In This Issue

Volume 47#25 Mar 28 – Apr 10, 2023, 2023

Conversations with Philatelists united collectors during pandemic

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 video podcast featuring guests both directly and tangentially tied to the hobby. The hosts both graduated from the Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship (YPLF), founded by the American Philatelic Society in 2009, and crossed paths at international shows before launching the podcast in mid-2020. Since then, it has garnered about 120,000 views on YouTube, as well as thousands more on other platforms, with nearly 100 episodes airing as often as every week. “It started pretty innocently like that: we just wanted to talk to people,” said Cortese, of Pittsfield, N.H., the co-owner and executive vice-president of NobleSpirit, a family-run company specializing in stamps, coins and other collectibles. “But as we put up more and more episodes, something happened that we didn’t really expect.” Continue reading →

Past guests on the Conversations with Philatelists podcast include (clockwise from top left) Australian-born philatelist Peter Congreve, Doobie Brothers founder Pat Simmons, senior Republican presidential advisor Karl Rove and organizers of the Westpex show in California.

Also In This Issue
Exhibition coming to spring National Show

The North Toronto Stamp Club (NTSC) will host its 80th annual exhibition this April in conjunction with Trajan Publishing’s National Postage Stamp & Coin Show.

Page 1
Maresch opens 2023 with ‘more bidders than usual’

Auctioneers with the Toronto-based firm R. Maresch & Son found success with their first sale of the year as nearly 1,200 lots crossed the block to strong results in February.

Page 10
Three named collections, 2,100 lots up next for Sparks

A trio of named collections offering about 2,000 lots is set to cross the block in the nation’s capital this April as Sparks Auctions’ next major sale.

Page 16

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