Disingenuous stamps (counterfeits, forgeries and fakes – oh my!)

Queen Victoria stamps: The genuine 1870 Queen Victoria 4.5d stamp, left, (Scott 10) was engraved, making the Queen’s image appear sharper. The forged stamp, right, is a poor lithograph version of the portrait, causing the image to appear fuzzy.

It’s considered one of the most challenging aspects of philately, and with copious amounts of forged, faked, and counterfeit material on the market today, it’s vital for collectors to understand what they’re dealing with. As usual, the first step is knowledge. Luckily for collectors, the hobby is filled with knowledgeable people who are more than... Continue reading →

Ottawa art students produce postal covers

Each of the Focus program’s 18 students produced two Valentine’s Day covers—one that was sent to the high school so the students could add it to their portfolio and another sent to a significant other.

Merivale High School is at it again. This Valentine’s Day, Canadian Stamp News received a lovely custom-made envelope – one of a series produced by Grade 11 students at Merivale High School in Ottawa. “Designing miniature works of art is a good challenge for my design students,” said Irving Osterer, the award-winning department head who... Continue reading →

Quebec dealer discovers misperf error on new Pansies souvenir sheet

An error has moved the perforations slightly to the right and up (towards the series name and description) about one-quarter of the size of the stamp itself. Four such sheets were found by a dealer.

By Jesse Robitaille A Quebec stamp dealer recently discovered dramatic perforation errors on four of Canada Post’s new Pansies souvenir sheets. The misperfs, found by Michelle Levesque, co-owner of Zimo Stamp Co., left a large blank space above the blossoms on the two se-tenant commemoratives, with “Canada,” the “P” symbol (for Permanent Postage) and the... Continue reading →

Stamp clubs offer rewarding benefits

Stamp clubs like the West Toronto Stamp Club have been providing Canadian collectors with knowledge and friendship since the early 1900s.

If you’re serious about stamps, then joining a club will allow you to get the most out of your hobby. Since 1840, when the first public postage stamps were issued in Great Britain, people around the world have been collecting stamps. The Penny Black – recognized as the world’s first public postage stamp – was... Continue reading →

Collecting postcards provides great insight on nation’s history

This patriotic postcard contains a pre-written nationalistic poem.

By Jesse Robitaille It all started in 1977, when 10 postcard-collecting enthusiasts established the Toronto Postcard Club (TPC). The club meets monthly in North York, where for almost 40 years its significant influence and contribution has helped Canadian deltiology progress to where it is today. Made up of nearly 300 dedicated members from the world... Continue reading →

Flag anniversary marked by first-ever fabric stamp

The 50th anniversary of the flag is marked with Canada’s first cloth stamp.

Canada’s first-ever fabric stamp is being issued to mark the 50th anniversary of the Canadian flag, on Feb. 15, 2015. The $5 stamp is printed on a specialized satin rayon fabric, applied to a paper backer using adhesives and silicones. The backer is similar to, but thicker, than that used on most self-adhesive stamps. The... Continue reading →

Canada Post mark’s John A.’s 200th

The stamp marking John A. Macdonald’s 200th birthday will be cancelled on official first-day covers with a Kingston postmark, paying tribute to the Ontario city where Canada’s first prime minister spent his formative years.

Canada Post has released a new stamp marking the 200th birthday of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada’s first prime minister and a Father of Confederation. Designed by Montreal-based Paprika, the predominantly earth-toned stamp features a portrait of “Sir John A.” with the dates 1815-2015. The self-adhesive stamps with simulated perforations were printed by Canadian Bank... Continue reading →

U.S. auctioneers open the year with Canadian lots

Both pilots were shown on stamps made for the ill-fated London to London flight.

Canadian collectors will be keeping an eye south of the border this month, as three U.S. auction houses are offering Canadian stamps. On Jan 21-22 Daniel F. Kelleher Auctions, of Danbury, Conn., will be offering the first part of the Boca collection, including Canadian and British North American stamps and postal history. Spink USA also... Continue reading →

2014 saw big rate hike, sports stamps aplenty

Canada Post marked the return of the CFL to Ottawa with stamps depicting a Redblacks player and the new team’s logo.

The big news in 2014, for collectors and mail users alike, was a whopping increase in postage rates. As announced late in the previous year, money-losing Canada Post intended to increase the price of mailing a 30-gram domestic first-class letter from 63 cents to 85 cents, a 35 per cent hike only if customers bought... Continue reading →

Back of the book does well in third Brigham sale

A corner block of this 14-cent war tax, with the overprint shifted, vanDam #FX28, sold for $600.

The third sale of the Ron Brigham Collection featured material acquired but never publicly shown by Brigham, who was a prolific and successful exhibitor of Canadian stamps. Unlike the two previous sales, held at the Toronto Airport Hilton Hotel, the third sale was held Nov. 22, at the Brampton Golf Club. At the second sale,... Continue reading →

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