Updated October 9th with comments from Don Sundman.
[click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Mystic Stamp Company Announces Appointment of New President
Mystic Stamp Company of Camden, NY, begins another chapter in its 100-year history as it welcomes new president Tom Vasiliauskas. Tom comes to Mystic with 25 years of 
leadership experience in specialty retail marketing and merchandising. Don Sundman, Mystic president for the last 50 years, remains as chairman of the board of directors.
The newly minted president says, “I’m excited to build upon the 100-year legacy Mystic Stamp Company has forged with its loyal customer base, and to expand stamp collecting to an even larger audience… I look forward to cementing Mystic’s position as the go-to source for collectible stamps in the U.S.” Don Sundman adds, “I’m very excited for Tom to join our team. He’s got the experience and skills to take Mystic forward. I’ll stay involved with Mystic as chairman of the board and work on future projects. I love our company, our colleagues and customers, the hobby, and greater Camden. I want to see Mystic remain a force for good in all areas.”
“We hired Tom as president now so Tom and I have time to work together. I turn 70 next month and have worked at Mystic 50+ years. I’ll share what I’ve learned about our hobby and business with Tom,” Sundman told The Virtual Stamp Club in an email. “I started at Mystic in 1974 so worked here 50 years this spring. I’m proud of Mystic’s achievements in those 50 years. It’s time for a younger leader with great ideas and energy. Tom can build on our success.”
Mystic Stamp Company is America’s Leading Stamp Dealer. Founded in 1923, the company was sold in 1974 to stamp pioneer Maynard Sundman of Littleton, New 
Hampshire. 50 years later, under Don Sundman’s leadership, the employee-owned mail order business is the largest stamp company in the nation. It offers a wide range of U.S. and foreign stamps, First Day Covers and collecting supplies. Mystic has sponsored over 8,600 collectors for APS membership. The company is a founding donor of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.
Don Sundman has received major philatelic awards, including the Smithsonian Philatelic Achievement Award and the APS Luff Award. He brought national media attention to the hobby by uncovering CIA connections to the Candleholder Invert error. Purchasing America’s rarest stamp – 1918’s 1¢ Z Grill – for a record price of $935,000, he later traded the stamp for the unique Jenny Invert Plate Block in a $6-million swap with bond king William H. Gross.
“For me, it’s a sense of responsibly for the business and hobby,” Sundman told The VSC. “I want Mystic to continue serving collectors and continue as a positive part of the hobby.”
Mystic and Sundman personally each donated $25,000 to Boston 2026, the upcoming U.S. international stamp collecting show.
the best design of 2023. His cachets for the Winter Woodland Animals (Sc. 5822-25) and, in particular, for the deer, jumped out at the judges, says contest chair Chris Calle.
Covers. In addition, his granddaughter Marrah Reichart, took first place in the Ages 10 and Under category with her cachet for the Red Fox stamp (Sc. 5742).
Colton says the Winter Woodland Animals designs were created in PhotoShop using a combination of stock images and artificial intelligence. “I have the idea of what I want and then begin to put all the pieces together,” he said. Each of the cachets in this set are composed of three to four different images, before he manipulated them into the final image design.
configuration of the printer profile to be able to print on #6? envelopes,” he said. ”I only use dye-based ink to hold more vivid colors on the paper of the envelopes and the ink is more durable over time.”
