One of Canada's most popular stamp series, The Small Queens Issue offers many challenges. Included are discussions on Proofs, Printing Periods, Plates, Colour, Perforations, Paper, Gum, Imprints, Imperforates, Varieties, Postal History and more. Here is a good introduction by one of the leading authorities on the issue.

Author: John Hillson

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A perfin is a postage stamp that has been perforated with distinctive marks such as initials (hence the contraction perfin from perforated initials) to discourage theft by employees. The practice ceased with the introduction of postal meters.

Author: Tony Brown

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November 11th, the day Canadians remember the men and women who sacrificed their lives in time of war - more than 100,000 who died in the First World War (1914 - 1918), the Second World War (1939 - 1945) and the Korean War (1950 - 1953). We show that we remember by wearing poppies, by pausing for two minutes of silent tribute, and by attending commemorative ceremonies. Tribute has also been paid to Canada's war dead through the medium of postage stamps.

Author: Tony Brown

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Considering its historical significance to Canada it is surprising that so few stamps have been issued to commemorate the War of 1812. A by-product of the Napoleonic Wars that preoccupied most of Europe at the beginning of the 19th century, the War of 1812, declared by the United States on Great Britain under President James Madison on 18 June 1812, is a source of pride to Canadians as many inhabitants, principally of Upper Canada, fought alongside the Regular British Army and Indian allies to thwart American plans to capture  what were then the British colonies on their northern flank.

Author: Tony Brown

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This entry is a brief explanation of the use and development of selvedge and tabs to portray art and to convey various textual information.

Author: Tony Brown

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Although George V succeeded Edward VII as King of England and the British Dominions on 6 May 1910, stamps depicting his reign were not issued until the latter part of 1911. The ensuing period, lasting until 1928, has become one of the most studied areas of Canadian philately, which is remarkable considering that, during all those years, except for the 1917 issue commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Confederation, only one basic stamp design was in use. This was due to several reasons, not the least of which was Canada's active participation in the First World War from 1914 to 1918, which caused a scarcity of both craftsmen and materials needed to design and manufacture stamps.

Author: Tony Brown, Mike Burn

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15 October 1997. That’s an historic date in philatelic circles for it saw the issue of the $8 Grizzly, Canada’s highest value stamp (at the time of issue). The previous highest value stamps have been $5 varieties, beginning with the 1897 olive green Diamond Jubilee issue, and, in more recent times, issues featuring Point Pelée National Park (1983), La Maurice National Park (1986), Bonsecours Market (1990) and the Victoria Public Library (1996). Used mainly on overseas parcels, the Grizzly provides an attractive alternative to postal meter adhesives.

Author: Tony Brown

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Located west of Halifax, Nova Scotia, in Mahone Bay, Kaulbach Island served as a rustic vacation spot for holiday seekers. From 1971 to 1984, local postal labels were issued by the Kaulbach Island Local Carriage Service on mail that was transported to and from the island to the mainland. Canada Post approved the service provided that the local stamps were affixed to the back of envelopes, which had Canadian postage stamps on the front for entry into the Canadian postal system.

Author: Tony Brown

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Introduced by Canada Post in 1990 as part of a general trend towards increased commercialization of postal services and as a means to provide additional revenue, the sponsorship of postage stamps is a somewhat controversial issue among philatelists. Those who attach considerable import to postage stamps as a medium that helps to define a country tend to feel that commercial sponsorships cheapen that noble purpose. Others are less concerned and view sponsorships as just another interesting facet to the hobby.

Author: Tony Brown with thanks to Dave Whalley

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For many of us the swastika is associated with some of the most despised people and most tragic events that have ever occurred. There was a time, however, when most people thought of that symbol in a much different light.

Author: Tony Brown

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Expand your collecting horizon to include associations of your country or countries of interest on foreign issues.

Author: Tony Brown

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