The lithographing of a comparatively few envelopes by a country like Canada appears somewhat incredulous on the face of it, and even more so does the "loss" or "misplacing" of the embossing die; the true explanation of the occurrence is doubtless found in the use of a much worn die, or more likely a defective "counter-die" or "bed-plate" which backs the paper.
In the issue for January 1895, the _American Journal of Philately_ had this statement:--"Mr. G. A. Lowe informs us that the 3c envelope exists on wove paper and was issued in 1891, probably in error." Referring to this, the _Monthly Journal_ for May 1895, states:--
Mr. King tells us that he found some packets of this variety in the Post-office at Halifax, and that he thinks that they may be a new edition, on a better paper than the last. He is not certain yet about this, as the great majority of the stock consisted of the _laid_ paper envelopes, and therefore the use of the wove may have been unintentional or temporary.
Again in the August 1895 issue, the last quoted paper says:--
In further reference to the 3c envelopes on _wove_ paper, Mr. King sends us replies which he received from the P. O. Department to his enquiries on the subject. The replies are vague, if not evasive, but show plainly that no intentional change was made in the paper used; they seemed to indicate, however, that the contractors are not restricted to a particular nature of paper, so long as the envelopes supplied are of sufficiently good quality.
The references to Mr. King in 1895 seem to show that he discovered the envelopes at about that time, so if the first statement about their appearing in 1891 is correct there must have been two lots issued at two different periods. That they were errors seems to admit of no doubt, as the usual paper for these envelopes was of the laid variety. They were only found in the large size envelope, known officially as No. 2.
In the issue for September 1899, the _American Journal of Philately_ noted two unusual varieties:--
Mr. Charles A. Benedict of Brantford has sent us samples of two envelopes with stamp of the 1877 type, which have not as yet been chronicled and which should probably be classed as printed-to-order envelopes. They are said to be used by a certain firm in Brantford for circulars and letters, and are printed on large manila amber envelopes.