Category Archives: Top Story

This year, the Toronto-based security printer Colour Innovations will mark its 35th anniversary, including nearly a decade bidding on Canadian stamp-printing contracts. The firm previously supplied prepress services to Canada Post before serving as a subcontractor to one of the Crown corporation’s main printers beginning in 2003. More recently, in 2015, Colour Innovations began offering... Continue reading →

With nearly 40,000 followers across his social media accounts, one philatelic influencer has propelled the hobby into the 21st century with an “extreme” take on collecting stamps. Graham Beck grew up in South Africa, where he collected new issues with his childhood friends, before moving to the United States, where he now lives in New Jersey.... Continue reading →

The first of four sales of Ron Brigham’s international Grand Prix-winning Province of Canada collection, the last material held by the late philatelist before his death last August, rewrote the record books in the days leading up to spring. The March 17 sale offered 163 lots centring on the three-pence and five-cent “Beaver” issues (Scott #1... Continue reading →

With the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic spreading illness, fear and uncertainty, the cancellation of virtually all in-person events spurred two U.S. collectors to fill the social void in the philatelic community. Trying to match the camaraderie of mingling with people at stamp shows, Michael Cortese and Charles Epting launched Conversations with Philatelists, a... Continue reading →

Exhibitors, judges and organizers continue to debate the pros and cons of virtual exhibiting after more than 33 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, which upended exhibitions from the local to the international level. While in-person exhibitions returned around the world in 2022, virtual competitions filled the void through much of 2020 and 2021. After decades... Continue reading →

As spring nears, Canadian philatelists are preparing for this year’s planned national- and international-level shows. In 2023, Canada will host three national exhibitions compared to four such events plus an international show – CAPEX 22 – in 2022. This year’s trio of national-level shows begin with the Edmonton Spring National on March 25-26 in Edmonton,... Continue reading →

As philatelic storytelling becomes a significant aspect of the hobby, collectors have found powerful tools in genealogy services and other historical research platforms. With the advent of digital technology, most collectors have ready access to in-depth research tools, which lend well to learning the stories behind the stamps and postal history in their collections. One... Continue reading →

Eastern Auctions has unveiled a promotional booklet previewing the four-part sale of the final material held by late philatelist Ron Brigham, the only Canadian to win philately’s top international exhibiting honour, before his death last August. Brigham’s Grand Prix-winning Province of Canada collection will be sold across four auctions, the first of which will offer... Continue reading →

After gaining prominence over the past two decades, one-frame exhibiting has enjoyed its brightest year in the limelight thanks in large part to an unprecedented international competition held in Toronto this June. At CAPEX 22, as well as at other international, national, regional and local shows worldwide, exhibitors took the one-frame format to new heights... Continue reading →

Vance Auctions, a family-run firm based in Southern Ontario, celebrated 50 years in business with its 359th sale this November. After working in his father’s Toronto-area stamp store, Vance Carmichael launched the namesake firm in November 1972 and ran his first mail auction with 348 lots. His 359th sale, held on Nov. 23, marked the... Continue reading →