learn that on the 1st
November of that year, amongst other changes in connection with rates to
Newfoundland, the exchange of post cards at the ordinary domestic rate
was provided for. In the Report for 1873 we read:--"By arrangement with
the United States Post Office, the post cards of Canada and of the
United States have, from the 1st July 1873, passed freely to destination
between the two countries on prepayment of 2 cents each, by affixing a 1
cent postage stamp to the card in addition to the one cent stamp printed
thereon." The postal arrangement concluded between Canada and the United
States in 1874,[227] however, by which mail matter was to be exchanged
between the two countries at the domestic rates of each, obviated the
necessity of the extra cent on the post cards from the 1st January,
1875.
[227] See page 120.
It may be remembered that the marginal imprints on the sheets of
adhesive stamps began to be changed in 1875 and that the word "Ottawa"
was dropped. The same change took place in the post card some time
during 1876, it being first noted in _Le Timbre-Poste_ for January,
1877. The new card had the imprint at the bottom reading "British
American Bank Note Co. Montreal" in letters slightly larger than on the
first type. The frame of the card also seems to have been re-engraved as
slight differences can be detected, and the outside or "over all"
measurements are found to be about 1-1/2 mm. greater each way. Otherwise
the appearance of the card is the same, but it is cut a little larger,
measuring 4-3/4 x 3 inches (120 x 75 mm.), and the stock is a little
heavier than the first card and of a slightly paler buff. The engravings
on the plate were this time separated by short lines of color at the
center of the sides of the cards. The color of the impression was the
same as before and at times the front of the card was tinted bluish
because of imperfectly wiped plates during printing.
[Illustration]
Although Canada failed to obtain entrance into the Universal Postal
Union on its establishment in 1875, as already detailed,[228] yet she
was granted the new rates in her correspondence with the Mother
Country. This included a 2 cent rate for post cards, and on the 1st
January, 1877, a 2 cent post card made its appearance which was intended
particularly for British correspondence as is shown by the sub-heading
"TO UNITED KINGDOM." It was quite similar in design to the 1 cent card,
with the same medallion portrait of Queen Victoria on the stamp. The
frame of the card is of engine-turned work but of different pattern from
the 1 cent card, and has corner pieces. The arrangement of the
inscriptions is shown by the illustration. The card is cut to the same
size as the 1 cent (4-3/4 x 3 inches) and is of medium thickness and of
a very light yellowish buff. The impression is in a deep yellow green.
[228] See page 108.
Of these 2 cent cards the stamp accounts give 200,000 as having been
delivered in 1877 and 5000 more in 1879. But the issues to postmasters
are given as 98,300 in 1877, 6090 in 1878, and 13,680 in 1879, a total
of 118,070; and as there is a record of the return of but 35, it seems
fair to assume that the remaining 87,000 were destroyed.
[Illustration]
Canada was finally admitted to the Postal Union on the 1st July, 1878,
and consequently the 2 cent rate on post cards became applicable to all
the other Postal Union countries. We therefore find the "United Kingdom"
card altered to conform to the new conditions, the words "Union Postale
Universelle" now appearing at the top as shown in the illustration. The
stamp has also been re-engraved, the frame being changed and the words
CANADA and POSTCARD added in small capitals above and below the
medallion. The card is of the same size as before, on good stock of a
very pale yellowish tone and with a smooth surface, and the impression
is in a strong yellow green.
This card appeared early in 1879 and continued in use until 1896. Its
issue to postmasters increased from 27,300 in 1879, to 67,400 in 1892,
though it dropped to 47,000 in 1895.
[Illustration]
All the previous cards had been line engraved on steel plates and of
artistic appearance and fine workmanship. Beginning with 1882, however,
a cheaper form of production began to be employed, the impression being
typographed probably from electrotypes. The frame of the card is now
omitted, the design consisting simply of a curved banderole bearing the
words CANADA POST CARD with the instructions beneath, and at the right
the oval stamp which, from now on, corresponds to the contemporary stamp
of the newspaper wrapper.
The _Philatelic Monthly_ for 1st May, 1882, chronicled a new one cent
card as having just appeared, but did not describe it. It doubtless
appeared early in April and was of the design detailed in the last
paragraph, the stamp being that of the second type of the newspaper
wrapper, which lacked the foliations around the numerals and had the
inverted triangular ornaments beneath the circles containing the figures
"1". The impression was in blue or in ultramarine on a very light buff
card of stout quality and cut to 5-1/8 x 3 inches (129 x 76 mm.)
About the end of the same year a reply card made its appearance
concerning which the following notice was issued:--
POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
OTTAWA, 13th December, 1882.
Departmental Order
No. 27
* * * * *
_Reply Post Cards._
2. For the convenience of correspondence by Post Card within the
Dominion, a double Post Card has been prepared and is now ready for
issue, which will afford to the original sender of this form of Card
the means of sending with his communication, a blank prepaid Post
Card to be used in reply. Each half of the double card will bear a
one-cent postage stamp impressed thereon in prepayment.
The ordinary Post Card regulations will apply to these reply cards,
both when originally posted, and with respect to the reply half when
re-posted.
The reply or double Post Cards, will be issued at two cents each,
and are to be sold to the public at that rate by Postmasters and
stamp vendors.
Canada reply Post Cards, to be used in correspondence with the
United Kingdom, will also be supplied at an early date, and when
Post Cards of this description originating in the United Kingdom and
bearing the impressed postage stamp thereof on both halves, have
been received here by mail, the reply half may be re-posted in
Canada, for return _to an address in the United Kingdom_, as a
prepaid Post Card, and may be forwarded to destination without
requiring the addition of any Canada postage stamp or other postage
prepayment in Canada.
JOHN CARLING,
_Postmaster General._
Judging by the date of the circular the reply card was probably issued
the middle of December, 1882, although it was not reported in the stamp
journals until the next February. The stock used was the same as that
for the single cards and cut so as to be the same size as the latter
when folded. The design was the same as the single cards but printed in
a gray black on the first and third faces of the folded card. The reply
half is only distinguished by the word "(REPLY.)" placed between the
banderole and the line of instructions.
Considerable interest was aroused among philatelists in 1891-2 by a
controversy that sprung up over a reported "error" in this reply card,
which occurred with the stamp at the left side and the inscriptions to
the right. Curiously enough, this card had been chronicled as a new
issue in the _Philatelic Monthly_ for March, 1885, where we read:--"We
are indebted to Mr. De Wolf for the first specimen of a new double 1
cent card we have seen. It is slightly smaller than those first issued
and the stamp is placed on the left side instead of the right." The fact
of its existence had apparently lain dormant, except among post card
specialists, until the Canadian correspondent of _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp
News_ rose to remark[229] that they could be produced by manipulating an
uncut sheet of the regular cards. This called forth a rejoinder from Mr.
A. Lohmeyer[230] who wrote:--
In the first place, the _Error Cards_, for such they are, do not
exist among the 1 cent cards, but only among the 1-1 cent of 1882,
or reply-paid cards. Of this issue a comparatively small quantity
were printed with the stamp in the upper left corner, and the
_error_ was not discovered until after a number of post-offices had
been supplied with them, whereupon they were recalled, withdrawn
from circulation and destroyed. This accounts for the great scarcity
of these error cards, which have, in reality, been in circulation,
for I have several used specimens (halves) in my collection.
I will now proceed to prove the absurdity of the manipulation
described in the article referred to by facts and figures: The space
between the stamp and the points of the ribbon bearing the
inscription "Canada Post Card" on the correct issue, where the cards
would have to be cut to manufacture Canadensis' error (?) cards, is
4 millimeters. If this space is equally divided in cutting the
sheet, it would leave a margin to the left of the stamp and to the
right of the ribbon, after being cut, of 2 millimeters, while the
space between the right side of the stamp and the ribbon would be 10
millimeters.
Now take an error card, and you will find the latter space to
measure only 3 millimeters, and the outer margin to the left of the
stamp and the right of the ribbon to be respectively 5 millimeters.
"Figures do not lie".
A. Lohmeyer.
Baltimore, Oct. 31, 1891.
[229] =Mekeel's Weekly Stamp News=, I: 43: 1.
[230] =ibid.=, I: 44: 2.
This would seem conclusive proof, and also serve as a means of detecting
any false error cards which might possibly be made from an uncut sheet
as printed--but which have never been found. Yet six months later we
find the _Monthly Journal_ making inquiries along practically the same
lines. This brought out the following reply in _The Postal Card_:--
By referring to our paper No. 55, issued on the 14th of May, 1890,
you will find there a copy of a letter received by us, from the
Secretary of the Post Office Department at Ottawa regarding this
very card as follows:
"I am directed to acknowledge your letter stating that you have in
your possession a Canadian reply post card, upon which the stamp
appears in the upper left-hand corner, and inquiring whether this
stamp was officially issued by the department, or whether the
position of the stamps was due to a mistake in cutting the sheets.
"In reply, I am to say that the position of the stamp on the card to
which you refer (a certain number of specimens of which were
inadvertently issued by this Department) was due to a mistake in
printing."
We have never seen one of these cards which could have been produced
by wrong cutting.
If any Error cards _have_ been made by such a manipulation, either
by accident or design, we do not know it. However, the difference
between a wrongly cut card and a genuine error is so apparent that
it can be detected even without the use of a millimetre scale.
The distance of the stamp from the end of the scroll on the error
card is 4 mm., while if produced by wrong cutting of a sheet of the
correct issue (stamp at right), the distance will be 14 mm.
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
quantity 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 passing 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.
[Illustration]
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,
illustrated 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.
[Illustration]
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 x 3-1/8 inches (152 x 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 x 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 anticipated, 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 x 3-3/8 inches (140 x 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 pass 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.
[Illustration]
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 illustration.
The card is approximately 5-1/8 x 3-1/8 inches (130 x 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.
[Illustration]
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
coarser 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 hitherto 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, illustrations, portraits, sketches,
or other forms of advertisement may be engraved, lithographed,
printed, etc., on the "address" side of the one-cent Post-Card.
1. A clear space 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 space at the
lower right hand corner on the "address" side of the card
immediately below the words "The space below is reserved for address
only," such space 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 spaces
in question should be unconditionally reserved for the purposes
intended. If any printing, engraving, or other matter appears on the
spaces thus reserved, the Post-Cards cannot be permitted to pass
through the mails.
Post-Cards may be ordered in sheets of sixteen or less, as desired,
or singly; orders therefor, specifying quantity of cards required
and number to the sheet, to be given in writing to the nearest
Postmaster.
POST-OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CANADA.
OTTAWA, 9th December, 1897.
These "advertisement" cards were issued by the Post Office Department
singly, or printed in sheets of eight or sixteen. The single cards came
in packages of 100 like the ordinary cards; the eight card sheets were
made up in packages of 125 sheets, or 1000 cards all told; and the
sixteen card sheets also in packages of 125 sheets, or 2000 cards all
told. The reason for this is seen in the requirement that orders for
these cards should be for not less than 1000. It is seen from the stamp
accounts that the eight card sheets have proven the most popular, about
six times as many sheets of this size as of the larger size having been
issued in 1910, while the number of cards represented was five times the
number of single cards issued.
The stock is the same as used for the ordinary cards and the size of the
single card is the same, while the arrangement on the sheets and the
regulations require that they be cut up into cards of the proper size.
The stamp is impressed in the right hand upper corner and is the same as
for the ordinary card but printed in carmine. The only other thing on
the card as issued is the directions, printed in small black Gothic
capitals:--THE SPACE BELOW IS RESERVED FOR ADDRESS ONLY. This is placed
about midway between the top and bottom of the card and about as far to
the right as it will go.
The last of the Queen's head cards were chronicled in the _Monthly
Journal_ for 30th July, 1898. These were the reply card and the Postal
Union card in a change of color. The reply card was of the usual size, 5
x 3 inches, and had printed inscriptions in black like the single card,
save that the word REPLY is placed between the two lines on the card for
answer. The stamp is from the same die as the single card but printed in
black instead of green. The stock is the usual pale buff.
The same paper for 31st March, 1899, notes an error of impression in
this card, the reply portion being printed on the back of the message
card, so that the second card has no impression at all upon it.
The Postal Union card was identical with the one it superseded, except
that it was printed in deep blue, and the card is of a cream tint rather
than a buff. The cause of the sudden change in color is not known.
The King's head cards soon followed the adhesives. _Mekeel's Weekly
Stamp News_ reported the 1 cent in its issue for 5th September, 1903. It
needs no further description than to say it is a counterpart of the
preceding Queen's Head card, the stamp as before being a copy of the
adhesive engraved for typographic work. The impression is in green for
the stamp and black for the inscriptions.
The advertising card or "Business Post-Card" was the next to appear,
having been issued early in December, 1903. Again it is in every way
similar to its predecessor save that the impression of the stamp is
lighter--rather a pink than a carmine.
Finally, in its issue for 20th February, 1904, _Mekeel's Weekly Stamp
News_ reports the issue of the reply card in its usual form and the
Postal Union card, identical with the former save for the stamp, which
is of course line engraved on this card. The issue of cards in 1910
comprised over 26 millions of the 1 cent, 430,000 of the reply cards and
70,000 of the Postal Union cards.