Long-time collector, researcher, author, exhibitor and judge David Sessions, of West Sussex, England, has died at age 88.
Sessions began specializing in Canadian stamps and postal history after inheriting part of his late father-in-law’s stamp collection.
David Sessions
He’s best remembered for his research on Canada’s Edward VII definitive stamps, the 1930 George V “Arch” issue, the 1933 George V “Medallion” issue, flag and machine cancellations plus fakes and forgeries. His writing appeared in many publications, including Maple Leaves, published by the Canadian Philatelic Society of Great Britain (CPSGB); the London Philatelist, published by the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL); plus Gibbons Stamp Monthly and Stamp News. He also authored two books, The Early Rapid Cancelling Machines of Canada in 1982 and Philatelic Fantasies of BNA in 1999. An exhibitor and a regionally accredited judge, Sessions won several top honours, including the Grand Award at BNAPEX 1998 in Orlando, Fla., for his exhibit “Canada: Classical Flags and Associated Cancellations.”
From 1976-86, he served as the CPSGC secretary before editing the group’s Maple Leaves journal from 1986-2004. A Fellow of the CPSGB, RPSL and Royal Philatelic Society of Canada, Sessions also received the British North America Philatelic Society’s Order of the Beaver Lifetime Achievement Award.
Sessions died on Nov. 5.