Category Archives: Top Story

There was no shortage of postal history at the second annual symposium hosted by the Postal History Society of Canada (PHSC) in Hamilton this July. The five-day show, which included a two-day bourse on July 21 and 22, was a marked improvement over last year’s inaugural show, said symposium vice-chair Bill Longley. Continue reading →

A “Travelling Postal Museum” produced by long-time philatelist and award-winning exhibitor Grégoire Teyssier, of Québec, is making the rounds at stamp shows across the country. First presented this March at the Lakeshore Stamp Club exhibition in Dorval, Qué.; at Orapex in Ottawa this May; and at the Postal History Society of Canada (PHSC) Symposium in... Continue reading →

David McLaughlin’s eight-frame exhibit, “The Maple Leaf Issue of Canada 1897-1898,” won the Grand Award at the 160-frame exhibition held during The Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) Convention this June. The exhibit also earned the RPSC Excellence Award (Title Page/Synopsis); the American Philatelic Society (APS) Medal of Excellence (Research); the British North America Philatelic... Continue reading →

A mint vertical strip of 10 three-pence red beaver stamps (Scott #1) nearly tripled its pre-sale estimate of $10,000-plus when it hammered down for $27,000 during a sale by New Brunswick’s Eastern Auctions this June. Offered as Lot 289, the strip of 10 stamps – despite its various described faults – displayed “large margins, excellent colour... Continue reading →

It’s easy to learn but difficult to master. Progressing through the local, regional, national and international waters of philatelic exhibiting requires careful skill, attention to detail and committed passion for the hobby. Beyond the local level, it becomes increasingly difficult to stand out from the competition, but according to a trio of award-winning exhibitors and... Continue reading →

Thirty display cabinets long and three decades in the making, John Powers’ “Banknotes and Butterflies of the World” exhibition combines lepidopterology – the study of butterflies and moths – with philately and notaphily. With stunning effect, 120 countries are represented by first-day covers (FDCs) with stamps and postmarks; a complete collection of 150 uncirculated banknotes... Continue reading →

With undying enthusiasm, philatelists from across Canada made the annual pilgrimage to the nation’s capital this May for the Ottawa RA Centre Philatelic Exhibition, commonly referred to as Orapex. It was the 57th consecutive gathering since the show was founded in 1961, and this year’s two-day bourse and exhibition was nothing short of special, according... Continue reading →

The first step in preserving your hard-earned philatelic collection is knowing your enemies. The myriad of problems collectors can encounter in conserving their collections – including why they’re happening and how to solve them – was highlighted in a presentation at the recent National Postage Stamp and Coin Show by Bank of Canada Museum conservator... Continue reading →

The National Postage Stamp and Coin Show set a new record for attendance this April, when more than 1,000 collectors gathered for the biannual event in Mississauga. The show returned to the Greater Toronto Area on April 7-8 for the fifth time since 2015, when Trajan Media took over what was then known as the... Continue reading →

The designation bestowed upon Canada Post’s first-day locations is meant to be an honour, but some collectors are concerned about the Crown corporation’s apparent lack of promotion. The first-day location for the recent Flowers issue was Waterdown, Ont., which is near the Royal Botanical Gardens; however, according to collector and North Toronto Stamp Club webmaster Leon... Continue reading →