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was not discovered until after a number of post-offices had been supplied with them, whereupon they were recalled, withdrawn from circulation and destroyed.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 be
tween 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.
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: