By Jesse Robitaille
CSN has officially launched its Fourth Annual Cover Contest, and this year, there’s a major focus on National Stamp Collecting Month.
For the past three years, the CSN Cover Contest has promoted National Stamp Collecting Month, which takes place each October. But this year, in response to readers’ suggestions, the competition will use the month-long philatelic celebration as its cornerstone. For the first time, the top prize will be given to the winner of the new “National Stamp Collecting Month” category, which is open to both individuals and organizations.
“The aim of the CSN Cover Contest has always been to draw attention to stamp collecting and related philatelic fields through National Stamp Collecting Month,” said CSN Publisher and Editor Mike Walsh. “For 2021, after listening to some suggestions from the collecting community, we’ve decided to reflect our shared goal of promoting philately with a new top prize of $150.”
Individual collectors and philatelic organizations of all stripes can submit their custom-designed covers for the National Stamp Collecting Month category. These covers must celebrate National Stamp Collecting Month in some way; whether it’s an abstract or straightforward design, the month-long celebration must be the focus.
The winner will receive $150, the highest amount awarded in CSN Cover Contest history. The second- and third-place winners will receive a 12- and six-month digital CSN subscription (or a subscription extension), respectively.
Like last year, the other two categories – one for individuals (the “Collector” category) and another for organizations (the “Club” category) – will each have a top prize of $100. The two runners-up of both of these categories will also win 12- and six-month digital subscriptions to CSN, respectively. For these categories, the covers’ designs are unrestricted, with no specific focus.
OPEN TO ANYONE
Everyone, whether they live in Canada or abroad and whether they’re collectors or not, is encouraged to participate in this year’s Cover Contest.
Multiple submissions will be accepted from the same individual or organization, so feel free to submit more than one cover concept to vie for a prize.
While both individuals and organizations can submit covers for the National Stamp Collecting Month category, only individuals can compete in the Collector category and only organizations will be accepted into the Club category.
Altogether, there are nine prizes (three for each category). The three monetary prizes total $350 while the six subscription prizes are worth about $115 altogether.
SEPT. 20 DEADLINE
All covers must be mailed to and received by CSN by Sept. 20, complete with a postmark to prove the deadline date was met.
The mailing address is PO Box 25009 Rose City RO, Welland, ON L3B 5V0.
All submitted entries will be posted on canadianstampnews.com on Oct. 1.
The submissions will also be published in CSN Vol. 46 #14 (dated Oct. 19). People around the world will then be invited to vote online throughout October for their favourite submissions in each category. The voting deadline is Oct. 30 at 9 p.m. (ET).
The following day, on Nov. 1, CSN will announce the winners online. The results will also be published in CSN Vol. 46 #16 (dated Nov. 16).
For more information about this year’s contest, visit canadianstampnews.com/2021-csn-cover-contest.