After a month of voting on nearly 20 entries, the winners of the third annual CSN Cover Contest have been decided!
The Peace Arch Stamp Club; Kelowna & District Stamp Club; and Medicine Hat Coin & Stamp Club are the top three winners of the club category and will take home $100, $50 and $25, respectively.
In the individual/collector category, Trevor Ashman; Emmanuel Serriére; and Robert Hadley earned the top honours and will win $100, $50 and $25, respectively.
Voting for this year’s contest closed at 11:45 p.m. ET on Oct. 31. The winners were announced on Nov. 1.
The contest began earlier this year, in February, when CSN invited all philatelic organizations at the local, regional and national levels in Canada and abroad to submit covers promoting National Stamp Collecting Month. By the Sept. 25 deadline, CSN received 18 covers, including seven submissions in the individual/collector category and another 11 entries in the club category.
In alphabetical order, the individual/collector category included submissions from:
- Trevor Ashman;
- Robert Hadley;
- Derwin Mak;
- Derwin Mak;
- Derwin Mak;
- Emmanuel Serriére; and
- Harvey Shuter.
In alphabetical order, the club category included submissions from:
- the Bramalea Stamp Club;
- the Edmonton Stamp Club;
- the Inverness Stamp Club;
- the Kelowna & District Stamp Club
- the Lakeshore Stamp Club;
- the Lakeshore Stamp Club;
- the Medicine Hat Coin and Stamp Club;
- the Nevada Stamp Study Society;
- the Peace Arch Stamp Club;
- the Penticton & District Stamp Club; and
- the Waterloo Region Stamp Club.
Scroll down to view all submissions listed alphabetically. The backs of covers are also shown below if they include design elements.
2020 COLLECTOR COVERS
TREVOR ASHMAN, OF MEDICINE HAT, ALTA.
Collector Trevor Ashman’s cover is franked with the 2020 Black History Month stamp commemorating the “Colored Hockey Championship.”
The stamp is tied by a Feb. 29, 2020-dated postmark from Medicine Hat, Alta.
To the left, a cachet commemorates Leap Day, which is held nearly every four years when an extra day – Feb. 29, also known as Leap Day – is added to the calendar. The phrase “LEAP / INTO STAMP COLLECTING TODAY” is also used in the cachet.
On the back, Ashman’s 115-millimetre-by-150-millimetre cover is sealed with a label reading, “STAMP / COLLECTING. / THE WORLD’S / GREATEST/ HOBBY.”
The Leap Day concept originated in 46 BC with the Roman consul and dictator Julius Caesar, who reformed the calendar system based on the advice of astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria.
“Adding that extra day every four years keeps the calendar aligned with the Earth’s revolutions around the sun,” reads a 2016 story by CBC News. “It takes the Earth 365.24 days to make a complete cycle around the sun, meaning that every four years, the world would be a full day out of synch with the calendar without the additional day. The Gregorian calendar decides which years are leap years by these criteria: the year can be evenly divided by four and 400, but cannot be evenly divided by 100.”
Leap Day covers are one facet of postal history that stretches back to the 18th century. To read more about Leap Day covers, check out this massive Stamp Community forum thread by John Becker, who lists dozens of examples dated 1804-2012.
ROBERT HADLEY, OF BADEN, ONT.
Collector Robert Hadley’s cover reads “Celebrate our / Postal History” at the top centre.
To the left, a cachet depicts the Baden Post Office with the double dates “1890-1920” below.
“In this building, two members of the Holwell family served as postmasters of Baden,” says Hadley, a Baden resident. “Frederick Holwell became village postmaster on December 1, 1890. Shortly after his death in November 1916, his daughter, Mary Elizabeth Holwell, was appointed postmaster. Her term began on December 8, 1916, and continued until December 29, 1920.”
To the right of the post office photo is a proof cancel from Jan. 19, 1891, struck by a new postal hammer.
“This hammer had been prepared for Frederick Holwell’s start as postmaster,” adds Hadley.
The 165-millimetre-by-90-millimetre cover is franked with one of five stamps issued as part of the 2020 “Medical Groundbreakers” set. Depicting Dr. Bruce Chown, the stamp is tied by a Sept. 9, 2020-dated postmark from Baden, Ont.
DERWIN MAK, OF TORONTO, ONT.
Collector Derwin Mak’s first cover commemorates International Cosplay Day, held on the last Saturday of each August.
“International Cosplay Day began as an Internet/social media campaign to create a special day for cosplayers (people who dress in costume as science fiction, comics and video game characters,” says Mak.
The 165-millimetre-by-90-millimetre cover is franked with a 2013 Permanent stamp marking the 75th anniversary of Superman. It’s tied by a privately made Aug. 29, 2020-dated “Mailer’s Postmark” used as a proposal to grant Canadians the ability to obtain private postmarks.
“In the United States, individuals may obtain Mailer’s Postmark Permits from their local postmasters and use their own cancellations to cancel their mail,” says Mak. “I propose that Canada Post also allow individuals to use Mailer’s Postmarks.”
DERWIN MAK, OF TORONTO, ONT.
Collector Derwin Mak’s second cover commemorates Star Trek Day, held each year on the anniversary of the Sept. 8, 1966, premiere of Star Trek.
The 165-millimetre-by-90-millimetre cover is franked with a 2016 Permanent stamp depicting the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701, a state-of-the-art Constitution-class starship fully equipped for discovering and defending the final frontier in Star Trek. The stamp is tied by a privately made Sept. 8, 2020-dated “Mailer’s Postmark” used as a proposal to grant Canadians the ability to obtain private postmarks.
“In the United States, individuals may obtain Mailer’s Postmark Permits from their local postmasters and use their own cancellations to cancel their mail,” says Mak. “I propose that Canada Post also allow individuals to use Mailer’s Postmarks.”
DERWIN MAK, OF TORONTO, ONT.
Collector Derwin Mak’s third cover commemorates International Heraldry Day, which was launched by the International Association of Amateur Heralds in 2013.
The 165-millimetre-by-90-millimetre cover is also a first-day cover for Mak’s Picture Postage stamp depicting his coat of arms.
“The coat of arms was granted to me by the Canadian Heraldic Authority in 1990,” says Mak. “The stamp and the cachet show heraldic artist Quentin Peacock’s interpretation of my coat of arms.”
The stamp is tied by a privately made June 10, 2020-dated “Mailer’s Postmark” used as a proposal to grant Canadians the ability to obtain private postmarks.
“In the United States, individuals may obtain Mailer’s Postmark Permits from their local postmasters and use their own cancellations to cancel their mail,” says Mak. “I propose that Canada Post also allow individuals to use Mailer’s Postmarks.”
EMMANUEL SERRIÉRE, OF INVERNESS, CALIF.
Collector Emmanuel Serriére’s cover celebrated National Stamp Collecting Month with a large 304.80-millimetre-by-228.60-millimetre cover.
It’s franked with dozens of worldwide stamps, including stamp collecting sets from the United States and Sweden.
The cover is franked with a June 22, 2020-dated postmark from Inverness, Calif.
HARVEY SHUTER, OF TORONTO, ONT.
Collector Harvey Shuter’s cover encourages people to “collect stamps” and “stay safe” with a Minion-themed cachet to the left.
The 185-millimetre-by-110-millimetre cover is franked with a Picture Postage stamp featuring a Toronto post office and is cancelled by a commemorative National Stamp Collecting Month postmark. The stamp is tied by an Oct. 1, 2020-dated postmark reading “OCTOBER / IS STAMP/ COLLECTING /MONTH.”
While this postmark doesn’t meet the Sept. 25 deadline, the cover was mailed to CSN inside a larger envelope before the deadline date.
2020 CLUB COVERS
BRAMALEA STAMP CLUB (RPSC CHAPTER 144)
The Bramalea Stamp Club cover is still in the mail; however, a digital version is shown at left.
The genuine cover, complete with a postmark dated Sept. 2, 2020, when it was mailed by Bramalea club member Ingo Nessel, will be posted once it’s received by CSN.
Below the club name is the phrase “Experience the HOBBY of KINGS and QUEENS.” Below this is a list of some of philately’s many positive aspects, including:
- “Appreciate beauty in miniature works of art: stamps”
- “Learn Canadian history and world history”
- “Discover your heritage through letters and post cards”
- “Join the treasure hunt for rarities”
- “Be part of a supportive like-minded group”
- “Explore the unlimited world of topical stamps”
Three stamps – one from Canada and another from the United States – are also shown at the bottom left.
EDMONTON STAMP CLUB (RPSC CHAPTER 6)
The Edmonton Stamp Club cover is an overprinted version of one of two show covers produced for the club’s annual spring show, which was cancelled due to COVID-19
The 190-millimetre-by-100-millimetre cover celebrates a century of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), which was also a major theme of its March 28-29 show, one of only a few national-level shows held annually in Canada. It’s franked with an RCMP-themed Picture Postage stamp, which is tied by a March 29, 2020-dated pictorial cancel marking the “Edmonton Spring National.” A red handstamp reading “SHOW CANCELLED/ DUE TO/ COVID-19 PANDEMIC” is at the bottom right. To the left, the cover’s cachet depicts two RCMP officers on horseback and dressed in the iconic Red Serge uniform.
The cover was submitted by Ed Dykstra, vice-president of the Edmonton Stamp Club.
INVERNESS STAMP CLUB
The Inverness Stamp Club cover celebrates National Stamp Collecting Month with a large 304.80-millimetre-by-228.60-millimetre cover.
It’s franked with dozens of mint U.S. stamps plus a 1976 “National Stamp Day” souvenir sheet from the United Kingdom; a 1980 London International Stamp Exhibition souvenir sheet also from the United Kingdom; a 2012 Draguignan Mail Art Expo first-day cover from France; a “NetStamp” from stamps.com; and a personal stamp printed by the Inverness Stamp Club. Three cancels from Inverness, Calif., are each dated June 22, 2020.
The cover was mailed by Emmanuel Serriére.
KELOWNA & DISTRICT STAMP CLUB (RPSC CHAPTER 90)
The Kelowna & District Stamp Club cover celebrates National Stamp Collecting Month.
The 165-millimetre-by-120-millimetre cover is franked with a Picture Postage stamp featuring Kelowna’s iconic Ogopogo statue wearing a face mask. A masked-up “Baby Ogie” is also depicted on the stamp.
“I saw on social media that a concerned citizen provided our Ogopogo statue with face protection. One can never be too careful,” said stamp collector, artist and Kelowna club publicity chair Peter Lepold, who submitted the cover.
Measuring more than two metres tall and four metres long, the cheerful Ogopogo statue is located near the city’s waterfront and was featured on the Picture Postage stamp franked to the club’s award-winning cover in 2018.
The stamp is tied by a Sept. 19, 2020-dated pictorial postmark from Kelowna.
LAKESHORE STAMP CLUB #1 (RPSC CHAPTER 84)
The first Lakeshore Stamp Club cover commemorates the club’s 2020 exhibition, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.
It’s one of several covers prepared before the March 20-21 show; however, with the pandemic declared about a week earlier, organizers were forced to cancel their event with little notice.
“What to do with the covers that cannot be sold?” says club member François Brisse, who submitted this cover.
His idea was to overprint the covers with a red rectangular handstamp reading “EVENT CANCELLED / COVID-19 / ÉVÉNEMENT ANNULÉ.”
This 165-millimetre-by-90-millimetre cover is franked with a Picture Postage stamp featuring a 1922 photograph of Canadian radio pioneer Jack Dempsey. The stamp is tied by a March 21, 2020-dated pictorial cancel from Dorval, Qué., marking the Lakeshore 2020 exhibition and the “History of Radio in Canada” stamp issue from earlier this year. To the left, the cover’s cachet also features the 1922 Dempsey photograph.
LAKESHORE STAMP CLUB #2 (RPSC CHAPTER 84)
The second Lakeshore Stamp Club cover commemorates the club’s 2020 exhibition, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.
It’s one of several covers prepared before the March 20-21 show; however, with the pandemic declared about a week earlier, organizers were forced to cancel their event with little notice.
“What to do with the covers that cannot be sold?” says club member François Brisse, who submitted this cover.
His idea was to overprint the covers with a red rectangular handstamp reading “EVENT CANCELLED / COVID-19 / ÉVÉNEMENT ANNULÉ.”
This 165-millimetre-by-90-millimetre cover is franked with a 2020 “Year of the Rat” stamp tied by a March 20, 2020-dated pictorial cancel from Dorval, Qué., marking the Lakeshore 2020 exhibition and the “Year of the Rat” stamp issue from earlier this year. To the left, the cover’s cachet features a Year of the Rat-themed image with the phrases “Happy Chinese New Year” and “Year of the Rat.” The words “ANNÉE DU RAT – 2020 – YEAR OF THE RAT” are below the image.
MEDICINE HAT COIN & STAMP CLUB (RPSC CHAPTER 146)
The Medicine Hat Coin & Stamp Club cover was prepared for the club’s April 4 coin and stamp show, which was cancelled due to COVID-19.
“We therefore had the red ‘CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC’ handstamp applied to the 100 covers we had printed,” said club member Trevor Ashman, who submitted the 190-millimetre-by-125-millimetre cover.
“The cover honours the HMSC Medicine Hat of WW2 named after our city. The postmark was produced for the club by Canada Post and the Picture Postage stamp features a poster produced by the Government of Canada during WW2.”
According to the Government of Canada website, there has been only one vessel named Medicine Hat in the Royal Canadian Navy.
“HMCS Medicine Hat was a Bangor Class minesweeper,” reads the website. “The Bangor Class ships were built in order to replace the old Basset Class minesweepers, as they were larger, faster, had much greater endurance, and burned oil as opposed to coal. Most of the Bangors were named after Canadian towns and cities, the rest after bays.”
The Bangors were mainly used as escorts for coastal shipping and locally for ocean envoys; however, 16 of them assisted in “sweeping the approaches to Normandy before D-Day, and stayed to help clear German and Allied minefields in the Channel for some months afterward,” according to the article.
The Medicine Hat was commissioned at Montréal on Dec. 4, 1941, before arriving at Halifax about a week later.
“She worked escort duties with Western Local Escort Force, Sydney Force and Halifax Force between January 1942 and May 1944. In May 1944, she returned to Sydney Force until January 1945 when she was transferred to Newfoundland Force until Victory in Europe Day.”
After serving in various duties on the Atlantic coast, she was transferred to the Turkish Navy on Nov. 29, 1957, renamed Biga and remained in service until 1963.
NEVADA STAMP STUDY SOCIETY
The Nevada Stamp Study Society cover is franked with a pair of 2000-dated 33-cent American Samoa stamps.
Tied by a sprayed-on ink jet cancellation, the stamps feature an outrigger sailing vessel near American Samoa with volcanic peaks in the background.
The cover, which was submitted by club member Harvey Edwards, also includes a cachet to the left with the phrases “October is National Stamp Collecting Month” and “Discover Your Own New Worlds” surrounding the Mayflower.
The club’s meeting information is also included at the bottom left.
PEACE ARCH STAMP CLUB (RPSC CHAPTER 243)
The Peace Arch Stamp Club cover marks the 100th birthday of member Alfred Bennett, believed to be Canada’s oldest active philatelist.
The 240-millimetre-by-105-millimetre cover is franked with a Picture Postage stamp depicting Bennett, who was born on June 1, 1920. The stamp is tied by a June 1, 2020-dated postmark from Surrey, B.C.
The cover was jointly designed by Doreen and Terril Leishman plus Steve Melanson and contains a brief biography of Bennett. Every member of the Peace Arch Stamp Club received one of these date-stamped, personally addressed commemorative covers earlier this year.
Bennett is a founding member of the Peace Arch Stamp Club, which was formed in 1989.
More recently, the club expressed its support for a commemorative stamp marking the Peace Arch’s centennial in 2021. Since 2018, the International Peace Arch Association (IPAA) – based in Blaine, Wash., and dedicated to honouring the Peace Arch in both countries – has lobbied Canada Post and the U.S. Postal Service to recognize the arch’s 100th anniversary.
PENTICTON & DISTRICT STAMP CLUB (RPSC CHAPTER 127)
The Penticton & District Stamp Club cover commemorates 110 years of Scouting in the south Okanagan district.
“Each child in the various sectors of Scouting, Leaders and Group Committee members received a cancelled cover for their individual area where there was a Post Office outlet to apply the town cancel, says club treasurer Harv Baessler, who submitted the cover.
“The Penticton cover has the specially produced Canada Post SS Sicamous cancel applied for the Sept. 19, 2020, celebration date.”
WATERLOO REGION STAMP CLUB (RPSC CHAPTER 247)
The Waterloo Region Stamp Club cover celebrates National Stamp Collecting Month.
The 160-millimetre-by-90-millimetre cover is franked with one of five stamps issued as part of the 2020 “Medical Groundbreakers” set. Depicting Dr. Balfour Mount, the stamp is tied by a Sept. 22, 2020-dated postmark from New Hamburg, Ont.
To the left, the cachet features five postmarks from 1950, 1965, 1972, 1994 and 2013, and the words “Waterloo Region Stamp Club” are shown at the top.
“The Waterloo Region Stamp Club is thrilled to participate in the National Stamp Collecting Month celebrations,” says Robert Hadley, who submitted the cover.