Norman Rockwell and the Boy Scouts

The Philatelic Truck

   Every so often we come across one of these small sheets. Over 700,000 of them, about 3 by 4½ inches, were printed by the United States Post Office Department as souvenirs of the “Philatelic Truck” initiative to promote stamp collecting from 1939 to 1941.

   President Franklin D. Roosevelt, an avid collector, and James Farley, his Postmaster General, were strong advocates of the hobby. In 1939 they literally sent the show on the road! A custom bus-like vehicle called the Philatelic Truck was filled with stamps, literature, and everything needed to print stamps including a small printing press, ink, paper, and gum. The goal was to introduce adults and children all across America to the world of stamp collecting.

   The Philatelic Truck had a very extensive itinerary that took it through many states. It was parked outside post offices, department stores, schools, and city halls in large cities and small towns. The traveling staff would display the impressive collection of US stamps and talk all about stamp collecting and how stamps were produced. The truck even made a stop at the New York World’s Fair in 1939.

   There was a special emphasis on reaching children. To inspire junior collectors, the President’s message was printed in a special booklet:

   The sheet above was signed on May 16, 1939 when the truck stopped in Baltimore MD. Ernest Green was the Postmaster of Baltimore. Ralph A. Davis, Charles E. Branan and Ira P. Dawson manned the truck for the US Post Office Department. Otho L. Rogers was the Philatelic Agent for the PO Department at Washington.

    I choose to believe that a great many of the youngsters who left the Philatelic Truck holding their souvenir sheets became collectors.

The Royal Flying Corps in Beamsville Ontario

   After the war ended in 1918, the airfield was closed and the property gradually reverted to fruit farms and houses. Over the years the military buildings were either relocated, torn down, or destroyed by fire. Some years ago I discovered that one of the original hangars had somehow survived. It is now the home of a horticultural business and a plaque detailing its history stands outside. Despite renovations over the years, you can still see the original wooden lattice supporting the roof.

   The airfield also brought Beamsville its own little piece of philatelic history. For a few months in 1918 it had its own Field Post Office. When covers with this FPO cancel have been offered at various auctions they usually sell for $250 to $500. We are lucky to have acquired a few Beamsville FPO cancellations for our own collection of local postal history. I recently enjoyed a return visit to this historic site where brave pilots trained.

British Columbia Philately

Tristan da Cunha

Charles Lindbergh

   Over the years our auctions have offered some great postcards related to early aviation. These have depicted pioneers like the Wright Brothers, Louis Bleriot,
Amelia Earhart, and Count von Zeppelin. One of the most famous early pilots was American Charles Lindbergh.


   In the 1920’s Lindbergh was a stunt pilot touring the Southern and Midwestern United States. By 1926 he was flying mail from St. Louis to Chicago. As he gained experience his aspirations grew. He obtained backing from a group of St. Louis businessmen to compete for a $25,000 prize being offered to the first aviator to cross the Atlantic from New York to Paris (or the reverse) in a solo flight without stopping. The prize was first offered in 1919 by New York hotel owner Raymond Orteig,
and in 1927 Lindbergh was the first to even attempt the feat. Needless to say,
there was little expectation that the 25-year-old mail pilot would succeed.

   In a specially designed airplane dubbed the Spirit of St. Louis, Lindbergh completed the first non-stop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean on May
20-21, 1927. Since every bit of space in the plane was needed to carry fuel for the 33½ hour flight, only two or three letters accompanied Lindbergh from New York to Paris.


   Lindbergh was instantly famous around the world, and he went on to accomplish many more ‘firsts’ during his illustrious career.

Ron Brigham - A Great Canadian Collector

Queen Elizabeth 1926-2022

Fifty Years at Vance Auctions

Deltiology

The World's Columbian Exposition of 1893

Tonga Tin Can Mail

CAPEX22

    The CAPEX22 show held in June of 2022 was a great success. Thousands of collectors, dealers and exhibitors came from all over the world to visit the 4-day event at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

    The show had many exciting things to do and see. Besides an active bourse of dealers there were many great exhibits, seminars, meetings and society gatherings. The organizing committee is to be congratulated on the show’s success.

    Our booth was busy from start to finish with active buying and selling. Our thanks to all who stopped by.

Forwarding Agents

Canada's Bluenose

USA Postage and Fractional Currency

Niagara Falls

The Covers of Karl Lewis

The Red Cross

    Red Cross Societies exist today in nearly every country in the world. They can all trace their roots back to the day in 1859 when a Swiss businessman named Henry Dunant witnessed the bloody aftermath of a battle in Italy. A few years later, Dunant's crusade for organized medical relief resulted in the first Geneva Convention that outlined the code of ethics on which the Red Cross was founded. For the first time in history, medical aid was available on battlefields. Neutrality and protection were guaranteed to wounded soldiers and the trained volunteers who helped them.

    The symbol adopted by the organization of volunteers was a red cross on a white background, the inverse of the flag of Switzerland. White armbands with red crosses identified medical workers on the battlefield.

    The distinctive symbol has appeared on almost 2,200 stamps since 1889 when Portugal issued the first Red Cross stamp. Many beautiful issues with medical designs have spread the message of the Red Cross to the public.

    During WWI, Red Cross stamps were issued in 47 countries. These early 'semi-postal' stamps served two purposes, acting as postage stamps as well as helping to raise much needed funds for the Red Cross.

    The postal systems of countries around the world have always been important partners of the Red Cross. Exemptions granted by various postal administrations during times of conflict have facilitated the flow of Red Cross mail including messages and parcels containing humanitarian aid. Postal stationery bearing the red cross has opened lines of communication and provided help and comfort to many, including Prisoners of War.

    In 1901, Henry Dunant was the recipient of the very first Nobel Peace Prize. Since the first society was formed in Wurttemberg in 1863, the movement that he started has grown to almost 200 national Red Cross societies.

    The Red Cross symbol continues to instill hope and confidence wherever help is needed, and the philatelic world will keep doing its part.

Fred Jarrett

Vance Auctions Purchases Maddy's Philatelic Service Stock

The 1935 KGV Silver Jubilee Omnibus

The First Official Airmail Stamp

    In 1917, at the height of WWI, Italy became the first country to officially issue an airmail stamp.



    In anticipation of experimental mail flights between Turin and Rome, the Italian government overprinted a special delivery stamp that had been issued in 1903. The translation of the overprint is ‘Air post experiment, May 1917, Turin-Rome, Rome-Turin’. Over 400 pounds of mail were carried on the round trip, and the experiment was considered to be a success.

    Once flight was proven to be a viable way to transport mail, other countries began issuing stamps for airmail services. Airmail reached its destination far faster than surface mail but at a much higher cost, so airmail stamps were issued in larger denominations to cover the higher airmail rates.




    While there are a number of examples where regular stamps were overprinted for airmail use, many beautiful issues were specifically designed with aviation and ‘winged’ motifs. The first stamps issued for airmail use by the United States in 1918 did not include the word ‘Air’ in the design, but their depiction of the famous Curtiss JN-4 airplane known as the ‘Jenny’ made their use clear.







    Canada did not issue its first official airmail until 1928. At that time the postage rate for a regular letter was 2¢ an ounce, and the airmail rate was 5¢ for the first ounce and 10¢ for each additional ounce.

    Special stamps are no longer required for airmail service since a high percentage of first class mail is now routinely transported by air. The collection of airmail stamps and the mail that they carried is a fascinating branch of philately that offers endless opportunities for study and research.

Wilfrid "Wop" May

   During WWI, a young Canadian from Manitoba named Wilfrid "Wop" May joined the Air Force, and a legendary career in aviation began.


    On his first combat mission on April 21, 1918, May found himself in the fray while flying his Sopwith Camel. May's guns jammed and he headed back to the British lines with a red Fokker in pursuit. May evaded gunfire long enough for the Fokker to be shot down killing the pilot, Manfred von Richthofen, the famous “Red Baron”. May served until the end of the war, and was credited with shooting down 13 enemy aircraft.


    After the war, May and many other young Canadians were not ready to give up flying. War surplus planes and Canada's vast North provided them with new horizons as "bush pilots". May was among the pioneers who opened up Canada's farthest reaches. Even though they no longer faced enemy gunfire, there was no shortage of danger delivering provisions and medical supplies to remote settlements that had no airfields. Thanks to the bush pilots, communities that had been isolated were now able to receive mail.


    May answered an SOS from northern Alberta in 1929, and risked his life flying through extreme winter weather to Fort Vermilion to deliver a vaccine for diphtheria. It became known as ‘The Mercy Flight’.


    In 1932, a fugitive called Albert Johnson evaded the RCMP on a massive manhunt that covered 150 miles of mountainous terrain in the Northwest Territories and Yukon. With Wop May’s help tracking Johnson from the air,
the Mounties were able to close in on Johnson who was killed in the ensuing gunfight. May flew a severely wounded officer to the hospital, saving his life.

    
    Wop's later achievements included the formation and operation of a Search and Rescue team for the RCAF in World War II.


    A mild-mannered man on the ground, Wop May was fearless in the air. Some of his many adventures and acts of bravery have been recorded in a song by the late Stompin' Tom Connors:

"Wop May. Wop May. You're the top Canadian pilot of the day."

    Following the publication of this article about Wop May in our October 2020 newsletter, we were very pleased to receive an email from Denny May, Wop's son. It was great to hear from him that all of the information was accurate. Denny was kind enough to share this photo that he took in Fort Vermilion Alberta in July of 2017 at the official renaming of the airport where his father delivered the lifesaving diphtheria vaccine in 1929.

For many more interesting Wop May stories and photos you can visit www.wopmay.com.

Yousuf Karsh

    Canada has issued many beautiful stamps over the years, but none are more striking than those bearing the photographs of Yousuf Karsh (1908-2002).

    Of Armenian descent, Karsh came to Canada in 1925 at the age of 17 to escape persecution in Turkey. Karsh learned the art of photography from his uncle, a successful photographer in Quebec, and later in Boston as an apprentice in the studio of a prominent society photographer. When he moved to Ottawa in 1932, Karsh’s own style emerged. He became a master of light, shadow, and composition as he captured the images of visiting dignitaries and celebrities in iconic portraits.

    By 1941, Karsh's reputation had grown in Canada, and he was chosen to photograph Winston Churchill on his visit to Ottawa during WWII. Karsh remained undaunted during the brief photo shoot with his very impatient subject. Churchill refused to remove his cigar, so Karsh politely took the cigar from Churchill’s mouth and stepped back to study the light. At that moment he clicked the shutter, capturing the expression on Churchill's face that came to represent the strength and resolve of Britain. The portrait became famous worldwide, appearing on the cover of Life magazine and launching Karsh into international prominence.

    Over his sixty year career, Karsh produced photographic portraits of hundreds of the 20th Century’s most influential people including royalty, scientists, politicians, artists, and entertainers. Albert Einstein, Nelson Mandela, Ernest Hemingway, Mother Teresa, Helen Keller, Picasso and hundreds of other famous people sat in front of Karsh’s lens.

    My father once met Karsh when he happened to visit our family’s stamp and coin store in Toronto in the 1960’s. Many countries have used Karsh’s portraits on their stamps and I think that he would have been pleased to know that his portraits of Churchill, Audrey Hepburn, and a self portrait would be featured on a set of Canadian stamps in 2008 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth.

The Sea Floor Post Office

General Balbo's Flying Armada

In 1933 Italy issued a very interesting set of airmails in anticipation of a special Trans-Atlantic flight. A daring and unprecedented feat was planned by General Italo Balbo, the flamboyant Italian Air Minister, to fly an armada of twenty-four Flying Boats from Rome to Chicago where the “Century of Progress” World's Fair was being held.

Flying in formation, the “Italian Air Armada” drew huge crowds all along its route. The flight lasted from July 1st to August 12th with many stopovers, including Shediac New Brunswick, Montreal Quebec, and Shoal Harbour Newfoundland.

The stamps were prepared for use on airmail letters carried from Rome to Chicago by the armada. The set of two triptychs each consisted of an air registration label, a regular stamp, and an airmail stamp attached together (Scott #C48-9). The set was made even more interesting when the abbreviated names of twenty of the flight's pilots were printed on the label portions. If you are lucky enough to find a cover from the historic flight, you will know who piloted the Flying Boat that carried it.

It is a real challenge to collect all twenty pilots. Here is a check list of the twenty overprints that constitute a complete collection of Italy #C48-9:

Grace Kelly

    November 12, 2019 marked the 90th anniversary of the birth of Grace Kelly. She was born in Philadelphia in 1929.

    After working in commercials and TV in the early 1950's, she got her big break in movies when she appeared with Gary Cooper in High Noon. She made ten more movies including The Country Girl (for which she won an Academy Award), and three of my favourite Alfred Hitchcock movies: Rear Window, Dial M for Murder, and To Catch a Thief. The last was made on location in France and Monaco where she met Prince Rainer of Monaco.



    In 1956 the world’s attention was focussed on the tiny country of Monaco when she married Prince Rainier and became Princess Grace. The elaborate nuptials were described as "the wedding of the century". Sadly for fans who had become enchanted by her beauty and elegance, she gave up her acting career and became the leading lady of Monaco. She devoted herself to her family, her new country, and charity work.



    The world mourned when a car accident ended her life on September 14, 1982. She was only 52.


    Grace's image has appeared on stamps both because she was a fine actress and because she was a princess. Monaco produced a beautiful set of eight stamps to celebrate the royal marriage, as well as a number of subsequent issues featuring her likeness. In 1993, the United States and Monaco collaborated on a joint issue to celebrate this very special lady.

    The next time you are looking for something good to watch, I recommend a Grace Kelly movie.

Dr. Hugo Eckener and the Graf Zeppelin

Admiral Richard Byrd

   
The name 'Admiral Byrd' conjures up images of cold, snowy, remote places. Even though Richard E. Byrd served in the American Navy in both World Wars and made significant contributions as an aviation pioneer and a scientist, he is primarily remembered as a polar explorer.



    In the late 1920's when long distance aviation was still new, Byrd led aerial expeditions to both the North and South Poles. Although there is some question as to whether his plane actually reached the North Pole, his remarkable exploits made him a national hero in America and a celebrity around the world.



    His fame allowed Byrd to pursue his quest for more knowledge, and with the financial help of a number of influential Americans including members of the Rockefeller, Astor and Ford families, he made several more expeditions to Antarctica. The first of a series of base camps named "Little America" was established on the Ross Ice Shelf in 1929. Byrd’s untiring efforts resulted in a wealth of new geographic and meteorological information.

     In 1933, the United States Postal Service issued a 3¢ stamp to commemorate the second of Byrd's Antarctic expeditions. The stamp was primarily for the interest of philatelists who could pay to have a letter mailed from "Little America". The Post Office was actually a tent where the US postal representative Charles F. Anderson huddled in extremely cold and cramped conditions to apply special postmarks to the letters franked with Scott #733. Having visited Antarctica early this year, I can imagine how difficult his task was.



    Over the years we have had the opportunity to offer fascinating polar expedition items that relate to the explorations of Byrd, Nansen, Shackleton, Peary and others in our auctions.

Amelia Earhart

Canada's Map Stamp

The Stamps of the Ryukyu Islands

Many people had never heard of the Ryukyu Islands before 1945 when American troops fought their way ashore on the chain of Pacific Islands. The name of the main island, Okinawa, may be more familiar to you.

    From 1945 to 1948 a local mail system used provisional handstamps and overprinted Japanese stamps. In 1948, the Ryukyu Islands started their own postal system and issued their own stamps that were valid on international mail. All of this was done under the authority of the United States military until the islands reverted back to Japan in 1972.

        

Some 259 stamps, along with overprinted varieties, forerunners, provisionals, and postal stationery make the Ryukyu Islands an interesting and finite area to collect. These stamps have always been listed in the Scott catalogues at the back of the USA section rather than under ‘R’ in the alphabetical listings. Our auctions regularly include Ryukyu Islands lots.

Newfoundland's 400th Anniversary Set

  John Cabot was an Italian merchant seaman who was sailing under the English flag when he discovered Newfoundland in 1497. When he returned to England with tales of abundant fishing off the Grand Banks, King Henry VII laid claim to this “new found land” and rewarded Cabot with the princely sum of £10.

    Newfoundland issued 14 beautiful stamps in 1897 to mark the 400th anniversary of its discovery by Cabot. They were printed by the American Bank Note Co. of New York. The set (Scott #’s 61-74) has always been popular, and it is even more interesting when you know the stories behind it. The image on the 2¢ stamp was supposedly John Cabot, but it is actually John’s son, Sebastian, who was also an explorer. Apparently there were no authentic images of John, so a Holbein portrait of Sebastian was used instead.

    Similarly, the 10¢ value was supposed to depict Cabot’s ship the Matthew. No likeness of the ship could be found, so why not borrow the vignette of Christopher Columbus’ flagship Santa Maria that had just been used in 1893 on the 3¢ value of the USA Columbian issue? The next time that you look at these stamps, you will be in on their secrets.

Ballon Monté Covers

The White Plains Sheet

Benjamin Franklin and the Canadian Postal System

Canada's King George V Admirals

The Admiral series was so named because King George is depicted in his full dress uniform as Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Navy. This series lasted from 1911 until 1928, making it one of Canada’s longest running series of definitive stamps. Admiral issues have provided collectors with all kinds of specialized areas to study such as colour shades, printings, plate varieties, plate imprints, re-entries, and booklets.

Some of the most sought after Admirals are those with lathework designs in the sheet margins. In 1916, the fancy lattice designs were added to the bottom margins of the engraved sheets of Admiral issues. Its purpose has never been absolutely clear, but printers may have used lathework to monitor the quality of the printing. If the lathework grew faint and less detailed, it could be a signal that the plate was worn. Another theory is that printing near the bottom edge of the sheet kept the paper in place on the cylindrical printing plate while the stamps were being printed.

Naturally collectors noticed the beautiful patterns in the margins of Admiral sheets, and a collecting craze was born that is still popular over 100 years later! Six different lathework patterns and four different inverted patterns have been identified. Lathework items can be collected as singles, pairs, blocks, or multiples.

Project Mercury Makes Philatelic History

As a youngster, I was captivated by the thought of space travel. I followed the news closely when John Glenn attempted to become the first American to orbit the earth in 1962. After eleven delays due to equipment problems and bad weather, Glenn took off from Cape Canaveral and orbited the earth three times in the Project Mercury spacecraft, the Friendship 7.

Space history was made on February 20, 1962, and postal history was made as well. The 4¢ Project Mercury stamp had been designed, printed, and shipped to 305 Post Offices around the United States in great secrecy. Less than one hour after the Friendship 7 splashed down, those Post Offices received calls from Washington to open the packages marked “Classified - Do Not Open” and the secret was out. News of the new stamp spread quickly by TV and radio, and stamp collectors started lining up to mail First Day Covers bearing the surprise issue. For the first time, an unannounced stamp was made available to the public within one hour of the event that it commemorated.

Wells, Fargo & Co.

When I hear the name 'Wells Fargo', I immediately think of the stagecoaches that I have seen in so many Western movies. Back in 1852 when travel on the west coast of America was slow and dangerous, it was very difficult to do business. Henry Wells and William Fargo saw the need for safe, fast financial services, and Wells, Fargo & Co. was born. In the early days passengers, freight, and mail were carried by steamer, stagecoach, Pony Express, and railroad. Wells Fargo specialized in shipping gold and silver from western mines, and by 1866 they became the largest Express Company in the American West.

Wells, Fargo & Co. also played an important role in the Canadian West in the 19th Century, particularly in colonial British Columbia. Pioneers, miners, and merchants all depended on them to communicate and conduct commerce with the outside world.

Over the years, Wells Fargo produced a wide variety of postal stationery. Their covers with printed franks, corner cards, and illustrations are very popular with collectors. Our auctions frequently offer Wells Fargo material.

Where is Smithville?

Precancels

When adhesive postage stamps came into use in 1840, every letter was cancelled by hand to prevent the stamps from being used again. Hand cancelling was possible in small Post Offices that handled low volumes of mail, but some time in the mid to late 1800’s postal clerks in busy Post Offices started ‘precancelling’ stamps by writing bars across them before they were sold to save time after the stamps were stuck to letters.

When bulk mailing became a popular way for businesses to reach their customers, unmechanized Post Offices did not have the resources to cancel the huge quantities of letters in a timely manner. To solve this problem, companies could register to use stamps that had been preprinted with cancels that often included bars, town names or numbers. The company benefitted by paying lower rates on bulk mail, and the Post Office saved a step in the processing of large volumes of mail.

Over the years, precancelled stamps and postal stationery have been available in many countries. The best known are stamps from the USA and Canada. Thousands of different types, styles, and varieties exist. The vast array of town names and numbers used on different stamp issues has provided a whole realm of interesting items to collect and study. Our auction sales regularly offer precancelled stamps including collections.

Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee

Canada issued its very first stamp in 1851, but it was not until 1897 that our first commemorative stamps were issued. The event being commemorated was the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. The engraved Jubilee issue was appropriately designed to celebrate her 60 years on the throne, combining the famous Chalon portrait of young Victoria with the Alexander Bassano portrait of the mature Victoria in one of Canada’s most beautiful sets. A total of 16 stamps with values from ½¢ to $5 were printed by the American Bank Note Co.

A little known fact about the Jubilee issue is that the higher values (10¢ to $5) were printed in a different format than the lower values (½¢ to 8¢). There was expected to be less demand for the higher values so they were only printed in sheets of 50 stamps (5 across by 10 down), and the lower values were printed in sheets of 100 (10 by 10). If you compare a lower value to a higher value, you will find that the higher value’s image is slightly narrower.

It is quite an accomplishment to collect mint or used copies of all 16 Jubilees, and there is no end of additional areas to study. Our auctions always contain a nice selection of singles, blocks, plate imprints, varieties and proofs, as well as postmarks and Jubilees on cover.

Canada's Most Popular Winter Sport

Without a doubt, the most popular winter sport here in Canada is hockey. There are outdoor and indoor rinks in virtually every community across the country. Whenever a pond freezes, kids run to get their skates, sticks, and nets. From those rinks came Canadian hockey legends like Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, and Sidney Crosby.

I played many years of organized hockey as a youth, and grew up cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Even though they were our rivals, I could not help liking the Montreal Canadiens - one of the most fabled sports franchises in North America. The Canadiens have won more Stanley Cup championships than any other club in hockey history. Montreal has had many great players over the years including Maurice “The Rocket” Richard, Yvon Cournoyer, Doug Harvey, and Guy Lafleur. At a stamp show in Montreal in 1993, I had the honour of meeting the late Jean Beliveau who played from 1950 to 1971 and was one of their all time greats.

Canada Post has issued dozens of hockey stamps over the years honouring hockey teams and famous players. These stamps and their First Day Covers can make a very nice topical collection.

Pneumatic Mail

Spanish Civil War Locals

Canada's First Official Airmail

Earl Mountbatten of Burma

Movie Stamps

World Stamp Show NY 2016

The World Stamp Show that was held in New York in May was a smashing success! Tens of thousands of collectors and dealers from all over the world visited this once-in-a-decade event. From all indications it was the most successful international event ever held in North America.

We were very proud to represent Canada as one of only five Canadian dealers at this major event. We have been booth holders for over 35 years at various philatelic shows and this exhibition was the best and most successful one we have ever attended.




Our booth was busy from start to finish with very active buying and selling. It was a pleasure to meet many of our bidders and renew old acquaintances. We thank all those who stopped by our booth.

When I had a few moments to spare, I particularly enjoyed viewing some of the 4,000+ exhibits (including some submitted by our bidders!) and seeing the fabulous 'Court of Honor' which included the rarest stamp in the world - the famous British Guiana One Penny Magenta. Other highlights included seeing John Lennon's stamp collection and an original 'Jenny' biplane in the lobby of the Javits Center. This was the same type of airplane that is pictured on the USA 24¢ Airmail of 1918. An 'Inverted Jenny' sold at the show auction for $1.3 million.

Plans are already underway for the next 'International' show to be held in Boston in 2026.

Yukon Airways & Exploration Co.

Between the years of 1924 and 1934, a very interesting chapter of Canadian philatelic history was written. During this brief period, Canada's "Semi-Official Airmail Stamps" were issued.

Canada is a very large country with lots of wilderness, and the Canadian Post Office could not effectively deliver mail to remote areas. It therefore permitted thirteen private airline companies to print their own stamps and collect a fee for delivering mail. Many of the pilots had flown in WWI and were seeking adventure. In places where it was too difficult to land, the pilot might just throw the mail bag out of the window.

One of these private companies was Yukon Airways and Exploration Co. Ltd which had offices in the Yukon Territory. Their plane, ‘Queen of the Yukon’, was the same type as Charles Lindbergh had just flown across the Atlantic. The company issued one blue 25¢ stamp which bears a striking resemblance to the United States #C10 airmail stamp of 1927 which depicts Lindbergh’s ‘Spirit of St. Louis’.

In all, the thirteen companies issued over 50 different stamps, often in very small quantities. Our auctions always feature Canadian Semi-Official Airmails, on and off cover. These highly collectible issues are listed in Scott’s 1840-1940 Classic Specialized Catalogue, and in Unitrade’s Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps with “CL” numbers.

Herman Herst, Jr.

For any philatelist or stamp dealer, I recommend the writings of Herman Herst, Jr. (1909-1999). A collector in his youth, and a prominent stamp dealer and writer from the 1930’s to the 1990’s, Herst wrote about the hobby we love in thousands of articles and columns as well as a number of books. He shared his extensive knowledge and his experiences as a dealer in a most entertaining way. His newsletter was called Herst’s Outbursts.

Herst attended hundreds of stamp shows, and was a popular guest speaker at many a philatelic gathering. I first met Herman Herst in London England at the 1980 International Show. I still remember buying a choice cover from him. In his later years he was an occasional bidder in our auctions. He had a keen eye for nice USA stamps and covers.

Herst’s most famous book is Nassau Street, which refers to the location of his first stamp office in New York City. At one time Nassau Street was called ‘The Street of Stamps’ because dozens of stamp dealers were located there. The book’s dedication is a good example of Herst’s humour: “To my ‘competitors’. God bless every one of them.”

The Mail Must Be Delivered!

Over the years, mail has been transported in many different ways. The traditional methods have made use of horses, trains, ships and airplanes, but there have also been a number of more unusual modes. Dogs and pigeons have taken their turns as letter carriers, and letters mailed from Tonga used to be floated out to waiting ships in big tin cans. As far back as the 1860’s, some large cities used pneumatic postal systems that propelled local mail through underground tubes!

During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1, the city of Paris was under seige, and a couple of unusual methods were used to get mail in and out of the city. Over 60 flights were made by piloted balloons which carried mail and passengers. Covers carried on these flights are called “Ballon Monté”. Mail was also sent into Paris in large metal balls which were floated along the Seine River. These scarce covers are referred to as “Boule De Moulin” covers.

Mahatma Gandhi

Canada's Squared Circle Cancels

How Did They Do That?

Postal history items from Niger Coast Protectorate are quite scarce because this British Protectorate on the west coast of Africa only issued 63 different stamps from 1892-98. (In 1900, Niger Coast Protectorate stamps were replaced by those of Northern and Southern Nigeria.)

The attractive Niger Coast Protectorate cover pictured here has a remarkable story to tell.

This letter was sent by Registered Mail to Colchester England. It is franked with a complete first set of issues Scott #1-6 that were cancelled at Opobo River on 7 Feb 1895 when the letter began its 40-day voyage to England. The markings on the cover tell the story of what happened once the cover arrived in England.

The cover came ashore in a mail bag at Liverpool on 20 March 1895 and was promptly put on the mail train to London. At the capital it received the Registration handstamp of the same day and was transferred to another London terminal where it was put aboard the Eastern mail train.The Ipswich Sorting Tender backstamp shows that no time was lost - the date is still March 20th.

The Colchester authorities did their duty with another Registration handstamp and attempted to make delivery, however the addressee, Mr. A. Cole, had moved! His new address was found and the cover returned to the Colchester Post Office where it was backstamped again, still on March 20th.

Somehow the mailman got the redirected letter to Witham Essex (about 15 miles away) before the Post Office closed for the day ON MARCH 20TH!

This letter was taken from one side of England to the other, then redirected, and was still delivered the same day! This strikes me as an incredible feat of efficiency in the days long before motorized delivery vans and automated sorting machines. How did they do that?

Royal 2015 Stamp Convention

We very much enjoyed meeting many of our bidders at the annual Royal Philatelic Society of Canada Convention which was held in London Ontario in May 2015.

Stamp collectors and dealers came from across Canada, the United States and overseas to attend. Our booth was very busy all three days of the bourse. The convention was a first class event and was bustling with activity from the opening hour to the closing. I particularly enjoyed viewing the many fine exhibits on display.

German Colonials

A country’s history is told through its stamps. Much can be learned about an interesting era of Colonialism by studying the philatelic history of Germany’s colonies and the post offices that it established abroad in China, Morocco, and the Turkish Empire.

Like other European countries, Germany had colonies located in Africa, the South Pacific, and Asia. Before official stamps were issued for these overseas territories, German definitives were used. These stamps were known as forerunners or “Vorlaufer”, and can only be identified by clear town cancels indicating their point of origin. In the late 19th Century, overprinted stamps for individual colonies were issued.

By about 1900, the Yacht series (commonly called the Kaiser Yacht) was introduced. These stamps were printed with individual colony names, and all had the same design depicting the Imperial Yacht SMY HOHENZOLLERN. A smaller size was used for the lower values, and a larger one for the higher values. Interestingly, some of the Yacht stamps would later be overprinted during and after WWI when some German colonies came under the control of other nations such as Britain, France, and Belgium.

New Zealand Advertising Stamps

The United States Kansas-Nebraska Issue

There is an interesting story behind the Kansas-Nebraska overprinted stamps of the United States.

In the late 1920’s, many small mid-west post offices were being plagued by burglaries. Stolen mint stamps were being transported to other states where they were sold to unsuspecting buyers. In hopes of curtailing these illegal activities, United States Postal Officials considered a plan to overprint stamps of the existing 48 states with the name of the state in which they were sold.

1n 1929, Kansas and Nebraska were chosen as the test states. Eleven different definitive values from 1¢ to 10¢ were overprinted “Kans.” and “Nebr.” and shipped to post offices in those states. Unfortunately the plan never really worked out because the burglars quickly figured out that they would not raise suspicion if they sold the stolen stamps within the same state.

The idea of state overprinted stamps was dropped, but the Nebraska and Kansas overprinted sets became popular among collectors.

Ironically, the stamps at the heart of a plan to thwart burglars became the target of counterfeiters. Because of the relative scarcity of some of the denominations, forged overprints started showing up as early as 1930.

Here are a few quick checks to make sure that the overprints on these issues are genuine:

• The stamps should all be perforated 11 x 10½. If anything other than this perf, you have a fake.
  
  
• The genuine Kansas overprints measure 9.2mm wide, while the genuine Nebraska overprint is 9mm wide.
  
  
• The genuine mint stamps have 14 vertical gum ridges which were applied after printing to control the amount of gum flow. There is also a single horizontal gum breaker on the genuine issues. These breaker bars were applied 21mm apart to help prevent the sheets from curling. It is possible to have two of the horizontal breakers on the genuine stamps, but they must be at the extreme top and bottom, and 21mm apart. Multiple horizontal gum breakers indicate that the overpint is fake.
  
  
• An ultra-violet lamp can be very helpful. The ink of the genuine overprint is black and will not fluoresce in any other colour.

Dr. Norman Bethune

Norman Bethune was a Canadian doctor whose drive to improve the quality and availability of health care made him a hero in two countries. Born in 1890 in Gravenhurst, Ontario, Bethune practiced medicine in Canada until 1938. Heavily influenced by his own near-fatal bout of tuberculosis, he strove to make a difference by improving equipment and treatment techniques. Appalled that the medical system was available primarily to affluent members of society, he was an early advocate of socialized medicine. His motives were sometimes mistakenly labeled as political, but he was simply driven by a need to act and to help where help was needed.

Bethune became a national hero in China because of his medical service there. He went to China in 1938 when China was at war with Japan. He organized hospitals in the field and served tirelesly as a battle surgeon at great personal risk. Bethune served in China for about 21 months and died there of blood poisoning. I recently enjoyed watching a fine move of his life starring Donald Sutherland.

A pair of stamps honouring Dr. Norman Bethune was issued by both Canada and the People's Republic of China on the centennial of his birth in 1990. The Canadian and Chinese stamps share the same designs and were printed se-tenant. The brown stamp of the pairs depicts Bethune in China, and the blue stamp shows him in Canada.

The 1939 Royal Visit of KGVI and Queen Elizabeth

Famous Canadian Stamp Dealer K. Bileski

Over the years I have had the good fortune to meet many famous Canadian stamp dealers including J.N. Sissons, Jim Webb, Fred Jarrett, Bill Maresch, Art Leggett, Harry Martin Jr., George Wegg, Allan Steinhart, and Dick Lamb.One of the most notable stamp dealers in all of Canada was Kasimer Bileski of Winnipeg.

Bileski first started selling stamps in the 1920’s and carried on right up to his death in 2005 at the age of 96. His entertaining advertisements appeared everywhere, and he sold stamps to tens of thousands of collectors in his lifetime. His offerings were usually accompanied by an interesting typewritten write-up that made it hard for potential customers to resist. He attended many major auctions where he acquired parts of the President Franklin D. Roosevelt collection, the accumulation of King Farouk of Egypt, and the American Bank Note Archives.

In 1959, Bileski was instrumental in promoting the discovery of Canada’s most famous error - The Inverted Seaway. He appeared on the popular CBC television show “Front Page Challenge” and stumped the panel with news of this error. In the early 1960’s, I remember Bileski coming into my father’s Toronto stamp and coin store and offering the Seaway Inverts for $1,000.00 each. The Seaway Invert now catalogues $16,000.00 for a VF mint single!

Over the past few years we have acquired portions of the legendary Bileski stock as it has come up for sale, and it has provided many interesting lots for our auctions.

The Wilding and Machin Portraits of Queen Elizabeth

Little Norway

During World War II, Canada became home to thousands of Allied servicemen who received training here.

More than 2,600 of these servicemen were Norwegians who had escaped from Nazi-occupied Norway. Their basic flight training camps, first in Toronto Ontario, and later in Muskoka Ontario near Gravenhurst, became known as "Little Norway".These camps even had their own postal cancellations.

The Norwegian Royal Family visited Camp Norway several times. Just a boy on his first visit, King Harald returned in 2002 on a state visit to celebrate the special connection between Canada and Norway.

In 1946, Norway issued a stamp honouring the Little Norway training centres (Scott #274).

The Siege of Mafeking

The Siege of Mafeking in South Africa from 1899 to 1900 was one of the most famous military actions of the Boer War. For 217 days a Boer force of over 8,000 troops surrounded a much smaller British garrison under the command of Colonel Robert Baden-Powell. Mafeking was defended by only 1,500 men including local volunteers, but to the enemy the force seemed much stronger because of Baden-Powell’s brilliant military tactics.

Baden-Powell's snipers were sent out during the night to lay in wait near the enemy camp until almost sunset the next evening. With their targets well illuminated and the enemy blinded by the setting sun, the snipers could take their best shots from relative safety.

Baden-Powell's employed a number of 'bluffs' that made the Boers believe Mafeking was much better protected than it actually was. He sent residents to the outskirts of the town where they made a big show of burying hundreds of metal boxes. A 'test' was performed by igniting a stick of dynamite, and the Boers were convinced that Mafeking was surrounded by a mine field.

The town's only searchlight was moved regularly to give the impression that many existed. The illusion that the town was surrounded by searchlights discouraged the Boers from attacking at night.

When the supply of barbed wire ran out, Baden-Powell's men strung imaginary wire around new trenches, and then pretended to crawl under the non-existent obstacles. Watching from afar, the Boer scouts reported that the trenches were all protected by barbed wire.

Men could not be spared to deliver military messages and civilian mail, or to keep look-out, so Baden-Powell formed a cadet corps of boys as young as 9 years old to perform these and other important duties.

Defying the odds, the British held out and the siege was lifted when the Boers retreated in May of 1900. Following the siege Baden-Powell became a national hero, and would later start the Boy Scout movement based on the brave boys of the cadet corps of Mafeking who had literally served as ‘scouts’.

Various stamps were issued for local use during the siege, including two depicting Baden-Powell, and one depicting Warren Goodyear, a 12-year old cadet, delivering mail on his bicyle. Goodyear is considered to be the first Boy Scout.

Newfoundland Trail of the Caribou

At first glance, the Newfoundland “Trail of the Caribou” set of 1919 appears to be a standard set of twelve identical stamps. However, when you look closer, the stamps tell you the story of the major contribution made by Newfoundland during World War I.

Beneath the caribou, which is actually a composite drawing of a moose and a caribou, eight of the stamps bear the names of places in Europe where Newfoundlanders fought. The other four stamps bear the word ‘Ubique’ meaning ‘everywhere’ to honour the work of Newfoundland’s Royal Naval Reserve. This majestic and historic set is listed in Scott as #115-26.

The six thousand men who joined the Newfoundland Regiment went to war wearing a badge depicting the head of the caribou on their uniforms.

Canada's 1927 Special Delivery Stamp

Newfoundland's Signal Hill and Marconi

Stamp Collecting Documentary

Vance Auctions has just pledged $500 to assist in the creation of this worthwhile documentary by our friend Mark Cwiakala. Please visit http://kck.st/105ioIZ if you also feel this project is worthwhile. The trailer is fantastic and definitely worth watching. Here is the personal appeal from Mark:

Hello!

We are reaching out to the stamp collectors of the world to tell them about our film project, the first, feature-length documentary on stamp collectors.

Freaks & Errors: A Rare Collection, is a film that reveals this little known hobby to create excitement and awareness. In the film, we are searching out who collects stamps and more importantly ... why? In addition, we will reveal some of the legendary stories in the hobby. The film attempts to uncover the common influences that connect all stamp collectors and whether nurture, nature or both is the driving force behind a collectors “gene”. In addition, we’ll unveil the global world of philatelic business, including high-valued auctions, anonymous collectors, mysteries and scandals.

This film is extremely personal to me, this is a world I grew up in and I've always been fascinated on how much it impacted my life. We have been filming fpr the last year and have exhausted our funds. This lead us to Kickstarter, the crowd-sourced community fund raising site. By partnering with Kickstarter, we are pushing to raise awareness of the the film and the hobby, as well as raise additional funds we need to complete production and post-production.

Stamp collecting is not the hobby that it once was, this is in part to technological distractions and overload of other entertainment options, but we have seen the spark ignite in a non-collector's eye when we mention stamp collecting, the people involved and that we are making a film about it. At the least, we want this film to reach an audience that will leave the theatre with a curiosity and respect for a noble hobby, at the most, we would love to see the same audience become part of the hobby.

We are asking you to please spread the word about our fundraising efforts, our goal is $75,000, in 30 days. Become a part of the film by donating, or by being an ambassador and spreading the word, either way, we greatly any and all support and are available for any questions.

Attached is a link to Kickstarter: http://kck.st/105ioIZ

If you will, let as many collectors know about it as you can and we can bring stamp collecting to the masses!

Thanks,

Mark

Mark Cwiakala
Director

Freaks & Errors: A Rare Collection

Why Tulips Have a Special Meaning to Canadians

Richard M. Lamb (1923-2012)

In December 2012 the stamp world lost one of its most respected dealers. Richard (Dick) Lamb of Kitchener Ontario passed away in his 90th year. He was a stamp dealer for over 60 years.

Dick Lamb was born in Oxfordshire England in 1923 and came to Canada in 1950. He worked for many years at Mutual Life Assurance Co but was also active as a stamp dealer. After leaving Mutual Life, he became a full time stamp dealer in the 1970's.

I first met Dick at my father's stamp and coin store in Toronto in the 1960's where he was a regular visitor. Over the years Dick and I had hundreds of dealings, with both of us buying and selling. He was a frequent bidder in our auctions. He particularly liked nice cancellations as well as postal history from Canada and the British Commonwealth.

Dick had a strong connection to my family. Few people know that it was through my father's 'Stamp Collectors' Exchange Club' that Dick met his wife Kathryn to whom he was happily married for 58 years. He often reminded me of this fact and was very grateful to my father.

Over the years, Dick built a reputation for honesty and integrity. He became a very knowledgeable dealer with many contacts and customers all over Canada, the United States, and overseas. He was known to many of the biggest names in philately. Dick became a leading expert on BNA stamps and served for 10 years on the Greene Foundation Expert Committee in Toronto. A few years ago, Dick was made an honorary member of the Canadian Stamp Dealers' Association, a distinction that he shared with only a couple of others.

Outside of stamps, Dick's pastimes included bird watching and gardening. He had a massive vegetable garden behind his house where he seemed to grow enough vegetables to feed an army. Often when visiting other stamp dealers, Dick would take along a basket of fresh produce. I remember the late Toronto stamp dealer Jim Hennok telling me that Dick Lamb's tomatoes were the best he ever tasted.

Dick Lamb will be missed by his family as well as countless dealers and collectors. I consider it a privilege to have known him, and an honour to have called him my friend.

Alexander Graham Bell

One of the many positive effects of stamp collecting is the widening of one’s knowledge. By studying a country’s stamps, you learn about its history, its geography, and its culture, as well as the people who shaped it. The contributions of royalty, military leaders, politicians, musicians, artists, and inventors are commemorated on thousands of stamps.

In 1947 Canada issued a beautiful stamp to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Graham Bell. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1847 and emigrated to Canada in 1870. In 1876 Bell first exhibited what eventually evolved into the modern telephone.

This Canadian stamp depicts a portrait of Bell with telephone poles in the background. The winged figure to the right is reaching over to put a wreath on Bell’s portrait while standing on a globe in which North America is prominently displayed.

Bell is most noted as the inventor of the telephone, but he made many more valuable contributions both in Canada and in the United States. His intellectual curiosity drove him to explore the complete realm of communications including helping the deaf, and he did extensive research into such varied fields as airplanes, animal breeding, artificial respiration, and water desalinization.

The S.S. Empress of Ireland

China 1932 Northwest Scientific Expedition

The First Animal Topical

Antarctic Expeditions and Stamps

The Newfoundland $1 Wayzata Air Mail

We are frequently asked questions about the 'stamp' pictured here. It is commonly known as the 'Wayzata' issue.

In 1932, Newfoundland was still a colony of Britain. It was the Depression era, and Trans-Atlantic flight was all the rage. The government of Newfoundland entered into an agreement with an American company called Aerial World Tours that was based in Minnesota. Newfoundland would help finance the first Trans-Atllantic flight to carry both passengers and mail, and hopefully stimulate its own economy in the process. The agreement stipulated that the flight would take place no later than August 31, 1932

The ambitious project was put in motion. Funds were to be raised by the sale of a $1 Air Mail stamp. The design was approved showing a Sikorsky seaplane high above the Atlantic with North America and Europe on either side. The plane, to be purchased by the American company, was a Sikorsky S-40, a hugh 4-engine machine that could carry 44 passengers.

A total of 400,000 stamps were printed from an engraved plate of 20 stamps (4 x 5). Aerial World Tours was to sell 300,000 copies, and Newfoundland would then sell the rest through its Post Office to give the stamp full postal status.

The route was planned to start in Wayzata Minnesota, with stops in Toronto, Montreal, St. Pierre, St. John's, and Holyrood. The plane would then cross the Atlantic by way of the northern route, via Sweden, Germany, and Denmark, to England.

Unfortunately fund-raising efforts fell well short of lofty expectations, and the plans were changed. Instead of the Sikorsky plane, a much smaller twin-engined plane named 'Newfoundlander' was purchased and taken to Wayzata.

Time was running out, and when it became clear that it would be impossible to sell enough of the stamps to finance the venture, the project was cancelled. Of the 400,000 copies printed, it is believed that 375,000 copies were destroyed.

Even though the 'Wayzata' never became an official postage stamp, it is a worthy addition to any Newfoundland or Air Mail collection.

The World's First Philatelist?

My Top 3 Favourite Stamps

Every collector has his or her own favourite stamps.The appeal may lie in the design, the engraving, or simply the appearance. Here are my top 3 favourite stamps:

Canada 50¢ Bluenose, Scott #158

This majestic stamp depicting the famous Bluenose fishing schooner is my all time favourite.
The engraving and the design of this 1929 issue are remarkable. The stamp exemplifies
three aspects of Canadian maritime life: Great fishing, ship building, and seamanship.

Great Britain £1 PUC, Scott #209



This mighty stamp embodies the power of the British Empire. It's large size and detailed
engraving are magnificent. The stamp was issued to honour the 9th UPU Congress
held in London in 1929. Its allegorical design depicting St. George slaying
The Dragon represents Britain triumphing over her enemies.

United States $1 Cattle in Storm, Scott #292



This beautiful engraved stamp just might be the most beautiful American commemorative stamp
ever issued. The central design is a reproduction of a painting by J.N. McWhirter and
is part of the 1893 series issued to commemorate the Trans-Mississippi
and International Exposition held in Omaha Nebraska in 1898.

Fourth Generation Stamp Dealers?

It is never too early to introduce young people to the joys of our hobby. At the November 2011 CSDA Stamp Show in Toronto we were visited by my two grandchildren, Elyse (age 3) and Mason (age 6 months).

Who knows? Perhaps one (or both) of them will carry on the tradition and become a fourth generation Carmichael stamp dealer.

The photo below picturing me and my son Chris with Elyse and Mason is courtesy of Mary-Anne at Canadian Stamp News.

Canada's Navy on Stamps and Postcards

Canada has 243,000 kilometres of shoreline, more than any other country in the world, so our navy has always been essential to our national safety and development. On May 4, 1910, the Royal Canadian Navy came into being.

Before 1910, Canada's maritime security was in the hands of Britain's Royal Navy, but it was time for Canada to assume her share of responsibility for the protection of her coastline. Charles Edmund Kingsmill, a Canadian who became a Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy, was invited to direct our Naval services. He assembled a fleet which included two light cruisers that were transferred from the Royal Navy (the HMCS Rainbow and the HMCS Niobe), as well as purchased yachts and other miscellaneous vessels. The Rainbow and the Niobe had already seen duty around the world under Britain's command.

From these humble beginnings, Canada built up her naval forces over the years so that by the end of World War II, Canada had the third largest navy of the Allied Nations (behind the United States and Great Britain).

2010 marked the 100th year that our shores have been protected by our naval forces. Special events and exhibitions celebrated a century of extraordinary achievements by the men and women of our navy. A number of stamps have been issued honouring the navy including Canada’s famous $1 Destroyer stamp (above), and the 2010 Centennial commemorative set pictured at the left.

Seven years after arriving in Canada, the Niobe would be damaged in Halifax harbour in the devastating explosion of 1917. She was scrapped in the 1920's.

Stamp Collectors' Exchange Club

Canada's Avro Arrow

Heligoland

WWII Occupation of the Channel Islands

In the Second World War, the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey were the only parts of the British Commonwealth that were occupied by Germany. During the German occupation that lasted from 1940-1945, the inhabitants of the islands suffered hunger and privation. In addition to the more serious shortages of food and other essentials, the stamp supply was cut off. Prior to the occupation, Guernsey and Jersey used British stamps on their mail. When stamps became scarce early in the occupation, it was permitted to bisect them. Many interesting bisect covers exist and are sought after by collectors.

Starting in 1941, occupation stamps were produced by the Germans for both Guernsey and Jersey. These issues were valid only within the Channel Islands. Some were printed locally while others were printed in Paris. As the result of wartime paper shortages and multiple printings, these interesting issues can be found with various paper, shade and perforation varieties.

First United Kingdom Aerial Post

Topical Collecting

Topical collecting has constantly grown in popularity over the years. Whether you collect space, ships, Boy Scouts, sports, or paintings, a very nice collection can be put together at a modest cost.

At a recent stamp exhibition, a customer showed me his collection of "dogs on stamps". I particularly enjoyed looking over his collection because my family has had a German Shepherd for many years, and we recently added a lovable Jack Russell terrier to the household. I was truly amazed at the variety and scope of his collection. It was well researched and described, and showed me what could be done with one topic.

Those interested in topical collecting may wish to consider joining the American Topical Association. You can visit their web site at www.americantopicalassn.org They offer checklists for almost any topic that you can imagine!

Canadian Postmasters

They didn't know it at the time, but Canadian Postmasters have been responsible for creating some very interesting and collectable items.

• In 1860, New Brunswick's Postmaster Charles Connell tried to use his own portrait rather than the portrait of Queen Victoria on a 5¢ stamp. The stamps were printed, but because of the ensuing scandal they were never issued. Connell burned many of the stamps on his back lawn, but some copies have survived. Even though it was never officially issued, the "Connell" stamp is acknowledged in the Scott catalogue as New Brunswick #5.
• Early Post Offices had to deal with stamp shortages, and sometimes a pair of scissors came in handy. If a 1¢ stamp was needed, some Postmasters allowed a 2¢ stamp to be cut in half! Bisects on covers have always been sought after by collectors.
• A Post Office in rural Manitoba received a sheet of the 1946 7¢ Goose Airmail that was only partially perforated. The creative Postmaster used a sewing machine to stitch perforations between the stamps. The sheet could then be torn up, and the stamps were sold over the counter.

Universal Postal Union

All of us take for granted that a letter mailed in our own country will be delivered in any other country around the world, and we have the Universal Postal Union to thank. In 1874, twenty-two countries formed the Union to facilitate international mail delivery. Canada joined in 1878, and today 189 countries are members.

Originally, every time a member country issued a stamp, it was required to send copies to UPU Headquarters in Bern, Switzerland. The UPU then distributed copies to all other member countries to provide identification of authorized issues. To prevent these stamps from ever being used as postage they were usually marked "Specimen" in the language of the country, either by overprint, handstamp or perforation. For example, a Specimen was marked " Muestra" in Spain, "Saggio" in Italy, and "Muster" in Germany. Many Specimens ultimately find their way onto the philatelic market, and are highly desirable to specialists as they are usually the first printing of a stamp and show the original colour. Our auctions always feature a variety of Specimens and these can make a very nice specialty collection on their own.

Canada Semi-Official Airmails

12 Penny Black sold for
$260,000 US in New York!!

This beautiful mint example of one of Canada’s rarest stamps, the 12 Penny Black, sold for $260,000 US (hammer) yesterday (Thursday November 19th) at a Spink Shreves Galleries auction in New York.  The hammer price makes this the highest price ever paid for a single Canadian stamp!  This stamp was part of the BNA collection formed by bond king Bill Gross and sold in benefit of the Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum.  The result is certainly astounding and a further indication of the demand for rare stamps despite the current climate of economic uncertainty.  The Globe and Mail newspaper in Toronto featured an article about the sale of this stamp.

Check out the front page of our January 2010 auction for a gorgeous used Canada 12 Penny Black.

John Lennon

Revenue Stamps

The postage stamp was invented in 1840 to collect fees for mail delivery, but governments soon learned that stamps could also be used to collect taxes. Aptly named ‘Revenues’, these stamps had to be purchased for a variety of services and products. Some countries issued stamps that served the dual purpose of both postage and revenue collection, but in Canada the majority of revenues were issued separately and had just one job to do. From 1864 to the present, Canada’s federal and provincial governments have issued stamps for taxing legal services, promissory notes, bills of exchange, electricity and gas inspections, liquor, tobacco, licenses, and also to collect more obscure duties like immigration head taxes. Revenue issues provide a wide variety of designs and some beautiful examples of engraving to enhance a collection of postage stamps.

Rowland Hill and the First Stamp

Before 1840, mailing a letter in Britain was a complicated matter. The rate for each letter had to be calculated on its weight and the distance that it had to travel. The postman collected the fee from the addressee, not the sender, and after a letter had been carried over a great distance, the fee might not even be paid. Inefficiency resulted in high costs that made the postal system inaccessible to the masses. A man named Rowland Hill saw the need for reform, and the result was a uniform, lower postal rate that was prepaid by the sender.

It was Hill's idea to affix a little piece of paper to each letter as proof that the fee had been paid. The first adhesive postage stamp, the Penny Black, was printed in 1840. Since Great Britain was the first country in the world to print postage stamps, it probably did not occur to anyone to put the country name on the stamps. Even today, a stamp without a country name must be from Great Britain.

At the same time that the Penny Black appeared, Great Britain introduced the world's first postal stationery. Mulready envelopes and letter sheets were sold in One Penny and Two Penny denominations. Elaborately illustrated with patriotic designs by William Mulready, they did not prove to be popular at the time, but they are very collectible today.

The R.M.S. Nascopie

The Queen Victoria Chalon Head

Falkland Islands

Canada's Famous 12 Penny Black

The most sought after early Canadian stamp is the famous "12 Penny Black" (Scott #3). It is a stamp that is missing from virtually all collections and is one of the world's more desirable classic stamps. It was printed in 1851 by the New York firm of Rawdon, Wright, Hatch and Edson which is the same company that printed the first issues of the United States.

The 12 Penny Black also has the distinction of being the first of hundreds of stamps to depict the well known 'Chalon portrait' of Queen Victoria by the British artist Alfred Edwin Chalon.

The stamp's use was very limited because it was issued for prepayment of the letter rate to Newfoundland and the West Indies. It is noted in Boggs that only 1,450 were issued to various Post Offices, and any unsold remainders were destroyed. Many authorities believe that only 100 or less examples of this stamp exist today. Collectors often use a Plate Proof of this issue to fill the space in their collections knowing that they probably will not have the opportunity to acquire the regular issue of #3.

Allan Steinhart

Allan Steinhart was one of the preeminent authorities on Canadian postal history. I first met Allan in the 1960's when he was a regular customer at my father's stamp and coin store in Toronto. Over the years we became friends and had lots of dealings. He was a frequent bidder in our auctions. During that time Allan amassed an enormous stock of Canada and worldwide postal history that became legendary.

Allan's sudden death in 1996 left a void in the Canadian postal history scene, and a book was published in 1997 as a tribute to his life. David Handelman and Gray Scrimgeour edited 'Allan Steinhart Postal Historian' which includes some of Allan's many postal history articles, anecdotes from people who knew him, and a wealth of information that any postal history collector would find fascinating. The book is well illustrated with many exhibition class covers that passed through Allan's hands.

In 2007, Charles Firby Auctions offered the balance of the Steinhart stock.
I was the largest buyer at the sale, acquiring thousands of $10 to $500 Canadian items. Covers from Allan's stock still turn up regularly, described in his distinctive style.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt

I enjoyed reading my friend Dr. Barry Floyd’s philatelic work entitled Captain James Cook the Explorer. It was a real pleasure to read Barry’s historical examination of Cook’s three voyages of discovery combined with a philatelic review of related stamps and covers. Cook’s fascinating personal story and his remarkable legacy are complemented by full colour illustrations of stamps, first day covers, and souvenir covers that were issued around the world to commemorate events from Cook’s voyages. Barry does an excellent job portraying the romantic image of South Pacific exploration, while also examining the harsh realities of long, dangerous voyages and European contact with indigenous peoples.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in Captain Cook or Pacific exploration.

Canadian Provinces

London to London 1927 Flight

Aviation and philately have always been closely tied, so it is no wonder that airmail stamps and postal history are so popular. The postcard shown here tells an interesting story.

In 1927, flying across the Atlantic was all the rage. Lindbergh completed a Trans-Atlantic flight in May, but a dozen others lost their lives in other attempts. The world was fascinated by the daring aviators who attempted the dangerous flight. Carling Breweries of London Ontario offered a $25,000 prize to any Canadian or British pilot who could fly non-stop from London Ontario to London England. Since it was not possible to fly that distance on a single load of fuel, the rules were changed to allow a landing in Newfoundland.

The plane ‘Sir John Carling’ piloted by Captain Terrence B. Tully and Lieutenant James Medcalf took off from London Ontario on September 5th. After stopping at St. John’s Newfoundland, Tully and Medcalf headed across the Atlantic carrying mail franked with a special airmail stamp that bore their portraits (#CLP6). The plane never arrived in England. The plane, the crew, and the mail were lost. In our May 2007 auction, we sold one of the 9 known copies of the rare “London to London” stamp for $38,000. Recently, much excitement was generated by the discovery of a printer’s proof of this issue. The proof was sold at a Talman auction in Toronto in December 2008 for $11,500 and made front page news in the Toronto Star newspaper.

The Carmichael New Issue

I am very proud to announce the birth of my first grandchild, Elyse Milena Carmichael. My son, Chris, and his wife Kim welcomed their new daughter into the world at the Welland Hospital on Monday, September 15, 2008 at 12:48pm.

Elyse weighed 7lbs 8oz and arrived very quickly. In fact, Chris barely made it to the delivery room in time to witness the birth of his daughter. Kim and Elyse are doing very well, and they are all adjusting to life together as a family.

Who knows? Maybe our ‘new issue’ will be a fourth generation stamp dealer!

King Farouk of Egypt

Over the years, many famous people like President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King George V have collected stamps.

Egypt’s King Farouk was also an avid philatelist, and he assembled a very extensive collection. He ruled Egypt from 1936 until 1952, but unfortunately his regime was corrupt, and he was forced to abdicate as the result of a military coup in 1952. He died under mysterious circumstances while in exile in Italy, and his government put his royal collection up for sale in 1954.

Several dealers were among the purchasers of the collection, and the stamps were put back on the market with the added appeal of having once been owned by a king! Prominent Canadian stamp dealer Kasimir Bileski handled many of the stamps, and he mounted some of them on special cards as illustrated here. Items from King Farouk’s collection are still very popular among collectors.

Royal 2008 Stamp Convention

We very much enjoyed meeting many of our bidders at the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada Convention held in Quebec City in May 2008. Stamp collectors came from all across Canada and the United States to attend. The convention was an excellent forum for collectors, dealers, and exhibitors to share their knowledge, add something to their collection at the bourse, and enjoy the many fine exhibits.

The 2009 RPSC Convention will be held in St. Catharines Ontario, about 30 minutes away from Smithville. Plans are well under way for that show, which will run from June 12-14, 2009 at the Parkway Convention Centre, 327 Ontario St., St. Catharines, Ontario.

The Largest Stamp Store in the World

As many of our bidders know, my family has a long history in the stamp collecting field. My father was in the stamp business from the 1930’s-70’s, first running a large exchange club for collectors, and then owning stamp stores in Toronto and later in Hamilton Ontario. The Hamilton store is the most memorable one for me. The two floor store became a landmark for collectors and was billed as “the largest stamp and coin store in the world”.

The store stocked over 2,500 albums of stamps for collectors to look through. It was also a hub for collectors looking for coins, military medals, rocks and minerals, and prints. Even though the store closed in 1974, I still meet collectors who used to frequent the store and have fond memories of dealing with my father.

Vance Goes Green

The Forestry Stewardship Council is an international organization which promotes the responsible management of the worlds forests. We are very proud that since May of 2008, Vance Auctions catalogues have been printed on paper stock which is guaranteed by the FSC as originating from forests which have been managed in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable manner. For more information on the FSC please visit www.fsc.org

Canada Official OHMS Perfins

After the American Revolutionary War (1775-83) and the defeat of the British, many people remained loyal to Britain. Fearing persecution, a large migration of over 40,000 Loyalists came to Canada, resettling in various parts of the country. Many United Empire Loyalists were attracted to the Niagara Peninsula where Smithville is located.

Their British culture and laws had a great influence on the area. A statue of a Loyalist family, created by Sydney March of England, has a prominent place in nearby Hamilton (about 30 minutes away from our office) in front of the former Court House.

This famous statue was depicted on a Canadian stamp in 1934 (Scott #209) to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of the United Empire Loyalists. The stamp is considered one of the more beautiful issues from the middle period of Canada.