Category Archives: Top Story

Eastern Auctions’ next major sale, slated for April 30-May 1, will take place across three sessions, but many bidders will have their eyes locked on the Canada section. In addition to a highly anticipated Admiral offering, described by auctioneers as one of three “standout areas,” the sale’s Canada section also includes a significant section of “Small Queen” postal history plus the Daniel Cantor Collection of King Edward VII material. “If you do collect or have even the slightest interest in these areas, we do welcome anyone to study the lots, read the descriptions, learn something and hopefully be successful in acquiring an item or two for their collection,” Yohann Tanguay, a stamp specialist and chief describer with the New Brunswick-based auction house, told CSN. Continue reading →

A comprehensive 215-lot section of “Admirals,” named after the King’s Admiral of the Fleet uniform, will offer collectors the finest selection of examples in recent years on May 1. Several major rarities and high-quality mint never-hinged (NH) stamps from the long-running 20th-century series are slated to cross the block that day in the third and final session of Eastern Auctions’ next major sale. “The beauty of the Admiral series is that a collector can search a lifetime and never really complete his collection as the field is vast and opportunity of findings still in its infancy,” said Yohann Tanguay, a stamp specialist and chief describer with the New Brunswick-based auction house. “What makes this current offering stand out from the rest is that it has a bit of everything, with a focus on major Admiral rarities and superb-quality mint NH stamps.” Continue reading →

With show organizers forced to close their doors to stem the spread of COVID-19, an Alberta collector has created a series of special mourning covers to mark this past year’s slew of cancelled conventions. Since March 2020, when the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, show organizers in Canada have either postponed or outright cancelled virtually all shows, big and small. But with their large crowds and entrenched social mingling, major conventions bear the brunt of the risk. In 2020, Canada’s five national-level exhibitions – the Edmonton “Spring National,” Orapex, the annual Royal Convention, the Postal History Society of Canada (PHSC) Symposium and Canpex – were all cancelled. BNAPEX, another large gathering serving as the annual convention of the British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS), also met the same fate. The latter convention hosts a competitive British North America-focused exhibition rather than an official national exhibition accredited to participate in the World Series of Philately (WSP). Continue reading →

In a new set issued Feb. 16, Canada Post is recognizing five of the world’s 19 mammal species that undergo the twice-yearly process of moulting. The five-stamp “Snow Mammals” set features a handful of animals found in Canada with a survival skill that’s distinctly adapted to the country’s snowy climate: their otherwise dark coats turn white in winter. “These creatures are like ghosts, travelling on or under the snow without a sound,” Dominique Fauteux, a research scientist at the Canadian Museum of Nature, is quoted as saying in the latest issue of Details magazine. “Their unique adaptation invokes a very poetic view of winter as not only silent and calm, but also dangerous.” Continue reading →

Whether it’s a delivery complaint, a stamp subject disappointment or the dreaded pen cancellation, Canada Post is no stranger to criticism. That’s why a Toronto collector decided to share his story about the “remarkable” service – complete with a postal history twist – he received from the Crown corporation last fall. “Every now and then, when somebody does something right, it’s important to praise,” said postal historian Garfield Portch, whose story begins with the annual online auction hosted by the Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain (CPSGB). Continue reading →

When it comes to high-quality classic, rare or often-forged material, whether it’s a stamp, a postmark or a cover, collectors are almost always told to have an expert certify it. But did you know depending on the material in question, experts often recommend “refreshing” certificates pre-dating the use of forensic analysis? The decision ultimately comes down to the material in question and the owner’s motivation for seeking additional certification, said Garfield Portch, the president and chair of Toronto’s Vincent Graves Greene Philatelic Research Foundation. “With the advance in technology, I really think that any certificate done before the discovery of the VSC6000 should be re-looked at,” added Portch, who’s also a long-time member of the Greene Foundation’s expert committee, which issued nearly 990 certificates last year, even with the pandemic hampering the experts’ ability to meet in person. Continue reading →

Echoing issues from past years, membership and finances were among the main topics of discussion at the first virtual annual general meeting (AGM) hosted by the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) this December. A welcome sign to officials worried about a dwindling membership base, the RPSC gained 85 members last year, jumping from 1,460 in 2019 to 1,545 in 2020. More than 90 of those members attended the recent AGM, held via Zoom on Dec. 9. “It’s wonderful to scroll through the gallery and see everyone,” said RPSC President Ed Kroft, who also spoke about the “devastating” impact COVID-19 has had on the philatelic community and country at large. Continue reading →

Along with some dealer sales – mostly for sellers with a strong online presence – auction results have also held their own during the pandemic. In 2020, the hobby’s natural ebb and flow continued, with certain collecting areas outperforming others in terms of general interest if not outright value. Among the major trends – a continuation from previous years – is the increased interest in the Elizabethan period, including modern errors and varieties. “I think collectors are just starting to notice there are some bargains to be had, and they are picking up some of those things they need in the modern era,” said auctioneer Gary Lyon, the owner of Gary Lyon (Philatelist) Ltd. and its sister company Eastern Auctions, who added prices for modern material were previously “depressed a bit.” Continue reading →

Looking ahead to 2021, the “Edmonton Spring National” in March and Orapex in May – Canada’s first two national-level shows of the year – are already cancelled. The June Royal Convention originally slated for Peterborough, Ont., before the host Kawartha Stamp Club withdrew as the host, is also up in the air. The only remaining 2021 national shows include the Postal History Society of Canada Symposium in July and Canpex in October. All five of Canada’s national-level shows in 2020 were cancelled due to COVID-19. What’s certain is these national-level cancellations limit exhibitors’ chances to qualify for CAPEX 22, the first World One-Frame Stamp Championship scheduled for June 9-12, 2022, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in downtown Toronto. Continue reading →

With pandemic-related show cancellations continuing into next spring, collectors across Canada have begun to wonder about the 2021 Royal Convention. This year marked the first time since 1950 the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) – and its predecessor Canadian Philatelic Society, which earned its “Royal” prefix in 1959 – did not host a convention. Now, with winter lockdowns looming and about a year until a critical mass of Canadians will receive a COVID-19 vaccine, concerns are swirling about next year’s Royal Convention – especially after the Kawartha Stamp Club withdrew as the event’s host. Continue reading →