Author Archives: Jim Szeplaki

Canada’s story didn’t begin with Confederation, a flag or a prime minister – it began with a beaver. In the latest issue of Canadian Stamp News, released Jan. 13, 2026, readers are invited to rediscover the quiet but revolutionary moment when Canada first put its identity into circulation, 175 years ago, on a small piece... Continue reading →

Concerns about the future of exhibit judging are once again resurfacing within the Canadian philatelic community, as long-standing warnings about a shortage of qualified judges show little sign of easing. Continue reading →

Canada’s philatelic community closed out 2025 with renewed energy, as collectors, dealers and organizations demonstrated resilience and enthusiasm in a year marked by both standout successes and notable challenges. From landmark auctions to strong show attendance, the hobby showed clear signs of momentum across the country. Auctions played a central role in shaping the year.... Continue reading →

The first installment of Eastern Auctions’ Camellia PLC Collection has landed – and the results are already being talked about as one of the strongest showings for Canadian classics in years. Continue reading →

In 1977, the quiet Ohio town of Circleville found its daily mail transformed from routine to menace. What began as a single envelope soon spiralled into a chilling campaign that would haunt residents for nearly two decades. The anonymous writer’s letters accused neighbours of affairs, crimes and betrayals, each message delivered with unnerving precision. The... Continue reading →

A remarkable group of Canadian postal history treasures will cross the auction block this month as Eastern Auctions presents the Camellia PLC Collection – Canada Part I, an extraordinary offering of classic material set for Nov. 22 in Bathurst, N.B. Among the sale’s headline pieces are some of the most celebrated items in Canadian philately,... Continue reading →

In a world where postage often reflects politics, new research highlights how Palestinian stamps have long served as tools of identity, defiance, and propaganda. The latest issue of Canadian Stamp News examines how, amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, postage imagery continues to shape narratives of statehood and sovereignty. Continue reading →

Collectors are gearing up for one of the most anticipated Canadian philatelic auctions in years as Eastern Auctions prepares to open bidding on the Camellia PLC Collection on Nov. 22. The single-session sale of 265 lots promises to deliver museum-level rarities, including proofs, essays and pristine examples of Canada’s Pence, Cents and Large Queen issues.... Continue reading →

Canada’s stamp story is as vast and varied as the country itself, and philatelist James R. Taylor takes readers on a sweeping journey in his latest column, The Great White North is a stamp collector’s Eden. From the very first Dominion issues of 1868 to the provincial classics of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and beyond, Taylor... Continue reading →

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 →