The North Toronto Stamp Club (NTSC) has received what its president calls a “major donation” from the family of a long-time member who passed away nearly two decades ago. The material, spanning half a dozen cartons, surfaced this summer after the collector’s widow recently died.
The donation includes a wide range of philatelic items — from stamps and postal history of Canada and Switzerland to research files, correspondence, and even boxes of supplies. Club president John Sharp noted one carton appears to contain “things of value,” possibly including a Swiss #5 stamp, an 1850 issue catalogued at over $1,300 if genuine.
The late member, Ed Walton, was an accomplished international exhibitor specializing in Swiss material, particularly censored Second World War airmail covers. Much of his main collection was sold nearly 20 years ago by auctioneer Bill Maresch, but the family discovered additional holdings while settling his estate this year.
NTSC officials plan to review, document and decide how to best use or distribute the material. Some items may be sold, others donated to philatelic libraries or youth programs, ensuring Walton’s legacy continues to support collectors at every level.
This story is available in the newest issue of Canadian Stamp News (CSN V50N12) released on Sept. 9. To read this intriguing story, subscribe to CSN.