Merry Christmas - Happy New Year 2026!

In the course of sending and receiving stamps from exchange partners, I've noticed that some don't write much with their exchanges, others do. Garden results, the weather, family news and once in a while, politics. In this case, US-Canada relations. I'm happy to engage on the topic, because in talking about it, we can seek and find common ground.

An American exchange partner sent a nice Christmas card with a blessing inside (top photo) that no matter your political stripe or beliefs, rings true. Here's to more Peace, more Justice and more stamps (of course!) in 2026.

 

My New Stamping Grounds are Old!

You can work stamps anywhere. 

You can work stamps on a train. 

You can work stamps on a plane.

If working stamps is your quest,

How about this new old stamp desk?

The real-wood(!) desk has been in our family for generations, and it actually got used! I've always liked the drop-down work surface, and it's at a slight downward angle which helps aligning stamps and albumizing them. The scroll work on its exterior adds interest, and who doesn't like the old-timey pigeon-holes on the interior? There's plenty of space below for photo-boxes holding stamps for sorting, and some vintage stamp collections and reference material. And space above for some other items on display highlighting some of my eclectic interests!

Previously, my issue has been getting to the desk. A recent blitz cleared out some of the obstructing material and today I was able to do a proof-of-concept by sorting some donated and accumulated material: Colombia covers and stampshow-find early US. 

It worked - success! Warm beverage standing by, music playing in the background, my wife working on her crafts a few feet away, plus I can choose to 'button up' the desk when finished, or just leave it down to resume the session.

Politics Meets Philately?

For several months we've been hearing about tariffs imposed by the US administration and their impact on various sectors: softwood lumber, steel and aluminum, automakers and philately. Philately?

For several weeks, the organizers of the Boston 2026 World Expo have been publishing posts on social media regarding how tariffs would affect their upcoming international stamp show. Specifically, concerns that were expressed by dealers and collectors about having to pay tariffs on material being brought to the show, and not just to be sold.

This caused the organizers to scramble to seek answers from US government agencies to address these concerns. Boston 2026 World Expo organizers have now confirmed that tariffs will not be an issue for show attendees. 

Who'd ever have thought that this arcane and benign field, pursued by collectors on their own premises all around the world, would ever have the stamp of political considerations applied to it?

Sikhs and Seeking Truth about Canada Post Stamp Issues - Remembrance Day

On November 2, Canada Post unveiled its 2025 Remembrance Day stamp recognizing the long history of Sikh soldiers serving with the Canadian military. More than a quarter million Sikh soldiers answered the call of duty for Britain and its allies during both world wars. In Canada, discrimination prevented many Sikhs from enlisting. Only 10 broke the barrier in the First World War – most fighting with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Europe – including eight who joined before conscription.

At 22 years old, Private Buckam Singh was the youngest Canadian Sikh soldier to enlist. He was wounded and returned to action after recovering in hospital – only to be injured again. He was later diagnosed with tuberculosis and died from the disease in 1919. The Private Singh stamp features an illustration of a [modern-day] Canadian Sikh soldier paying his respects in remembrance of those who have served. The background is an illustration of Private Buckam Singh's grave at Mount Hope Cemetery in Kitchener, the stamp's cancel location. 

A collector named Peter Bishop posted a lengthy rant on social media stamp group, upon which I will interleave some comments:

I cannot express how utterly disappointed I am at the new Remembrance Day stamp issue.  Honouring soldiers of a specific religion?  While I understand the atmosphere of inclusion that is prevalent in today's society, I think we do an injustice to all those who served who don't happen to be Sikh with something like this.  Not to mention the man honoured on the stamp survived the war, albeit his death was likely due to the fact he did serve as he contracted tuberculosis and passed a year after the war ended.  

Disagree - This is splitting hairs. The fact that one person featured had particular characteristics - chosen or natural - does not detract from all others who served. Does the fact that he didn't die in action mean that his service was in vain?

 I don't understand why anyone feels the need to bring attention to a specific group although Canada Post's site quotes it is to bring "to light the forgotten stories of these and other Sikh soldiers in Canada."  Forgotten stories?  I've always assumed men and women of all races and religions fought side by side for Canada.  Indigenous Canadians, white Canadians, black Canadians, Asian Canadians, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Sikh, heck, even German Canadians.  

Disagree - I think it's fair to say that those with means were able to preserve their service and stories better. A good example is indigenous veterans who returned to isolated areas and did not publicize their service or even receive benefits to which they are entitled. I think those stories should be told.

Shouldn't everyone who served and ESPECIALLY everyone who gave the ultimate sacrifice, be honoured as one?  

Disagree - you're arguing against your own case here. Should Canada Post put every veteran all on the same stamp? What is 'as one' if not 'just one'?

It's like the annual Diwali and Eid stamps...why?  Because we have Christmas stamps?  We have Christmas stamps because the rates for Christmas cards was different due to the increased volume at that time of year so the Post Office issued a stamp with the different denominations.  We no longer have that unfortunately, so maybe it's time to take religion OUT of the stamp business?  Btw, Canada is about 2% Sikh, 2% Hindu  and 5% Muslim while it is over 53% Christian (and I belong to none of them)  Feel free to try and change my mind...

No thanks, because I don't think I can, Mr Bishop. We just cannot compare our current Canada with the Canada-of-yore that you seem to idealize and idolize. Sure, Canada issued the first 'XMAS' stamp back in 1898 with the map of the British Empire in red. Throughout the 1960s, we saw praying hands, a family holding hands, children carolling, children's paintings, Natal stars and gifts of the Magi depicted on Christmas stamps. The issuing of these stamps carried on long after rate differences for Christmas mail existed.

Agree - I see the CBC, various ad campaigns, Canada Post and municipal governments feature visible minorities far outside their demographic distribution. This is likely an effort to reflect Canadian society but to the majority, this sometimes seems like tokenism and dare I say reverse racism at times. However, it is a practice neither one of us is going to change, Mr Bishop. Canada Post has already taken religion OUT of the stamp business, as it pertains to Christianity. You note Diwali and Eid, not to mention Hanukkah. Do these stamps sell? I don't know. But as Canadians, we are constitutionally required to respect the rights, and indeed fight to defend the rights, of all Canadians. 

Even when it comes to Remembrance Day stamps!

Fifty-Four Bucks o' Fun! Eastern Ontario Stamp Festival

Crossroads United Church on Sir John A. Macdonald Boulevard was once again the site of the Kingston Stamp Club fall stamp festival. As usual, I adopted a focused, budget-limited, bottom-feeder mindset on the way to the show. I also decided against large boxes or ziplock bags of on-paper stamps (though I did find a couple - but the better angels won out and I was happy to see someone pick one of the latter up from the consignment table for three bucks)! I already have a tea box of US/international and a second one of Canada ready for some colder-months soaking. I watched another collecting tonging through a plastic tub of stamps - the cost of each was 10 cents - and though it looked like fun, I know that circuits and exchanges I participate in garner stamps for my collection at the two-to-four-cents-each price point. Colour me cost-conscious. Nah, go ahead, just call me cheap. It's true!

Views of what I came home with (above and below), mostly from the club consignment table. Always good bargains and great variety and constantly replenished by Val, "I just put those out". Yes, and now they're going home with me! Thank you! 

Two boxes and three bags of Commonwealth/world. They will all comprise a fun sort! Decision point - hold up the Long & Noble Crusade 3.0 for these late-arrivals or keep the gate to Departure closed? A page of Mint Hinged early Canada that looks like a nice upgrade for my Canada album.

Also, one set of mounts from Roy and two from another dealer. The last six dollars of my budget was applied to an 'ice cap' and coffee from Timmies for my return home! I heard one dealer say that nothing is increasing in value anymore, and another making comment on the market [I can't get rid of this stuff] that confirmed to me that one should be a collector for the joy collecting brings, not the value a collection will command [or not!] someday.

Thanks to the club for hosting another well-attended show!

That little children's Size 7 shoebox at bottom right simply called 'All Countries box 1' that I bought for the princely sum of $3 was packed full of goodies, up to the early-60s. Someone had taken time to sort by countries and in some cases (US, Canada, Newfoundland) there were deep pockets of duplicates. Generally in good condition albeit some heavily-cancelled. Here are some samples of the contents:

Newfoundland in depth

Newfoundland mostly singles

Early Canada with some interesting postmarks shown

Worldwide

Early US with pre-cancels!

Lots of US Postage Dues!

Long & Noble Crusade 3.0

Now that I've had a chance to finish sorting MaxSold box contents, two tins from the previous Kingston stamp show (another coming up next weekend!), trades from exchange partners and stamps selected from circuits, I've grouped them by continent or colonies and it will soon be Long & Noble (that's starting to sound like the name of a law firm!) Crusade 3.0 over the coming colder months.

The cornucopic crusade contents continuation can comprise: 

• checking each zip-loc bag for duplicates and sending the duplicates for disposition,
• sorting each zip-loc into country-glassines,
• checking those sorted-by-country stamps against what's already in my collection, 
• and finally albumizing them.

It's impossible to albumize without sorting, and what's the point of sorting if there's no albumizing?

The United Stamps of America!

My very basic Freedom U.S. album by H.E. Harris (at left in these photos) covered all of the 19th century in one page. Compact yes, but I had accumulated an abundance of early U.S. with no little black & white album-page illustrations in which to put them.

As a result of my recent MaxSold win I ended up with an 1960s Minkus All-American and an H.E. Harris Liberty U.S. album (at right in these photos). Both had very good descriptions and excellent coverage of the early U.S. issues, but I couldn't keep all three U.S. albums. With the Liberty being superior, I wondered if I could combine its early U.S. pages with my Freedom pages. (A long time ago, I had removed and three-hole punched the pages from the Liberty and added them to my own album pages for superseding U.S. issues.)

Yes, I could. I drew a line in the American sand, in the early 1930s, and transferred my early U.S. issues to the Liberty pages. There is one page of overlap and I used that to double up my coverage of the Washington centennial other period stamps. I used a USPS Guide to U.S. Stamps and Google to try to get the right stamp on the right illustration.

A Seventh Fellow Traveler on the Journey...

...joins my collection of Travelers. This is Number Seven. Part of a MaxSold auction lot (vendor photo at top). It's a 1971 edition, excellent shape, not too swaybacked, pages not yellowed, maybe 100 stamps stuck in. Also in the lot were the Canada Post millennium souvenir, intact, and two baggies of WW on- and off-paper. My winning bid was $16.

This is my second spare Traveler. I've acquired four over the last three years, each for less than $10. As I start the latest, annual round (3.0) of my Long & Noble Crusade to albumize acquired stamps, I'm in good shape and ready to expand as needed to Travelers 6 and 7.

The Deerly Departed

While going through my MaxSold finds, I came across this 1963 Costa Rican white-tailed deer stamp with a notable cancel ' 19 FEB...' - my Dad's birthday. As the person who 'worked stamps' with me and my siblings many years ago, this was a full circle moment.

MaxBoxes!

A MaxSold auction this week included two views of stamp collecting items on a dining room table. Both the table and the stamp collecting items were up for bids. Though the bidding went higher than my initial maximum (doesn't it always?) I was eventually the successful high bidder - the albums and Canada Post books in the top photo for $30, the miscellaneous hoard below for $42, both before taxes and fees. What I was really interested in was the Canada Post Collector Packs. There were more pictures posted on the MaxSold website that led me to believe these were intact, unopened and therefore usable as postage!

As Canada Post continues hiking postage rates, stamp collectors like me who rely on exchanges, circuits and mailing stamps all over the world face increased costs to participate in this hobby: $1.24 within Canada, $1.75 to the U.S. $3.65 International. But what if I could buy mint postage at a reduced rate and use it at face value? When bidding, I hoped to #$%^ that the packs were full, since their contents were not visible. Well, examining the packs upon pick-up (in two boxes and feeling like 30 pounds' total weight !) showed me that they were indeed full!

I formulated a total of mint postage obtained in these two lots, and it was three times the bid price! This mint postage will fund well over 150 mailings to other collectors.

The albums are lightly used, nothing valuable observed so far, and I may consider switching my current paperback US (lacking some spots for early issues) and paperback Canada (lacking some spots and information on some issues) to these H.E. Harris dust-covered binder albums. The miscellaneous envelopes will be a fun sort over the long winter months. Two full packets of usable stamp hinges will save me $15 all on their own!

These appear to have belonged to someone who started collecting earlier in life, then returned to the hobby perhaps upon retirement. I will give these items a good home in my retirement, and share them with others if I can't! This collection will live on. I'd like to thank Joan for curating this collection all these years!

On the Educational Value of Stamp Collecting

Joseph Bellina wrote the following on The Hub @ Stamp SCHOOL to start a conversation. Though written with young people in mind, it seems to me that not all new collectors are young collectors. We should be trying to interest adults, too because while it's important to 'start them when they're young' it's also important not to exclude younger or older adults as new collectors! I'm publishing it here because I think it's worth preserving for philatelic posterity. Joseph writes:

The value of stamp collecting for a young person is not in the content that is what is on the stamps - but rather the process that is the act if organizing the stamps in some way based on the content. Organizing requires seeing similarities and differences making order out of chaos. Just the act of matching the picture in the stamp with the picture in an album is an intellectual process. Grouping topical stamps or thinking how to display them on a page is a creative act. 

There are few places these days where children are free to make choices so much is organized yet free play is powerful learning. Collecting stamps gives them that since they can choose what they do with the stamps. Of course as they organize these objects they may become curious about some aspect of what is on them and then the content becomes more important.  

Let me get a bit more technical. We make sense of the world by a mix of observation and inference - that is what we experience and what we think about what we experience. What we experience are the facts about the world. What we think are our ideas. With stamps usually we can agree about the facts what is on the stamp. Of course as one looks more closely at perforations or watermarks, our thinking evolves and other important facts are discovered. 

So, observation and inference are not completely separate since what we choose to observe depends on our thinking, and what we think is affected by what we observe. But the opportunity for a young person to do this, and to engage with others is powerful learning, because in the beginning the facts regarding what is on the stamp are clear, and easily agreed up so the focus because developing ideas. 

That is the real power of stamp collecting.

(Top photo - recent Canada sorted for a potential trade.)

I completely agree with Joseph re: albumizing stamps being a creative act. Too much so to be constrained by printed black & white images, lines and boxes in an album!

Burying the Lead and Maybe the Hobby

I recently joined the American Philatelic Society's The hub @ Stamp SCHOOL. Though not an APS member, the hub looked like an easy way to see and participate in online conversations on stamp collecting. "Learn and get to know like-minded people interested in stamps and postal history! Not sure which group is best for your post? Post it here!", they told me.

But what message does the number one topic each day send (top photo)? Membership is declining! There are 176 replies and 628 views so far, by far the most popular topic. The usual suggestions follow: make more use of social media to attract new, younger members; pay some influencers; give more courses; focus on expertizing and exhibiting. Does it say 'make stamp collecting more fun' anywhere in here?

Imagine if a business started an app, and the main message the app sent you each day was, "Why are our prices so high?". 

 

MaxStamps

Four bags o' stamps from MaxSold (top photo). Here's the story:

A philatelic pot-shot, I bid on four 'World Stamps' lots on MaxSold recently. Being cheap and a bottom-feeder who likes sorting, I made one bid and ended up winning all four lots. Heading out to pick up the stamps on Saturday, I'll see how I did. These photos are from the online auction lots listing. Not the best lighting but they gave me enough of an idea that they were worth pursuing!

It took a week or so, but I finally got all four baggies sorted. (I think they may have originated with Roy Linden from Verona.) They definitely provided their own cost in fun and then some!

Firstly, I separated out any damaged or common stamps. The common stamps will be donated to OXFAM. Then I pulled out on-paper stamps requiring soaking, most of which were in bag 'D'. Stamps I wanted to keep, either for my collection or for traders came out next. From this latter group I separated the 'finds' and photographed the best from each bag with the letter label that came with each bag. Click for a larger image:

Bag 'A' had some U.S. Washingtons and some fun Cinderellas (above). Some cool military cut squares and postmarks, plus Sierra Leons in bag 'B':

Mint Luxembourg and more Sierra Leone shaped stamps in bag 'C', plus US censor cancel:

Some in the top row from bag 'D' that will be fun to identify - not a word on 'em:

There are a lot of small, but interesting stamps in each bag: South and Central America, Cyrillic writing, and early European. They will take time to identify and check with the current stamps I have from each of those countries.

The hand-picked keepers and traders from each bag.

Close-ups of some 'finds'.

Who knows what awaited in each baggie at the start of this sort?

The Time Has Come - Postponed Projects?

This short article was written by the editor of The Circuit, the publication of the International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors. I'm a member, and I enjoy participating in the group's circuits. In the July-August issue just out, Father James Lentini lists several procrastination-prone projects providentially provided for possibly pastoral moments in the summertime:

Michael's Free Stamp Collectiong Starter Kits - 900 and Zooming!

I received this kind note from Michael Lynn. I've previously published a post on Michael's prolific philatelic philanthropic prowess! Michael's kits, for which he pays the postage, are a great gift for grandchildren, retired folks needing a hobby, people who wish they still had their childhood collection, etc. Each kit includes one stock sheet side of US stamps, including a number at least 100 years old, a small bunch of mint stamps and nice cancelled commemoratives. It also includes a page of foreign stamps. I try to make these cover as many countries as possible - often up to 30 different countries. Then, one can chose a country or a topical area from my list, for the third page. The last page has some stamps on paper to soak, a FDC, a postal card, and a US plate block.

This is a great program because it not only shows what one person can do, but also because it makes stamp collecting fun. Too often, it portrays itself as a pastime deluged by dust, submerged in stodginess, and embedded in exclusivity. That is not the way I was introduced to stamp collecting by my Dad, and I don't think it's a good public-facing picture to present to potential practitioners. Michael says...

Hi Eric. Thank you very for your support of Michael’s Free Stamp Collecting Starter Kits. The donations from you and others have made it much easier to keep this program going. I am happy to let you know that yesterday I got my 900th order! I am really excited to push on to 1,000 and beyond. Your topical stamps have been a HUGE addition to the quality of these kits. It is something the recipients surely appreciate. I thought you might like to see some of the comments I have gotten:

• Pueblo, CO - Wow — I received the stamps in the mail and they are truly great! Thank you so much for sending me such a beautiful collection. Your kindness made my day and now I can't wait to look them over with my nephew. I truly appreciate your thoughtful gift — it will be treasured.
• Glenwood, IN - Thank you for all you do to assist new collectors. I recently came across your post and was truly impressed by your dedication to keeping the love of stamp collecting alive worldwide. I also wanted to express my gratitude for all the time, effort, and resources you’ve invested in this mission.
• Ray, MI - Today I received the package and I was so surprised at the incredible variety of stamps and even more surprised by the “First Day” covers and “Issue” additions. As I glance through the these I was also struck incredibly surprised again by the blocks and well by now you get the picture. I am so very grateful to you and your program.
• Meridian, MS - I have received your stamps and they are absolutely stunning and I would love to have more if you can, I love anything old! From other countries, I mean it can literally be marvel and I would go nuts! I try to collect everything! The post cards were to die for! If you can please send me more! This is amazing for my beginners collection 
• Daytona Beach, FL - I just received and opened the stamp packet you sent me. I am beyond thrilled with the selections you have made for me. You have made my reintroduction into stamp collecting very exciting moving forward. Thank you once again for providing this service to me.
• Slate Hill, NY - I just wanted to thank you for the beautiful stamp kit that you sent me.  I just received the stamps in the mail today and when I opened the huge manilla envelope, I was stunned!  I could not believe my eyes!  All of the stamps are so different, so unique, so amazing!  I keep looking at the stamps and each time I do I find a different one or one stamp that I missed seeing before.  These stamps are a perfect addition to my growing stamp collection and I will treasure them always. I promise that these stamps have a good safe home. I just want to let you know what a kind and generous man you are to do this for us stamp collectors. I never thought that I would ever become interested in stamps, but one day I saw a pretty USA stamp and cut it out.  I also found a whole collection of endangered species stamps and then I really became involved in stamp collecting.  Well thank you again for your kindness and thoughtfulness.  You are a very nice man. Have a nice night and thank you once again. Take care and God bless.

Thanks again for your help!

Michael, you're more than welcome and I already have another package a-building!

 

Hold On and I'll Go and Czech!

Six months ago I'd started on the leftovers of the Long & Noble Crusade 2.0 in which I finally albumized accumulated stamps. In the linked post, I blogged about the Least Interesting Countries' stamps I'd accumulated. And done nothing with (below). Until today. 

Due to the heat advisories and with nothing but air-conditioning set at 21 degrees C, an empty dining room table and a beverage in front of me, I was finally able to start on the first sort-through of some of these countries, spreading out and then reconciling stamps I'd squirrelled away in the countries' envelopes with what was in my albums (scant for most of these countries due to my low interest in them!) and stamps I'd previously squirrelled away! Over a couple of days of heat, I made it through Austria, Belgium, Brazil, skipped Bulgaria - and why not, China and Czechoslovakia! Realizing that I'd never touched Czechoslovakia (actually Czech Republic, Slovakia and Czechoslovakia counterclockwise from top left in photo), this was a first run-through today. And the results were lots of duplicates.

So, since the Least Interesting Countries box was burgeoning, I expect to gain some space AND some duplicates in this process, ideally fitting all the countries back into this box as I go, maybe now with room to spare! Now done -  Hungary, Israel, Italy and a quick trip through the Netherlands Antilles, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Turkey, and the United Nations! Now remaining: Bulgaria, Russia. I can report there is understandably adequate room in the box and a zip-loc bag full of glassines for each country's doubles for disposition.

Five days later, I was finished!

The way this is going, I'm hopeful but still think that nothing but a total absence of anything to do will ever get me going through Bulgaria and Russia!

Summertime Sunroom Sorting

Summertime is a great time for some mindless sorting. A warm or cool beverage, tray and tongs and the great outdoors complete the scene. The only natural enemies are skulking squirrels and buffeting breezes. If either is present, the sunroom offers some pastoral protection!

Sixty Bucks o' Fun! Kingston Spring Stamp Festival

Last weekend, the Kingston Stamp Club held its Spring Stamp Festival at Crossroads United Church. My first stop, as always, was the club consignment table. Their pricing and selling system is effective and after perusing tables full o' goodies, I was checked out with my consignment items (above and below) in my reusable shopping bag. I was especially pleased to find two tins full o' stamps! Who doesn't like a tin or cigar box? 

Also, several stock pages of mint Canadian postage, albeit 5-6 cents in the majority. However, I did find several blocks in the 10-25 cent range. (It's tough to find an envelope big enough to effectively hold first-class postage in these small denominations.) Over $38 face value of stamps for $13.

Then I was off perusing the sale tables. I picked up a few items from Verona's Roy Lingen. 

Also three small stamp-block albums from seller Don. Over $53 face value of 5-25 cent stamps for $4.50:

I was hoping to pick up some black stamp mounts but didn't find any dealers at the show selling supplies. Among the club consignment items, check out this three-dollar U.S. album with some high values, open view of the top photo items: