The bit printed before the "a" is most likely a nailhead from one of the nails holding the copper electrotype plate to what was usually a wooden block.
The missing bit from the "a" is probably either from a repair where they replaced the loose nail with a screw, or chipped the "a" placing the nail for that position.
Both good evidence that those cards were printed from electrotypes rather than lithographed like the T cards.
Steve B
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