Two postage stamp designers gave collectors an opportunity to have their stamps autographed during the National Postage Stamp Show on Saturday.
Avi Dunkelman and Joseph Gault were on hand for day two of the popular show held at a new venue this year — the International Centre at 6900 Airport Road, Mississauga. They were brought in by Laval, Que., dealer Isidore Baum and stationed at his Wonderful World of Stamps booth.
Dunkelman and Gault, creative partners at the Mix Design Group, are the designers of Canada Post’s collection of stamps that honour the legendary Original Six™ Defencemen.
In the new Original Six issue, the incomparable Bobby Orr of the Boston Bruins® leads a stellar lineup that also includes: Tim Horton (Toronto Maple Leafs®), Pierre Pilote (Chicago Blackhawks®), Red Kelly (Detroit Red Wings®), Doug Harvey (Montreal Canadiens®), and Harry Howell (New York Rangers®). All players, except Horton, a three-time member of the NHL’s First All-Star Team, won the Norris trophy for best defenceman. Horton finished second twice over his brilliant 23-year NHL career, once to Orr.
Each stamp designed by Dunkelman and Gault show the player wearing the team jersey and holding a hockey stick, with the player’s jersey number in the background.
Seven additional permanent-rate stamps — issued as separate coils of 50 and in a souvenir sheet of seven — pay tribute to Canada’s seven NHL teams. Each design shows a Zamboni emblazoned with team logos and colors.
The seven teams represented on the NHL Zamboni Team Logo stamps are the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks and Winnipeg Jets.
The stamps show an overhead illustration of the machine with the team logo appearing on the hood of the Zamboni and on the ice.
The 2014 NHL stamp issue is the second in what Canada Post indicates is a five-year series. Dunkelman and Gault also designed last year’s series as part of a five-year contract with the Crown corporation.
At times on Saturday, there were a lineup of collectors with stamps and covers in hand to have them autographed by the two designers, who also took time to answer questions from collectors.
The National Postage Stamp Show, sponsored by the Canadian Stamp Dealers’ Association, wraps up today. Held in Hall 3 of the International Centre, the show opens at 10 a.m. and concludes at 3 p.m., featuring more than 30 dealers from across Canada, the U.S. and Great Britain.
Parking and admission is free.
For more show information and a listing of dealers at today’s show, click here.