Monthly Archives: September 2022

Royal Marines (UK 2022)

Posted on by

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Royal Mail Reveals Stamp Images Showcasing the Royal Marines Commandos – Britain’s Elite Fighting Force

  • Eight stamps in the main set showcase some of the key roles and operations of the Royal Marines today
  • These include: aviation operations; cold-weather operations; mountain operations; arid-climate operations; commando training; Band Service; amphibious operations; and maritime security operations
  • A further four stamps are exclusively illustrated by Graham Turner, a leading military artist. Presented in a miniature sheet, the stamps explore the history of Royal Marines’ uniforms
  • Royal Mail worked closely with the Ministry of Defence on the stamp issue
  • The stamps are available from today (29 September) at
    www.royalmail.com/royalmarines and by phone on 03457 641 641
  • The Presentation Pack, containing all 12 stamps, retails at £17.70

Royal Mail have revealed images of a set of stamps that showcase the history and modern-day operations of the Royal Marines.

Eight stamps in the main set depict some of the key roles and operations of the Royal Marines today.

These include: aviation operations; cold-weather operations; mountain operations; arid-climate operations; commando training; Band Service; amphibious operations; and maritime security operations.

A further four stamps are exclusively illustrated for Royal Mail by Graham Turner, a leading military artist. Presented in a miniature sheet, the stamps explore the history of Royal Marines’ uniforms from 1664 through to 1944. The miniature sheet features a backdrop of Denis Nighton’s painting of The Fall of Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar, on the upper deck of ‘Victory’.
Royal Mail also worked closely with the Ministry of Defence on the stamp issue.
David Gold, Director of Public Affairs and Policy, Royal Mail said: “Throughout their history the Royal Marines have served around the globe by sea and by land, as sea soldiers and now as commandos. These stamps showcase some of the key roles and operations of the Royal Marines today.”

The Royal Marines:
The Royal Marines were formed in 1664 as The Duke of York and Albany’s Maritime Regiment of Foot, and new regiments were raised whenever Britain needed them. In 1755 they became a permanent part of the Royal Navy and throughout their long history have served on land and sea.

In 2020 the Royal Marines became the Future Commando Force, their most significant transformation since the Second World War. Today, commandos are ready to deploy anywhere at a moment’s notice, be it warfighting, combat missions or humanitarian duties.

They are based close to trouble spots, on special operations, supporting the UK Carrier Strike Groups or supplying special NATO contributions. The Marines have returned to their roots as small groups of determined individuals; self-sustaining and self-sufficient, thinking on their feet, they move fast and with the initiative, cunning and boldness needed to seize opportunities that present themselves when an operation is underway.

Royal Marines have the longest infantry training period in the world. Scaling cliffs, finding inaccessible areas adversaries think are secure, coming from the sea in small boats and helicopters, working at night to conduct raids, moving in quickly, taking the enemy by surprise, getting out just as fast – these skills are the key elements of the Force.

Marines access areas that aren’t available to ordinary units. Commandos integrate the very latest defence technology: precision missiles, drones, bullet- and blast-proof shields, surveillance and communication systems all build on traditional commando skills, helping to ensure that the Marines are equipped for the 21st century.

The stamps are available now at www.royalmail.com/royalmarines and by phone on 03457 641 641. The Presentation Pack, containing all 12 stamps, retails at £17.70.

Hotchner: The Future Of Catalogues

Posted on by

The Future of Catalogues and Their Importance to The Hobby
by John M. Hotchner

It used to be that I could carry an annotated United States Scott Specialized Catalogue of the current year when I went to a stamp show. It was my record of what I had and its condition level, my want list, guidance on value, my reference on varieties to look for, and a handy reference on design types and measurements from the first 80 years of US stamps.

No longer! The 2022 US Specialized now weighs six pounds and stretches to over 1300 detailed and information-packed pages. In fact the entire Scott Catalogue (13 soft covered books including the Specialized, plus the 1840-1940 hardcover Classic Specialized), now takes a foot and a half of shelf space and weighs in at about 58 pounds.

I recently had to bring the catalogues from one floor to another so a dealer doing an evaluation could have them for handy reference. It took three trips! And don’t get me started on the price – just under $1000 for the complete run.

Is it any wonder that as the newly updated catalogues come out each year, prior year’s catalogues – deeply discounted – are eagerly sought by collectors who are satisfied to have a reference for most of what is in their collections.

Given that the catalogues are an essential for any serious collector, and that they can only grow as the nations of the world pump out ever more stamps and souvenir sheets even as mail volumes decrease, I got to wondering about their future.

I’m on the margins of the digital revolution and prefer looking at hard copy, but Scott has now converted the catalogues to digital form – and offers them in addition to hard copy at about three quarters the price of hard copy. But this is still a stretch for even established collectors who would much rather spend that kind of money on stamps for their own collections.

For the present time, Scott continues to sell both hard copy and digital, but how long can they afford to produce and sell hard copy at an affordable price, as digital takes hold and eats into those sales? It is bound to happen that fewer and fewer hard copies will be sold each year, and there will come a time that hard copy will go away. I don’t have Scott’s sales numbers, but it seems logical that Scott will get to a point where only digital will be available.

But will the current format of digital versions of the full catalogues match up with collector demand? Possibly for some time to come, as we are used to this as the retail model. But I think back to the old Minkus Catalogs which briefly gave Scott some competition in the 1960s into the early 1970s. In a way it was doomed from the start as Scott numbers were the industry standard, but Minkus album pages were popular. Labeled with Minkus catalog numbers, they helped to sell the catalog.

But Minkus did something that I wish Scott would consider: Minkus brought out a series of country-specific catalogs. Undoubtedly, that negatively affected sales of the

Scott 1955: Complete in two volumes

comprehensive catalogs. They were not updated yearly, but it was a real service to collectors who specialized in one or only a few countries, and saved megabucks for collectors who did not need the comprehensive catalogs.

Scott is a business, and I don’t minimize the cost of providing the products they do. I’m sure that the economics of catalogue production are unforgiving. They put a terrific amount of human effort and investment into keeping their products up to date, and it is right and proper that they cover those costs with their pricing, and that they make a profit. But I am troubled by what catalogues – hard copy and digital – cost the collector.

At the same time that the products are an essential for the hobby, they are as a practical matter not available to the great majority of people who might be interested in getting started in stamp collecting – especially young people who are still in school or just starting out in a career.

Does this play a role in the steadily decreasing market share that stamp collecting commands these days? I think so. Sure, there are other factors involved in that: the delayed gratifications of stamp collecting can’t hope to compete with the immediate gratifications of video games. But we as a hobby are not making it easy for new people to join up and prosper when the tools of the hobby are priced beyond what new collectors can afford.

To repeat, Scott must cover its costs and make a profit or we will lose the substantial benefits of having the continually updated critical reference upon which we all depend. But I hope they also factor in somehow, (may I call it) their responsibility to also support the future of the hobby.

If this means they bring out hard copy only every two years, or alternate years between hard copy and digital, or a host of other possible ways to cut costs for both producer and user, they are worth thinking about.

Should you wish to comment on this editorial, or have questions or ideas you would like to have explored in a future column, please write to John Hotchner, VSC Contributor, P.O. Box 1125, Falls Church, VA 22041-0125, or email, putting “VSC” in the subject line.

Or comment right here.

World Animal Day (Netherlands (2022)

Posted on by

[excerpted from the PostNL press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
World Animal Day

Issue date: 4 October
Sheet of five stamps in five different designs marked ‘Internationaal 1’, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for delivery outside the Netherlands
Design: Sandra Smulders – Vormgoed, Gouda
Item number: 820057

With the issue of the World Animal Day stamp sheet on 4 October 2022, PostNL highlights the celebration of this unique day dedicated to animals. World Animal Day was introduced in 1925 and has been celebrated in the Netherlands since 1930. On the five stamps, five different animal species draw our attention to animal welfare, along with practical tips on how we can offer help to animals in need. These stamps are marked ‘Internationaal 1’, the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for delivery outside of the Netherlands.

The World Animal Day stamp sheet features five postage stamps in five designs within the fixed frame of the personal stamp. The stamps feature photographic portraits of different animals, with

  • ducklings,
  • a goat,
  • a seal,
  • a cat and
  • a hedgehog

from left to right. On all pictures on the stamps, the animal looks at the viewer, just like the dog on the edge of the sheet. The square green text logo of World Animal Day is featured alternately on the top right and bottom left of the stamps. The short texts on the tabs below the stamps give practical tips on how people can truly help animals. This is the first time PostNL has issued a sheet of personalised stamps with tabs. To the right of the large portrait picture of the dog on the edge of the sheet, the call to help us is featured in large letters. To the left of the dog appears the same World Animal Day text logo as on the stamps, with the date, 4 October, below it. The top left features the international logo of World Animal Day: a hand holding a globe that radiates sunbeams, featuring silhouettes of different animal species.

World Animal Day was conceived by journalist and author Heinrich Zimmerman (1888-1942). This animal rights activist and publisher of Mensch und Hund magazine organised the first World Animal Day, which took place on 24 March 1925. In 1929, he moved the date to 4 October. At the 1931 International Animal Protection Congress in Florence, the proposal to celebrate the day on 4 October all over the globe received unanimous support. The Netherlands held its first large-scale celebration of World Animal Day a year earlier, with an impressive parade through the Hague. The choice of 4 October has everything to do with the fact that this date is the feast day of Francis of Assisi (1181-1226), founder of the Franciscan monastic order and patron saint of animals. According to legend, St Francis once preached a sermon to animals and befriended a wolf.
Source: Origin of World Animal Day, Delpher, Dierenbescherming, Heiligennet, Wikipedia

The World Animal Day sheetlet was designed by graphic designer Sandra Smulders from Gouda. Her design incorporates the goals of World Animal Day, the organisation behind the international celebration of World Animal Day. ‘We know Animal Day or World Animal Day mainly as a day on which you do something extra for your pet,’ says Smulders. ‘But it is way more multifaceted than that. I featured the most important facets on the stamp sheet, including the importance of animal rights and animal welfare. And also the practical help we can offer animals in need. In this way, I want to increase awareness of the problems animals can get into and of the fact that we can do something about it.’

Based on these principles, Smulders chose the theme Help Us? as the common theme for her design. ‘This way you appeal to people directly. With such a theme, you must obviously choose images of animals that are looking at the viewer. And that is exactly what the Labrador puppy on the sheet edge and the various animals on the stamps are doing. On the tab next to each stamp is a brief text about practical ways to help animals. That’s the idea behind it, that people actually spring into action.’

The advantage of tabs is that you can tear them off along the perforation and stick them on a card or letter together with the stamp. Smulders: ‘That way you don’t only reach the senders but also the recipients with the practical tips. Of course, there is limited space to tell the whole story, but the key issues around animal welfare are there. It is also quite fitting that I was able to design international stamps for a subject like World Animal Day. It suits the subject.’

Availability:
The stamps are available while stocks last at www.postnl.nl/collect and can be ordered by telephone from the Collect Club customer service on telephone number +31 (0)88 868 99 00. The validity period is indefinite.

Technical Details:
Stamp size: 30 x 40mm (w x h)
Sheet size : 170 x 122 mm (w x h)
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Gum: gummed
Printing technique: offset
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, black
Appearance: personal stamps with the denomination ‘Internationaal 1′, : the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for : delivery outside the Netherlands.
Print run: 5000 per issue
Item number: 820057
Issue date: 4 October 2022

Britain Issues QE2 Memorial Stamps (UK 2022)

Posted on by

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
In Memoriam: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth

  • Royal Mail reveal images of four new portrait stamps in memory of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth
  • The images of the stamps feature:
    – 2nd Class – photograph taken by Dorothy Wilding in 1952
    – 1st Class – photograph by Cecil Beaton – taken in 1968
    – £1.85 – portrait of HM The Queen taken in November 1984 by Yousuf Karsh
    – £2.55 – photograph of HM The Queen taken in 1996 by Tim Graham
  • These are the first stamp images to be approved by King Charles III
  • All four stamps feature images that were used in the 2002 Golden Jubilee stamp issue
  • A Presentation Pack of all four stamps will retail at £6.95 and are available to pre-order at www.royalmail.com/inmemoriam
  • The stamps will go on general sale from 10 November 2022

Royal Mail has revealed images of four new stamps being issued in memory of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

All four stamp images were released in the Golden Jubilee stamp issue in 2002. As with all stamps released during Her Majesty’s reign, they were approved by her for issue in 2002.

This is the first set of stamps approved by His Majesty King Charles III.

The images feature Her Majesty through the years:

  • 2nd class – photograph taken by Dorothy Wilding in 1952. To mark her accession and coronation, Her Majesty the Queen posed for Wilding 59 times, wearing evening gowns designed by Norman Hartnell.
  • 1st class – photograph by Cecil Beaton – 1968. The Queen is pictured standing in her admiral’s cloak with her head tilted to the left. Cecil Beaton took this stark, simple and direct image of HM The Queen for use in his first major retrospective at the National Portrait Gallery in London. He hoped that the final section of the exhibition would be the highlight and therefore wanted to ‘try something different’ when photographing HM The Queen. There are no familiar regal trappings such as tiaras, jewels or lavish interiors, but despite this simple approach, HM The Queen remains instantly recognisable.
  • £1.85 – portrait of HM The Queen taken in November 1984 by Yousuf Karsh.
  • £2.55 – photograph of HM The Queen taken in 1996 whilst she attended a banquet at Prague Castle during her visit to the Czech Republic. It was taken by Tim Graham.

Simon Thompson, CEO, Royal Mail said: “For the past seventy years every British stamp has been personally approved by Her Late Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Today we are unveiling these stamps, the first to be approved by His Majesty The King, in tribute to a woman whose commitment to public service and duty was unparalleled in the history of this country.”

None of the stamps in the issue include the silhouette of The Queen normally required on Special Stamps. This is because The Queen’s image is used in the design of the stamp, therefore removing the need for the silhouette to denote the country of origin.

A Presentation Pack of all four stamps will retail at £6.95. The stamps and a range of collectible products are available now to pre-order from www.royalmail.com/inmemoriam

The stamps will go on general sale from 10 November 2022.

Eastern Pennsylvania Show Resumes

Posted on by

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Regional stamp show set for Oct. 29

After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, the Allentown Philatelic Society will resume sponsoring its biannual Eastern Pennsylvania Stamp Show (EPASS) from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Schnecksville Fire Company, 4550 Old Packhouse Road, Schnecksville, PA 18078. There is free parking and no admission fee. Food service will be provided by the fire company.

EPASS will feature 12 dealers, 25 tables, a youth and beginners area offering free stamps and collecting materials, hundreds of dollars in door prizes and an historical exhibit. The club will also accept donations of stamps and supplies that will be used to promote the hobby.

Individuals that have inherited collections are encouraged to bring their material to the show for evaluation and possible sale to club members and participating dealers.

The stamp club meets on the first Tuesday of every month at the American Legion Post No. 367, 609 Fullerton Ave., Whitehall, PA 18053. Meetings include auctions, visual presentations and trading among members. The club also maintains a philatelic library for research and information.

The organization will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year and plans are underway to mark that milestone. The Allentown chapter is one of the oldest continuously operating stamp clubs in the country.

For more information please call contact Brian Gaydos at ‭(201) 981-9444‬‬; briangaydos1971@gmail.com or visit the website: http://aps-lv-stamps.org/epass/.‬‬

ATA Seeks Top Award Nominations

Posted on by

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Nominations Sought for ATA Award

The American Topical Association is accepting nominations for the Distinguished Topical Philatelist award. The ATA’s highest award is presented each year to a person who has made outstanding contributions to philately, especially topical philately. It will be presented at the awards banquet at the Great American Stamp Show in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 12, 2023.

Individuals, study units and chapters/stamp clubs may nominate a person who they think is qualified. The recipient is chosen by a committee made up of past recipients. Letters of nomination should be sent to the chair of the selection committee, Vera Felts at vera_1102@yahoo.com or mail to 211 Petal Lane, Sequim, WA 98382-3612. Deadline for nominations is December 31, 2022.

Netherlands Issues Crypto Stamps (Netherlands 2022)

Posted on by

[from a PostNL press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
[Note: On any PostNL in Dutch, look for the <NL at the top of the page, above the search box. Click on the left-facing triangle and you should be offered <EN.]

Date of issue: 22 September 2022
Format: stamp sheet with one crypto stamp marked R for registered mail up to and including 2 kg destined for delivery within the Netherlands
Item number: 420862
Design: David Gruber, Vienna (Austria)
Collaboration: joint issue of a Dutch and an Austrian crypto stamp with a digital twin in the blockchain

On 22 September 2022, PostNL issued the NL crypto stamp, marked with R for registered mail weighing up to 2 kg destined for delivery inside of the Netherlands. Each physical postage stamp has a digital twin in the blockchain. The NL crypto stamp is the first crypto stamp to be issued by PostNL. In addition, it is also the world’s first ever joint issue of a crypto stamp. PostNL and Österreichische Post are simultaneously issuing their own crypto stamp based on the same design, featuring the colours of the respective country’s flag, each with the same symbol but with a different denomination. Another special feature is the fact that collectors can reserve their copy of the NL crypto stamp from 2 September 2022.

Crypto stamps are a recent phenomenon. In 2019, Austria’s national postal service, Österreichische Post AG, became the first postal service in the world to issue a crypto stamp. It was followed by Gibraltar, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Malta, the United Arab Emirates, the UN and Switzerland. With the NL crypto stamp, PostNL is next in line. As is the case with other crypto stamps, each individual NL crypto stamp is linked to a digital twin in the blockchain. Blockchain is a computer technology that uses distributed databases to secure the ownership of crypto money and other digital assets such as crypto art and crypto stamps. These digital items are also known as NFTs, non-fungible tokens. You can view the digital twin of your NL crypto stamp on a computer or smartphone at any time. It is also possible to store it in a digital collection or sell it using a digital wallet.

How Does It Work?
Activate the NFC function on your smartphone. Hold your phone near the NL crypto stamp to check its authenticity.

Each NL crypto stamp has a digital twin with a particular colour in the blockchain. There are five different colours, some of which are more common than others. Activate your NL crypto stamp to discover the colour of the digital twin. Scan the QR-code on the front or enter code [1] and code [A] on the reverse at NLcryptostamp.nl [link is to the English-language version].

Design
The stamp sheet with the NL crypto stamp is the size of a bank card and is made of extra strong reinforced paper. The physical stamp has been affixed to the front of the stamp sheet, in the centre. The stamp can be detached along the perforated edges. The background of both the sheet and the stamp feature the stripes of the Dutch flag with an added crystal structure. A pattern of silver tulips runs across the flag.

As was the case with the previous crypto stamp issues by Österreichische Post, the design of this jointly issued crypto stamp features a unique symbol. Designs for the earlier Austrian editions included a unicorn, a whale and a panda. The PostNL and Österreichische Post version features the silver silhouette of a bull’s head in the top left-hand corner. The bull is not just a symbol of courage and perseverance; it also represents ‘bull markets’, which is how the world of the stock exchange refers to rising markets.

The denomination R for registered mail is printed in the top right-hand corner of the stamp and a QR code with a link to the digital twin can be found in the bottom right-hand corner. The country (Nederland) and the year (2022) are printed in the bottom left-hand corner of the stamp. The reverse of the stamp sheet features a number of codes, a QR code and a ‘secret word list’ for viewing, storing and selling the digital twin of the NL crypto stamp in the blockchain. The image on the reverse is the same as that on the front, with the Dutch tricolour, the crystal structure and the silver tulips. The upper right-hand corner of the reverse features the unicorn logo, which has been used as a symbol for crypto stamps since the very first issue by Austria in 2019.

The issue of the NL crypto stamp is groundbreaking for several reasons. It is the first crypto stamp PostNL has ever issued and it is also the first joint issue (together with Österreichische Post) of a crypto stamp worldwide. It is also unusual that collectors and other interested parties were able to reserve a copy through an official presale.

Stephan van den Eijnden, commercial director of PostNL Mail Nederland, agrees that this issue is unusual. ‘We have been receiving a lot of interest since the end of May, when we announced that we would be issuing our first Dutch crypto stamp this autumn. The Dutch are becoming more and more interested in the world of crypto. But until now, the general public only knew of these products by name. With the NL crypto stamp, we are making NFTs accessible to a wider audience. We hope that this will make more people eager to discover this new way of collecting. Because stamps are timeless!’

Van den Eijnden adds ‘ the basic design is the same. But with a different denomination, different flags (of course) and also a different national flower. What the tulip is to the Netherlands, the edelweiss is to Austria.’

Colors
The digital twins are stored in the blockchain in five different colours. The likelihood of getting a particular colour depends on the colour: there are 1,400 red, 9,334 yellow, 18,666 blue, 37,334 green and 73,266 black stamps. So a red digital twin is much rarer than a black one, for example. The digital twin of the crypto stamp is randomly generated. Scan the QR code on the stamp with a smartphone to find out which colour is linked to your NL crypto stamp.

Austrian Version
Österreichische Post will issue its version of the latest crypto stamp – the Crypto stamp 4.0 – on the same day PostNL issues theirs. Its design is very similar to that of the NL crypto stamp, [with] a few important differences.

Availability
The stamps are available while stocks last in Bruna shops and through the webshop and the onchainshop. The validity period is indefinite. More information about the crypto stamps can be found at NLcryptostamp.nl [link is to the English-language version].

Technical Specifications:
Postage stamp dimensions: 43 x 53 mm
Stamp sheet dimensions: 53.98 x 85.6 x 0.79 mm (+/- 0.05 mm)
Paper: Invercote Creato matt 240 g/m2
Special features: PET film for NFC chip, silver metallic, film and varnish
NFC chip: 384 bytes, AES-SUN NDEF security
Gum: gummed
Printing technique: offset and screen print
Printing colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, black
Print run: 140,000 stamps
Format: stamp sheet with one stamp
Design: David Gruber, Vienna (Austria)
Printer: Variuscard GmbH, Vienna (Austria)
Item number: 420862

Watch 2022-23 U.S. Duck Stamp Competition Live

Posted on by

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Join the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the 2022 Virtual Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s annual national wildlife art competition – the 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest – will be broadcast live on September 23 and 24.

The media and public are invited to view the contest via live webcast as five judges review 187 contest entries [which you can see here] and select the winning artwork. Judging for the duck stamp begins at 10:00 a.m. EST, Friday and 10:00 a.m. EST, Saturday, with the final selection announced around noon. This event is not open to the public this year. Tune in for video cameos from Service Director, Martha Williams, artists and other members of the conservation community.

The winning art selected will appear on the 2023-2024 Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, or “Duck Stamp”. The Federal Duck Stamp plays a critically important role in wildlife conservation. Since 1934, sales from the iconic stamp have raised more than $1.1 billion to protect over 6 million acres of wetlands habitat.

More information is available at here.

What: Selection of the 2022 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest Winner

When: September 23 and 24, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. EST (judging begins at 10:00 a.m., daily; winning artwork expected to be announced on Saturday between 11:00 a.m. and noon)

Where: Virtual Webcast

Who: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information, visit www.fws.gov, or connect with us through any of these social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Community Foundation (Canada 2022)

Posted on by

Although the issue date is 19 September, on VSC’s Facebook group, Danforth Guy points out that all Canadian post offices were supposed to be closed that day, for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.

[press release] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Canada Post Community Foundation ramps up 2022 campaign, rolls out grants to improve the lives of Canadian children
101 groups receive $1.3 million in funding as in-store campaign and new stamp launched to meet growing needs across the country

OTTAWA – As the Canada Post Community Foundation launches its 2022 fundraising campaign, 101 organizations across the country have been informed they will receive much-needed funding to support their efforts to improve the lives of Canadian children and youth.

Support for grassroots organizations and Indigenous youth
A total of $1.3 million in grants has been awarded for this year. The recipients include grassroots organizations from every province and territory. This year represents the first Indigenous Truth and Reconciliation Signature Grant, which is going to the Northern Nishnawbe Education Council in Sioux Lookout, Ontario, to support its goal to create stronger bonds, relationships and understanding between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people across Northern Ontario.

Canada Post is committed to fostering reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, including through funding of community programs that support Indigenous children and youth. All 2022 grant recipients are listed on the Canada Post Community Foundation website.

In-store campaign launched with special stamp to raise funds for next year
Faced with a growing number of applications each year, the Foundation raises money through customer donations in post offices, employee payroll deduction and sale of a special annual stamp. This year’s stamp, issued on September 19, will raise funds for distribution in 2023 and is available for purchase. Stamp booklets can be purchased and donations made at local post offices, with funds going to organizations that operate in the province or territory in which they are raised.

$12.3 million for 1,100 initiatives since 2012
Established in 2012, the Foundation is a registered charity that operates at arm’s length from Canada Post. It has granted more than $12.3 million to 1,100 initiatives for children and youth nationwide, including literacy and language programs; youth outreach services; projects that support Indigenous youth; gender and sexual diversity programs; arts and recreation projects; special education programs; childhood health programs; anti-bullying initiatives; mentoring programs and many others. Every dollar raised by the Foundation is granted to children’s charities and community organizations across Canada.

About the stamp issue
The 2022 stamp for the Canada Post Community Foundation was designed by Joanna Todd of Chad Roberts Design. There’s something magical about treehouses. They inspire imagination, offer a place for make-believe play and provide a setting in which to dream. Creating spaces for children – literal, virtual and figurative – is of vital importance. That’s why the Canada Post Community Foundation exists.

This design was selected by Canada Post frontline retail employees. The stamp is available at Canada Post outlets across the country and online at canadapost.ca/shop. Follow these links for high-resolution images.

About the Foundation
The Canada Post Community Foundation provides grants to Canadian schools, charities and organizations in an effort to make a difference in the lives of children across the country. It supports the small, underfunded projects that often go unnoticed, from coast to coast to coast. Through its grassroots, community-based approach, the Foundation plays a critical role in helping Canada Post achieve its purpose, A Stronger Canada – Delivered.

To donate to the Canada Post Community Foundation, purchase a booklet of stamps at a local post office or visit canadapost.ca/community.

[en Francais pour les médias d’information]
La Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada lance sa campagne de 2022 et verse des subventions pour améliorer la vie des enfants au pays
Cent un organismes reçoivent 1,3 million de dollars en subventions alors que la Fondation lance sa campagne en magasin et son nouveau timbre pour répondre à des besoins grandissants au Canada

OTTAWA – À l’occasion du lancement de la campagne de financement de 2022 de la Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada, 101 organismes d’un bout à l’autre du pays ont été informés qu’ils recevraient bientôt une précieuse subvention qui les aidera à améliorer la vie d’enfants et de jeunes au Canada.

Soutien aux organismes communautaires et aux jeunes Autochtones
Totalisant 1,3 million de dollars, les subventions de cette année seront remises à des organismes communautaires de chaque province et territoire. La toute première subvention Signature pour la vérité et la réconciliation avec les Autochtones a été accordée au Northern Nishnawbe Education Council de Sioux Lookout, en Ontario. Les fonds l’aideront à créer des liens plus solides et à améliorer la compréhension entre les Autochtones et les non-Autochtones dans les collectivités du nord de l’Ontario.

Postes Canada est déterminée à favoriser la réconciliation avec les peuples autochtones, notamment en finançant des programmes communautaires qui aident les enfants et les jeunes Autochtones. La liste de tous les bénéficiaires d’une subvention de 2022 se trouve sur le site Web de la Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada.

Lancement de la campagne en magasin et d’un timbre spécial pour la collecte de fonds des subventions de 2022
Le nombre de demandes de subvention augmente chaque année. La Fondation amasse des fonds à l’aide de dons provenant de la clientèle des bureaux de poste, du programme de retenues à la source du personnel participant et de la vente d’un timbre thématique annuel. Le timbre de cette année, qui a été émis le 19 septembre pour amasser des fonds pour les subventions de 2022, est maintenant en vente. Les carnets de timbres sont vendus et les dons sont recueillis dans les bureaux de poste locaux. Les fonds sont versés à des organismes de la province ou du territoire où ils ont été recueillis.

Un total de 12,3 millions de dollars pour 1 100 initiatives depuis 2012
Créée en 2012, la Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada est un organisme de bienfaisance enregistré qui est exploité indépendamment de Postes Canada. Depuis ses débuts, elle a distribué plus de 12,3 millions de dollars en subventions à 1 100 initiatives pour enfants et jeunes à l’échelle du pays, notamment des programmes d’alphabétisation et de langue, de mentorat, d’éducation spécialisée et de santé, des services d’aide, des projets qui soutiennent les jeunes Autochtones, des programmes sur la diversité de genre et sexuelle, des projets artistiques et récréatifs et des initiatives contre l’intimidation. Chaque dollar amassé est versé à des organismes communautaires et à des œuvres de bienfaisance pour enfants partout au Canada.

À propos du timbre
Le timbre de la Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada de 2022 a été conçu par Joanna Todd de Chad Roberts Design. Les maisons dans les arbres ont quelque chose de magique. Elles stimulent l’imagination et fournissent un abri où l’on peut jouer à faire semblant et même rêver. Offrir aux enfants des espaces bien réels, virtuels ou figuratifs est essentiel. C’est justement pourquoi la Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada existe.

Le motif a été choisi par le personnel de vente au détail de Postes Canada. Le timbre est en vente dans les comptoirs postaux et en ligne à postescanada.ca/achat. Cliquez sur les liens suivants pour obtenir les images à haute résolution du timbre.

À propos de la Fondation
La Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada verse des subventions à des écoles, des œuvres de bienfaisance et des organismes du Canada dans le but d’améliorer le sort des enfants partout au pays. Elle soutient d’un océan à l’autre les petits projets sous-financés qui passent souvent inaperçus. Grâce à son approche communautaire, la Fondation contribue à ce que Postes Canada réalise sa raison d’être, soit celle d’être porteurs d’un Canada plus fort.

Pour faire un don à la Fondation communautaire de Postes Canada, achetez un carnet de timbres à votre bureau de poste ou visitez postescanada.ca/communautaire.

Kelbert Wins Youth Grand Exhibiting Championship

Posted on by

[press release]
AAPE Announces Youth Grand Champion of Champions for 2022

Amelia Kelbert was named Youth Grand Champion at the American Association of Philatelic Exhibitors (AAPE) Youth Champion of Champions competition at the Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento in August.

Amelia’s thematic exhibit, “The World of the Monarch Butterfly (Daneius Plexippus)” qualified for the competition by winning the Youth Grand Award at PIPEX 2022. She is 17 years old and lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Her exhibit also received the Most Improved Award and the Best Use of Worldwide Material award from the International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors. She did not attend the show.

The Reserve Grand Award was awarded to Adhyaatman Agarwala from Brooklyn, New York, age 15, for his postal history exhibit entitled, “Ecuadorian Slogan-Based Covers Related to the Ecuador-Peru Border Conflict of 1941.”

Eleven exhibits by youth ranging in age from 13 to 18 qualified and competed – each having won a Youth Grand Award at an APS World Series of Philately Show. The participants are eligible for 19 different awards donated by WESTPEX, Collectors Club of Chicago, Pinnacle Stamp Club, the American Topical Association, the International Society of Worldwide Stamp Collectors and individuals.