Category Archives: Top Story

Bidding was fierce between dozens of eccentric juniors vying for nearly 40 lots of material in the Young Collectors Postage Stamp and Coin Auction this March.Organized by Lisa McPherson, national youth co-ordinator of the Royal Canadian Numismatic Association (RCNA) and first vice-president of the Ontario Numismatic Association (ONA), the auction offered 36 lots of material donated by hobby organizations such as Trajan Publishing, The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) and the RCNA as well as individual dealers and collectors.“There’s about $600 worth of material being offered today, and everybody will get something,” said McPherson, who served as the auction runner and added every participant who didn’t win a bid would receive a gift bag. Continue reading →

A sure sign of spring’s arrival, the hobby season began to bloom this March as the biannual National Postage Stamp and Coin Show opened its doors in Mississauga.On March 23-24, more than 1,100 show-goers, about 50 dealers and dozens of competing exhibitors returned to Hilton Mississauga’s 9,000-square-foot Graydon Hall for what was the largest gathering since the show began in 2016.“It’s always one of the best spring shows, and it’s a great way to start the season,” said dealer Stephan Bilodeau, owner of Canadian-Stamps, who has attended all seven shows since the first in May 2016, about six months after Trajan Publishing acquired the rights to the former “National Postage Stamp Show” from the Canadian Stamp Dealers’ Association. Continue reading →

Long considered an ingenious aspect of postal history in early Canada as well as the U.S., “turned covers” was the topic of a recent meeting of the Pence-Cents Study Group of the British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS).One of more than 20 active study groups affiliated with BNAPS, the “Pence and Cents” people focus on the area of classic Canadian philately that started it all. Issued by what was then known as the Province of Canada prior to Confederation in 1867, the Pence and Cents issues are Canada’s earliest stamps.“We’re a fairly new group,” said chair Ron Majors, who has served at the helm of the study group since its formation seven years ago. Continue reading →

Originating in Great Britain in 1879, the 140-year-old squared circle cancellation is the main focus of one the British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS) study groups. The group’s latest venture, which was unanimously agreed upon at its most recent meeting, is updating the 18-year-old fifth edition of The Squared Circle Cancellations of Canada. The 329-page handbook was edited by the late Jack Gordon, who also served as the group’s chairman and newsletter editor before his death in 2013. “I remember my first introduction to squared circles was a book,” said study group member William Radcliffe, who’s also the vice-president of BNAPS’ more than 20 active study groups. “The more information you get out, the more collectors you can get interested in your hobby.” Continue reading →

With less than a month before the official start of spring, Canada Post has issued a pair of flower stamps, these featuring the gardenia, to meet the demands of the upcoming wedding season. The two stamp designs feature the cape jasmine gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides), one of nearly 150 species of flowering plants belonging to the gardenia genus. Originating in Asia, the cape jasmine was most commonly found growing wild in Vietnam, Southern China, Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh before being introduced to English gardens in the mid-18th century. “This issue is a harbinger of spring and a very, very strong seller for consumer mail and weddings,” said Canada Post Director of Stamp Services Jim Phillips, who added this stamp has “a very big print run that’s always among the biggest next to our definitives and Christmas stamps.” Continue reading →

Ahistoric Toronto building echoed with applause and music for the launch of a commemorative honouring a man “thought to be Canada’s first Black letter carrier,” the 10-stamp booklets note. Albert Calvin Jackson’s descendants and four Members of Parliament were among more than 300 people attending the 2019 Black History Month stamp, which was launched Jan. 24. Designed by Andrew Perro and illustrated by Ron Dollekamp, the Permanent commemorative was released the following day and shows Jackson in uniform while holding letters. “This is like a family reunion,” Canada Post communications vice-president Jo-Anne Polak said in her opening address. Continue reading →

Described by auctioneers as “an exceptionally fresh and well-centred mint never hinged example,” a Dornier Do X inverted surcharge error will be offered at auction in New Brunswick this February. To cross the block as Lot 507 of Eastern Auctions’ two-day general sale, the overprinted stamp is Newfoundland’s 1931 $1 “Historic Transatlantic Flights” issue (Scott #C11) with a 50-cent surcharge (Scott #C12) that was erroneously inverted (Scott #C12a). “This is in as good a condition as you’ll find for that stamp,” said auctioneer Gary Lyon, owner of Bathurst, N.B.-based auction house, who added the stamp is “without question, one of the finest existing examples of this rare error.” Continue reading →

In what’s described by auctioneers as “immaculate condition with impeccable and illustrious provenance,” a mint 12-penny black issued by the Province of Canada in 1851 will cross the block in New Brunswick this February. To be offered by Eastern Auctions, the 168-year-old imperforate stamp on handmade laid paper is “a truly remarkable example of this keenly sought-after classic stamp,” said auctioneer Gary Lyon. Aside from its “unusually choice” condition, part of this stamp’s appeal is its provenance, which is the theme of this second 360-lot offering of the Highlands Collection. “Condition-wise, it’s one of the best examples available,” said Lyon, who’s the owner of the Bathurst, N.B.-based auction house. Continue reading →

Several Canadian exhibitors, including three literature entries, received noteworthy honours at the Thailand 2018 world stamp exhibition late last year. Specifically, in the adult multi-frame category, Canadian representatives were “very satisfied” with the country’s performance, said David McLaughlin, chair of The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada’s (RPSC) international liaison. Of the five Canadian multi-frame exhibits, two were first-time entries to a Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) show. Altogether, there were two gold winners; one large vermeil winner; one vermeil winner; and another large silver winner. “The two golds were strong golds with 93 points each, and one of our new exhibits won a large vermeil the first time out, making it eligible for expansion to eight frames in future exhibitions,” said McLaughlin, who served as Canada’s national commissioner for Thailand 2018. Continue reading →

Dubbed by auctioneers as “the best Small Queen cover” in existence, Lot 887 of the Nov. 8-10 sale by Eastern Auctions realized $28,000. A registered cover, it was mailed to Tonsberg, Norway, in July 1875 and includes a se-tenant pair as well as a single 10-cent pale milky rose lilac Small Queen from the Montreal printings. Paying the correct rate to Norway, the stamps and the postal markings offer outstanding eye-appeal, according to auction cataloguer Yohann Tanguay. “I am not one bit surprised knowing the importance and status of this great cover among seasoned Small Queen collectors,” said Tanguay. “If my knowledge serves me right, this has now become the most valuable cover franked solely with Small Queen stamps.” Continue reading →