Category Archives: Top Story

Canada Post fulfilled the latest chapter in a long tradition on June 7 with the issue of a single stamp commemorating former prime minister John Turner, who died last September. Chosen by Turner’s family, the stamp’s design shows the former leader in a different light – as an enthusiastic outdoorsman – with him at the helm during... Continue reading →

Long-time Toronto exhibitor Sam Chiu took home the Grand Award at Pipex 2021, a U.S. World Series of Philately (WSP) show held virtually this year due to COVID-19. Chiu’s 10-frame postal history exhibit, “Hankow, China, 1891-1919,” earned 94 points – a large gold – as the exhibition’s best-judged entry. In it, he highlights the postal history of the... Continue reading →

The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) has launched a committee to expand its French-language presence in not only Québec but across Canada and francophone countries worldwide. The six-person committee includes: • Mario Chevrette, the president of Montréal’s Lakeshore Stamp Club; • Stéphane Cloutier, the auction manager of Ottawa’s Sparks Auctions; • Hugo Deshaye, an... Continue reading →

After reporting unexpectedly high interest in the recent commemorative “Snow Mammals” issue, Canada Post added another 100,000 booklets to the original print run. The Ottawa-based Canadian Bank Note Company (CBNC) was originally ordered to print 300,000 booklets of 10 stamps, with two of each of the set’s five designs. Featured on the cover of Canada Post’s... Continue reading →

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... 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... 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... 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... 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... 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... Continue reading →