Author Archives: Jim Szeplaki

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. Continue reading →

Squared circle postmarks are booming with collectors, offering a vast field of study, rising values and fresh discoveries. Originating in Britain in 1879 as an improvement on duplex handstamps, they took hold in Canada in the 1890s and span dozens of towns, multiple stamp issues and a spectrum of hammer rarities and coloured strikes. Continue reading →

In an era of instant messaging and crowded inboxes, Toronto’s First Post Office offers a vivid link to a time when communication was deliberate, tangible and steeped in ritual. For nearly two centuries, the Georgian brick building at 260 Adelaide St. E. has stood as both a working post office and a museum, preserving the... Continue reading →

Philatelists from across Canada and beyond gathered in Toronto this July to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation. Held at the historic Campbell House Museum, the sold-out “Day of Philately” brought together collectors, exhibitors, and global leaders in the hobby, including Fellows of the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL)... Continue reading →

A new philatelic resource is set to make its debut – and Canadian Stamp News has your first in-depth look. In our latest issue, we preview the soon-to-be-released Trajan Canada Specialized Stamp Catalogue, a full-colour guide edited by well-known philatelic writer and editor Robin Harris. Continue reading →

A seemingly small postal error has captured national attention – and now, it’s capturing the imagination of Canada’s philatelic community. A misdirected mail-in ballot from the April 2025 federal election, returned due to a postal code misprint, could become one of the most significant modern-era covers in Canadian postal history. Continue reading →

This year marks a golden milestone for one of Canada’s most iconic national emblems: the beaver. It’s been 50 years since Parliament officially recognized Castor canadensis as a symbol of Canadian sovereignty – though its significance stretches far deeper into the country’s colonial and philatelic past. Continue reading →

Canada’s oldest company, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), continues to live on through the world of philately. From commemorative stamps and first-day covers to rare postmarks from remote trading posts, HBC’s role in Canada’s postal history remains a fascinating chapter for collectors and historians alike. Continue reading →

At this year’s ORAPEX exhibition in Ottawa, exhibitors weren’t just showcasing their material – they were gaining invaluable feedback from some of the most experienced judges in philately. Leading the session was Chief Judge Ed Kroft, who offered candid, practical advice on how collectors can improve everything from title pages to treatment and presentation. Continue reading →

As the world’s first postage stamp, the Penny Black turns 185 this May, collectors and letter writers alike are honouring its legacy in a unique, heartfelt way. The U.K.-based Handwritten Letter Appreciation Society (HLAS) is encouraging thousands of its members—across 38 countries including Canada—to mark the occasion by simply writing and mailing a letter. Continue reading →