Brand New Year of the Tiger Lunar New Year Stamp Issue

Read a great article by my friend Ian Robertson about the new Year of the Tiger Lunar New Year stamp issues at this link: http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/12/28/12281736-sun.html

We have a great selection of Lunar New Year issues at our website here: www.talmanstamps.com but we do not have the new issues yet. Send us an email to be put on the waiting list for these.

Happy New Year!

John Talman
www.talmanstamps.com

Globe and Mail - Nice Story About Stamp Collecting

The Globe and Mail published a nice essay by Charles Heller about stamp collecting this week. It can be found at this link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/facts-and-arguments/stamp-therapy/article1391916/

John Talman
www.talmanstamps.com

John Talman in Humber College Student Newspaper

Earlier this week I was interviewed for an article about collecting by a Humber College student journalist. The article can be found at this link: http://humberetc.com/2009/11/12/collectibles-can-be-treasures/

John Talman
www.talmanstamps.com

A poem I wrote for Taylor Mitchell

She is Gone but not Forgotten

Taylor was her name and her music
her claim to fame.

A young songstress we were starting to hear
Nominated for young performer of the year

The Winnipeg Folk Festival helped give her a start
and her debut album came from her heart

Then on a tour of the East Coast she found some time
and thought the Skyline Trail looked mighty fine

She didn’t know that the beasts were out a stalking
While the she was busy walking

Life is unfair
Oh so unfair

Devil Dogs on the Cabot Trail show no mercy
and no mercy will we show to them

A nearby hiker heard her cries
Tried to help but still she dies

She lived life well
but the beasts were sent from Hell

A gentle vibrant creature who tried to commune with nature
She is gone but not forgotten

John Talman

Some Stamp Humour! Just for Fun...

Click on the images to see them full-size:

A Massive and Valuable Consignment

These pictures will show a portion of the large collection I received today from Quebec in 91 large boxes, delivered in a rented truck. The bulk of the collection is covers of the world with strength in USA and Canada. Many are connected with various space flights and rocket tests. Also first day and commercial covers and mint stamps from many countries.

Some of this will be sold in our September 2009 auction (coming soon) but it will probably be sold in several sales.

John Talman

John H. Talman Ltd.

www.talmanstamps.com

Coated/Uncoated Paper

A customer who recently purchased a lot of Unitrade #BK82c 1982 Maple Leaf issue complete booklets - coated paper - set of ten different covers. VF-NH. wrote to me:

Received set of 10 booklets 82c today. Thanks again for the fast service. Please advise how you distinguish between uncoated and coated paper. Thanks.

I replied: Thank you for your question. I keep a silver coin in my pocket – actually an 1812 bank token which is sort of a good luck charm with a hole in it. Stroke silver across the coated pane and it leaves a light dark mark. The set you have is probably marked thus if you look closely. Any piece of silver will do. Stroke it across the uncoated paper and it leaves no mark.

Best Regards,
John Talman
John H. Talman Ltd.
http://www.talmanstamps.com/

John Talman's Seniors' Discount on Philatelic Supplies

We will now be offering a 10% discount to seniors, 65 years of age and older, who purchase philatelic supplies from us. This discount applies to supplies available at our store (Lighthouse stockbooks, Vario sheets, tongs, etc.) and also to supplies that we order in for you, as long as you pre-pay for your order. Just mention this ad and show us proof of senior-ness, and we will deduct 10% before tax. Some conditions apply.

John Talman
John H. Talman Ltd.
www.talmanstamps.com

From the Archives - Michael Jackson on Stamps

(click on the article for a full-sized version)

Linn's Stamp News - Top Auction Realizations List

I have scanned this interesting list from the June 1, 2009 edition of Linn's Stamp News:

(click to see a larger format of this article)

John Talman

John H. Talman Ltd.

http://www.talmanstamps.com/

New Toronto Star Article with John Talman

The Toronto Star published an article today about investing in collectibles, and writer Brett Popplewell asked me for my thoughts on investing in stamps. The article can be found at this link: http://www.thestar.com/article/630920

John Talman
John H. Talman Ltd.
http://www.talmanstamps.com/

Coming Up in our June 2009 Auction

Essays and Proofs #7P8 mint Est. Value $300+

Trade Sample Ten Pence Black proof on thick paper with laid lines. Has original gum. Rare and VF-H.

John Talman

John H. Talman Ltd.

www.talmanstamps.com

Coming Up in our June 2009 Auction

2009 Scott #2 used Cat. $3700.00

Six pence greyish purple pair. Black target cancels. Strong laid lines with "Verge" line across laid lines. Margins close at top to well clear. Otherwise F+. (ex Sissons Jan. 16/91 sale)

John Talman

John H. Talman Ltd.

www.talmanstamps.com

Coming Up in our June 2009 Auction

Unitrade #101 mint Cat. $2200.00
1908 10c Quebec in 1701 block of four. Fresh and F-VF-NH.

John H. Talman
John H. Talman Ltd.
http://www.talmanstamps.com/

Coming Up in Our June 2009 Auction

Canada - Unitrade #3Pi Cat. $5000.00
1851 12 Pence Proofs with vertical carmine "SPECIMEN" overprint. VF pair.

John Talman
John H. Talman Ltd.
http://www.talmanstamps.com/

Linn's Features Interesting Canadian Experimental Booklet

The February 9, 2009 print edition of Linn's Stamp News included an interesting article by Henry Gitner. The article "Buy Canadian Experimental Booklet" features the Canadian Queen Elizabeth experimental booklet that is popular with Canadian booklet collectors. I have scanned the article here (click on the article for a full size version):

We sell these and many other Canadian booklets at our web site at www.talmanstamps.com

John Talman
John H. Talman Ltd.
http://www.talmanstamps.com/

Re-entries on Stamps and Revenues

Last night I saw an excellent presentation by Ralph Trimble about re-entries on stamps. Ralph runs a website: http://www.re-entries.com/ which would be invaluable for those interested in the study.

John Talman
John H. Talman Ltd.
www.talmanstamps.com

Nicholas Sarkozy Takes Up Stamp Collecting

Listening to a discussion on cbc radio's The Point about whether or not traditional hobbies are enjoying a resurgence. Apparently, French President Nicholas Sarkozy has taken up stamp collecting, with help from the Queen!

Yves Saint Laurent Record-Breaking Auction

Two interesting articles published this week concerning the auction sale of fashion great Yves Saint Laurent's art collection - the first in the Toronto Star and the second in the Globe and Mail . The auction of Laurent's collection "defied the financial crisis yesterday, breaking world records by raising over E206-million, or $327-million Canadian on its opening day", including a realization of $58-million for an Henri Matisse painting.

WANTED! Canada's 46c Customized Stamps #1853b

Wanted: Canada Unitrade #1853 - pane of 25 X 46c stamps and sheet of personalized stickers. Please advise quantity available and price per sheet. Thank you. John Talman - jtalman@interlog.com

http://www.talmanstamps.com/

On The Day of Barack Obama's Inauguration....

It is interesting to read the article published in the Toronto Star on Sunday January 18, 2009 in the column "A Picture and 1000+ Words" . This, coincidentally, is the same column that featured John Talman back in October 2008. This article is a re-publication of an article written in 1990 when Obama became the first black to be elected president in the 102-year history of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. It is a fascinating history of Obama's life and foreshadows what the future would bring for Barack Obama.

John Talman
www.talmanstamps.com

This Sunday's Toronto Star Features John Talman's Last Auction

Toronto Star business writer Brett Popplewell interviewed me late last week for an article that he was writing about the London to London proof that we sold in our last auction (lot 227 - price realized C $10,000.00). The article appeared on the front page of this Sunday's Toronto Star, and you can read it at the Toronto Star web site at this link: http://www.thestar.com/article/568999


John Talman
John H. Talman Ltd.
http://www.talmanstamps.com/