Boston 2026,set for May 23 to 30 in Boston, Mass., is expected to draw strong global participation, with a strong contingent of Canadian exhibitors.
Canadian collectors and societies are pressing ahead with plans to participate in Boston 2026, ensuring a national presence at one of the world’s premier international stamp exhibitions despite shifting travel patterns. Continue reading →
Collectors can gain a rare behind the scenes look at how exhibits are judged through the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada’s Authorized Observer Program, designed to encourage the next generation of philatelic judges.
The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada is opening the door for collectors curious about exhibiting from a different perspective, one that goes beyond building displays and into the decision making behind the scenes. Continue reading →
This trial colour plate proof block of the six-pence Prince Consort stamp from the Province of Canada Pence Issue was printed in lilac with vertical orange SPECIMEN overprints. The scarce block of 15 from the Brigham Estate Province of Canada Part IV sale realized $3,250 at Eastern Auctions on Oct. 4, 2024. (Image courtesy of Eastern Auctions)
The story of Canada’s first postage stamps is often told through two iconic issues, the Three-Penny Beaver and the rare Twelve-Pence Black. Yet a third stamp, issued alongside them on April 23, 1851, quietly completes the picture. The Six-Pence Consort, bearing a portrait of Prince Albert, played a crucial role in the postal system of... Continue reading →
At 52 pages, this is one of the largest issues published in years. The expanded edition features a special 32-page section dedicated to the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation, produced in collaboration with Greene Foundation volunteers and contributors. The section offers readers a rare inside look at the organization that has played a central... Continue reading →
The Province of Canada issued a 12-pence black stamp on June 14, 1851, marking the pre-Confederation colony’s third postage stamp issue.
From commercial miscalculation to crown jewel of Canadian philately, the Province of Canada’s 12-pence black — known reverently as the “Black Empress” — has travelled an extraordinary path over the past 175 years. Issued on June 14, 1851, it began as an ambitious expression of postal independence and ended as one of the rarest and... Continue reading →
This registered cover (Lot 904) franked with a 50-cent Bluenose stamp was carried on the Hindenburg Zeppelin’s first North America flight in May 1936.
Eastern Auctions’ upcoming Feb. 25–28 sale reaches deep into the heart of British North America and Canadian postal history, offering one of the most extensive and diverse public selections the firm has assembled in recent years. Anchored by two major named collections, the auction’s real strength lies in the breadth of specialist material spanning classic... Continue reading →
Dated Aug. 5, 1709, this folded letter sheet (Lot 72) is believed to be the earliest recorded outgoing mail from Newfoundland bearing postal markings, documenting the colony’s earliest interaction with the British postal system.
Postal history takes centre stage in the latest issue of Canadian Stamp News, Vol. 50 No. 22, as Eastern Auctions prepares one of its most ambitious and scholarly sales in recent memory. Anchored by two major collections built over decades, Eastern’s Feb. 24–28 auction offers an unusually deep and diverse selection that will resonate with... Continue reading →
The late philatelist Ron Brigham supplied Canada Post with the original black die proof, shown here, for the 1851 Beaver stamp when the Crown corporation produced a replica issue to mark the stamp’s 150th anniversary in 2001. (Photo by Eastern Auctions.)
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 →
Judges at ORAPEX 2025 in Ottawa evaluate competitive exhibits at the long-running show. (CSN file photo)
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 →
Collectors in Canada and abroad competed for standout material offered by the country’s auction houses in 2025, including Part I of the Camellia PLC Collection, one of the strongest offerings of Pence, Cents and Large Queen issues in recent years. Among the highlights was this used block of four 1857 six-pence grey violets on thick, hard wove paper, which realized $72,000.
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 →