Category Archives: Top Story

With the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic spreading illness, fear and uncertainty, the cancellation of virtually all in-person events spurred two U.S. collectors to fill the social void in the philatelic community. Trying to match the camaraderie of mingling with people at stamp shows, Michael Cortese and Charles Epting launched Conversations with Philatelists, a... Continue reading →

Exhibitors, judges and organizers continue to debate the pros and cons of virtual exhibiting after more than 33 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which upended exhibitions from the local to the international level. While in-person exhibitions returned around the world in 2022, virtual competitions filled the void through much of 2020 and 2021. After decades... Continue reading →

As spring nears, Canadian philatelists are preparing for this year’s planned national- and international-level shows. In 2023, Canada will host three national exhibitions compared to four such events plus an international show – CAPEX 22 – in 2022. This year’s trio of national-level shows begin with the Edmonton Spring National on March 25-26 in Edmonton,... Continue reading →

As philatelic storytelling becomes a significant aspect of the hobby, collectors have found powerful tools in genealogy services and other historical research platforms. With the advent of digital technology, most collectors have ready access to in-depth research tools, which lend well to learning the stories behind the stamps and postal history in their collections. One... Continue reading →

Eastern Auctions has unveiled a promotional booklet previewing the four-part sale of the final material held by late philatelist Ron Brigham, the only Canadian to win philately’s top international exhibiting honour, before his death last August. Brigham’s Grand Prix-winning Province of Canada collection will be sold across four auctions, the first of which will offer... Continue reading →

After gaining prominence over the past two decades, one-frame exhibiting has enjoyed its brightest year in the limelight thanks in large part to an unprecedented international competition held in Toronto this June. At CAPEX 22, as well as at other international, national, regional and local shows worldwide, exhibitors took the one-frame format to new heights... Continue reading →

Vance Auctions, a family-run firm based in Southern Ontario, celebrated 50 years in business with its 359th sale this November. After working in his father’s Toronto-area stamp store, Vance Carmichael launched the namesake firm in November 1972 and ran his first mail auction with 348 lots. His 359th sale, held on Nov. 23, marked the... Continue reading →

With a bit of help from Canadian club leaders, youth philately in the Philippines has flourished in recent years. The more than 60 members of the Peace Arch Stamp Club, based in Surrey, B.C., have provided a young Filipino collector with tens of thousands of stamps plus financial assistance in recent years to help him... Continue reading →

A Nova Scotia collector found and mailed several of this year’s holiday stamps at a rural post office three days before their official issue date. Canada Post released a religious “Christmas Star” stamp plus a secular “Holiday Birds” set with domestic-, U.S.- and international rate stamps as part of its annual holiday issue on Nov. 1... Continue reading →

Ontario philatelist Stuart Reddington took home the Grand Award at Canpex for his eight-frame exhibit on Canada’s Small Queen stamps, the country’s longest-running series, which spanned more than 25 years in the late 1800s. The exhibit, entitled “Canada Small Queens, 1870-1897,” earned 97 points to top the field of 30 competitive exhibits at the Oct.... Continue reading →