Category Archives: Top Story

Apostal history relic dating back to the golden age of early skyscrapers, the mail chute remains an integral part of many buildings’ iconic stories. A logistical godsend for late 19th-century letter writers and postal carriers alike, mail chutes came on the scene in the 1880s alongside taller office and residential buildings plus the first modern... Continue reading →

The British North America Philatelic Society (BNAPS) is set to kick off its first virtual convention, BNAPEX 2021 Virtual, in early September. It comes on the heels of the in-person event’s cancellation – the second in a row – as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to cause uncertainty across the country despite widespread vaccination efforts. Instead of... Continue reading →

A smaller, more focused collecting area has been complementing Canada’s annual stamp program since 1976, when the Post Office Department issued a series of covers marking that year’s Montréal Olympics. The Post Office Department and its post-1981 successor Canada Post have marked 126 themes on special event, custom and commemorative envelopes since the 1976 Olympic... Continue reading →

As Canada’s COVID-19 caseload continues its downward trend, and with more than 35 per cent of the country’s population fully vaccinated, stamp collectors are eying a return to the bourse later this summer. As of July 9, more than 25.8 million Canadian adults (67.9 per cent of the population) have received at least one shot... Continue reading →

To outsiders and newcomers, the world of international exhibiting can at first glance appear complicated. Exhibitions are generally held locally, regionally, nationally or internationally, the latter of which is overseen by the Swiss-based Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP). Also known as world shows, these international exhibitions focus on either general or specialized collecting interests. But... Continue reading →

Canada’s seven-stamp set marking the 100th anniversary of the Group of Seven’s first exhibition topped the 2021 CSN Stamp Survey as respondents’ favourite issue of 2020. Released on May 7, 2020, the Group of Seven set earned 31 of 149 votes (20.8 per cent) as the overall favourite Canadian issue from the 2020 stamp program.... Continue reading →

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 →