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 × 3⅛ 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.
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 5½ × 3⅜ 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 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.