Upcoming meetings for November and the New Year

  Novermber 26, 2025

No regular meeting in December but the club will be meeting for Dinner/Christmas Party

 ----2026 ----

January 28,2026

February 25,2026

March 25,2026

April 22,2026

May 27,2026

June 24,2026

Meeting Tonight!

 Just another reminder that our October meeting is this Wednesday, Oct.  22, 7:00 p.m., Hampton Inn. Usual reminder about bringing something for our auction table. 

Hope to see you there

Willard

Next meeting Tomorrow!

 From Willard Buckley:

Hello everyone.  Our regular September meeting of our Stamp Club is this Wednesday, September 24, 7.:00 p.m., at the Hampton Inn.  Please bring something for the Auction Table, if you are able. We ended our last season on a high note, hope we can start this season off on a high note as well.

See you there

Willard

Stamp Collecting in Saint John, NB: A Guide for Local Philatelists

Saint John, New Brunswick, is home to a quiet but passionate community of stamp collectors—both seasoned philatelists and curious newcomers. With its rich maritime history and ties to British colonial postal traditions, Saint John offers unique opportunities for collectors to explore rare issues, maritime covers, and regional postal history. Whether you're hunting for Small Queens, searching for New Brunswick pre-confederation issues, or just organizing your first album, the following tips and resources can help you make the most of your hobby.

Tips for Stamp Collectors in Saint John

1. Specialize to Start

Focus on a particular area—such as Canadian commemoratives, classic British Empire stamps, or maritime postal history. Specialization helps build knowledge and makes the hunt more rewarding.

2. Attend Local Shows

Stamp and coin shows in New Brunswick often feature regional dealers and are great places to trade, buy, or appraise collections. Ask about any upcoming events at local hobby shops or through collector clubs.

3. Watch the Fog & Humidity

Saint John's coastal climate can affect paper and gum. Store your collection in a dry, temperature-controlled space with archival-quality albums and mounts.

4. Join a Club

Clubs offer access to trading circles, guest speakers, and appraisal sessions. Even informal meetups can help expand your knowledge and contacts.

5. Don’t Overlook Postcards & Covers

Postal history from Atlantic Canada—especially pre-Confederation and 19th-century covers—can be of high interest and value.

Local Dealers & Resources

1. Saint John Stamp Club

Meets at 7:00 pm on the fourth Wednesday of each month, except July, August and December, at the Hampton Inn, 51 Fashion Drive, East Point Shopping Centre, Saint John, NB. Visitors and new members welcome. Contact: Call 506-849-2250 for more information.

2. Loyalist City Coins and Books

Location: 14 Charlotte St

Saint John, NB E2L 2H4

Focus: Coins, paper money, collectibles, books -- used to have some stamps and stamp collecting supplies.

3. Saint John Coin Club (also welcomes stamp collectors)

Website: [Check Facebook or local listings]

Meetings: Monthly in Saint John or Rothesay area

Activities: Trading nights, auctions, show & tell, collecting resources

4. Atlantic Provinces Philatelic Association (APPA)

Website: http://www.ap-pa.ca

Membership: Includes collectors from all Atlantic provinces

Benefits: Newsletters, regional events, dealer directory

5. Saint John Regional Library

Location: Market Square

Perk: Often overlooked, the library has philatelic books, catalogues (Scott, Unitrade), and archives for research.

Online Resources for Local Collectors

Unitrade Specialized Catalogue of Canadian Stamps – the gold standard for Canadian issues.

Canada Post Archives – digital access to official stamp issues and histories.

VGG Philately & All Nations Stamp Auctions – Canadian online auctions worth browsing.

Hipstamp - online retail and auctions. Many Canadian Dealers.

Stamp collecting in Saint John is more than a solitary pursuit—it’s a way to connect with the region’s history and a network of passionate collectors. With some diligence and local exploration, your next great find might be just around the corner—tucked in a dealer’s album or sitting quietly in an estate sale box.

 The Small Queens of Canada: A Philatelic Classic

The Small Queens issue is one of Canada’s most iconic and enduring postage stamp series. First released in 1870, these stamps replaced the earlier Large Queens issue and remained in use until 1897, making them a fixture on Canadian mail for nearly three decades.

The term “Small Queens” refers to the smaller format portrait of Queen Victoria, engraved by the American Bank Note Company (ABNCo), which succeeded the British American Bank Note Company in producing Canada’s stamps. The designs feature a finely detailed profile of the young queen facing left, enclosed within an oval frame and surrounded by intricate lathework and lettering indicating the denomination.

Denominations ranged from ½ cent to 50 cents, with each value printed in a distinctive color:

½ cent: black

1 cent: yellow

2 cent: green

3 cent: orange/red

5 cent: grey/lilac

6 cent: yellow-brown

8 cent: blue

10 cent: rose carmine

20 cent: vermilion

50 cent: blue

Over the years, numerous printings, perforation varieties, and paper types appeared, resulting in a rich and complex field for collectors. Subtle differences—like changes in shade, paper thickness, and grill or perforation measurements—have created an array of recognized varieties and rarities.

Among the most famous are the elusive 1-cent “Montreal Gazette” Bisect, an emergency provisional use during a stamp shortage, and the 2-cent green on the thick “soft wove” paper, highly prized by specialists.

The Small Queens were eventually succeeded by the 1897 Jubilee Issue, commemorating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Yet their long usage and the many nuances of production make the Small Queens a fascinating study and a cornerstone of Canadian philately.

for pictures see: RPSC site

 The first stamp issued by the Dominion of Canada was the 3-pence beaver stamp, but technically, that’s from the Province of Canada period (1851), before Confederation.

After Confederation in 1867, when the Dominion of Canada was formed, the first Dominion of Canada stamp issue came in 1868.

Official First Stamp of the Dominion of Canada:

Issued: April 1, 1868

Denomination: ½ cent to 15 cents

Design: The most famous is the Large Queen issue, engraved portraits of Queen Victoria

Notable Stamp: The 1/2 cent black Queen Victoria is often cited as the first of the Dominion period

So to be precise:

1851 3d Beaver = First Canadian stamp (Province of Canada)

1868 Large Queens = First stamps of the Dominion of Canada

The Large Queens: Canada’s First Dominion Stamp Issue

The Large Queens are Canada’s first postage stamps issued after Confederation created the Dominion of Canada in 1867. Released in April 1868, this series replaced the earlier Province of Canada designs and marked a new era in Canadian postal history.

Design and Production

The stamps feature an engraved profile of Queen Victoria, based on the Chalon portrait. They were printed by the British American Bank Note Company in Ottawa on wove paper, though some rare examples appear on laid paper. The stamps earned the nickname “Large Queens” because of their generous size compared to the later “Small Queens” series.

Denominations and Colors

The Large Queens series includes seven denominations:

½ cent black

1 cent brown red 

2 cent deep green

3 cent red 

6 cent brown 

12½ cent blue 

15 cent grey violet 

These covered all the typical postal rates of the time, from newspapers and circulars (½ cent) to heavier letters and overseas mail (12½ and 15 cents).

Collecting and Rarity

Among collectors, the Large Queens are notable for their subtle printing varieties, paper types, perforations, and shades. One of the greatest Canadian philatelic rarities is the 2 cent on laid paper (Scott #23a), with only a few examples known.

Because the stamps were issued over several years, they can be found with different paper textures, thicknesses, and watermark varieties, making them a rewarding area for specialists.

Legacy

The Large Queens laid the foundation for Canada’s national postal identity. They were in use until the introduction of the Small Queens in 1870, which continued the portrait of Victoria in a smaller, more economical format. Today, the Large Queens are prized both for their historical significance and the challenge they present to serious collectors.

Denominations, Colors, and Values

Denomination Scott # Color Approx. Mint Catalog Value (CAD) Approx. Retail Range (CAD)

½ cent #21 Black $540 $340–675

1 cent #22 Brown red $600 $400–740

2 cent #23 Deep green $2,025 $1,350–2,700

2 cent laid paper #23a Deep green (laid paper) $337,500+ Auction only, extremely rare

3 cent #24 Red $540 $340–675

6 cent #25 Brown or yellow brown $1,080–$1,350 $810–1,600

12½ cent #27 Blue $2,700 $2,000–4,000

15 cent #29 Grey violet $3,050 $2,400–4,750

Notes on Rarity and Value:

The 2 cent laid paper (#23a) is among Canada’s greatest stamp rarities—only 3 examples known.

Many stamps occur in multiple shades (especially the 6 cent).

Used copies typically bring 10–25% of mint values, unless exceptionally well-centered.

Centering, gum condition, and color freshness greatly affect the price.

Poorly centered or repaired examples can be much less expensive.

Collecting Tip:

When acquiring Large Queens:

Confirm paper type (wove vs. laid)

Check perforation quality

Beware re-gumming or repairs

Seek reputable provenance for high-value items

Legacy

The Large Queens remained in use into the early 1870s, gradually replaced by the Small Queens series. Today, they form the foundation of classic Canadian philately and remain highly sought after.

These are approximate catalog and retail ranges for mint, unused, fine condition.

Values can fluctuate with market trends and condition.

Summer Break

 We held our last meeting before the summer break last night at the Hampton Inn, 51 Fashion Drive, East Point Shopping Centre. Eighteen members showed up. There was a lively round of horse-trading in the lobby while we waited for the room to become available and then we started with a meal of chicken-balls and rice, a couple of different types of pizza and a great "sweets" tray.

After everyone had more or less finished eating, the business meeting started, the minutes from the previous meeting were accepted, then Tom gave the financial report. Next came the fifty-fifty draw with Dave W. winning again. I think the prize was $43. The fifty-fifty draw was followed by the attendance/door prize and that was won by Michel.

Jim J. started the quiz by announcing that everyone that got at least 6 answers correct would win a prize. As it turned out, that was only 3 people, with Steve M coming first and then Paul C and Jim Y. Prizes were donated by Jim J.

We had our usual fun auction in two parts, the private auction and the club auction. There was a lot of great stuff in both.

The evening wound down with some socializing and clean up. Our next meeting will be on September 24th, Hope to see you all there!