Author Archives: Jim Szeplaki
Philatelic market ‘is in good shape’
After years of pandemic-driven highs in show attendance, dealer sales and auction realizations, ensuing economic factors such as high inflation and increased interest rates may have some philatelists wondering about their impact on the hobby. While economic uncertainties abound heading into 2024, collectors, dealers and auctioneers alike believe Canada’s philatelic economy remains strong as the... Continue reading →
Exhibits shine, dealers aplenty at ‘high-end’ Royal / Canpex
An RCMP officer wearing the ceremonial uniform looks on as RPSC President Gregg Redner welcomes members, dealers, and the public to Royal *2023* Royale in London, Ont., – the first in-person show since COVID-19. The show was held in conjunction with the popular Canpex.
The “high-powered” exhibits, “outstanding jury,” “larger dealer bourse” and “all the reunions” at the first in-person Royal*Royale, since COVID-19 made for a memorable gathering for Canadian philatelists in London, Ont. “I think it’s gone even better than we thought it would,” said Gregg Redner, president of the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC). “We had... Continue reading →
Fake die proofs exposed at seminar
It was these three die proofs submitted to the VGG that the expertizing committee uncovered them as forgeries. See pages 16-17 for slides of a recent presentation made at the National Postage Stamp and Coin Show, revealing why the die proofs are fakes.
A recent alert was issued to hobbyists, dealers, and auction firms by the Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation (VGG) in Toronto about a variety of bogus proof images of Canadian stamps being sold on eBay and Facebook Marketplace. The VGG’s Ted Nixon, head of the foundation’s expertizing committee, along with foundation President Garfield Portch,... Continue reading →
Canada Post honours three remarkable women
Family and friends of Léa Robak, Madeleine Parent, and Simonne Monet-Chartrand at a Montreal ceremony to celebrate Canada Post’s latest stamps honouring the legacy and lasting influence of three Quebec feminists. Photo courtesy of Pinpoint Photograph.
Three stamps honouring Quebec feminists were unveiled Aug. 28 by Canada Post. The packed ceremony was held in Montreal and attended by family members, friends, and supporters, all of whom clearly admired what these unassuming giants of Canadian history accomplished in the name of justice and equality. The stamps honour Léa Roback, Madeleine Parent, and... Continue reading →
Brigham, Lundeen sales prompt heated bidding
With a pre-sale estimate of $150,000, the famous “Dale-Lichtenstein” mint block of Canada’s 1851 three-penny beaver fetched $425,000 hammer.
Electrifying is how the chief describer at Eastern Auctions sums up the bidding at part two of the Brigham and Lundeen sales. “We are still startled over what happened during this two-day auction,” says Yohann Tanguay. “It took more than nine hours to call a total of 295 lots, where many of the lots took... Continue reading →
Wonder Woman’s battles not limited to comic books
A cover features a cancel from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., dated Dec. 9, 2016, with a postmark from the Supercon Station, a temporary postal station set up at the Paradise City Comic Con.
The same polygamist psychologist who invented the polygraph, or lie detector, created Wonder Woman. Perhaps Dr. Moulton Marston had been inspired to create the superhero by one, or more, of the women in his life. In his Stamp Talks this April, Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) member Derwin Mak speculates at length that Marston... Continue reading →
Lundeen Admiral sale includes ‘impressive’ war tax selection
This is the three-cents section of Lot 612, described as ‘one of the key sets of the entire Admiral series and the rarest imperforates in Canadian philately.’ It has a pre-sale catalogue value of $67,500-plus.
Eastern Auctions’ second instalment of the Glen Lundeen Admiral collection “offers another dazzling array of proofs and, especially, plate multiples.” “Once again, the war tax section is very impressive,” adds Yohann Tanguay, Eastern’s chief describer. “As a group, these are very rarely seen and many have not been seen in decades.” The 137-lot Glen Lundeen... Continue reading →