How To Start Canada?

I've been focusing on my U.S. collection since I resumed collecting a few years ago but, having made good progress, I have been thinking about taking a look at Canada. I attended a very interesting seminar about collecting Canada at the WSS and am intrigued, but it appears to me that this can get pretty complicated pretty quickly. Given the history of how current day Canada came to be, the presentation noted how many issuing entities there have been over the last century and a half, and the fact that there are many varieties of a lot of stamps.

So, and I'm sure that the general question has been addressed before (but didn't have any luck with my search for such), how would a complete beginner organize his initial foray into collecting Canada?

I'd be interested in any guidance that all of you experienced folks could provide to help structure the initial approach by a beginner, particularly in any of the following areas (from searching the Canada section of SCF, I've noted below a few items that other folks have mentioned in past posts – any additions, comments, reviews or corrections would be greatly appreciated):

-- Constructive areas to focus on at the start
-- Dealers – Roy's Stamps, Arpin Philately, City Stamp
-- Helpful websites – Canadian Postal Archives,
candianphilately.blogspot, Canadian Stamp Auctions (although it doesn't look like this has been updated recently)
-- Auction houses – Eastern, Maresch, Vance, Brigham
-- Catalog – Unitrade (best place to find?)
-- Albums – prefer hingeless – Lighthouse, Davo, Schaubek have been mentioned; I have used Palo for U.S.
-- Helpful books/periodicals/groups to join (BNAPS?)
-- Any SCF members have good Canadien material in their ebay stores for a beginner

I will continue searching and perusing previous posts on SCF since there appears to be a lot of info (albeit a large portion focusing on topics more specialized than I am prepared to tackle), as well as researching other websites. The above list covers a lot of ground, so any quick tips on any of these topics that can be provided off the tops of your heads without a lot of effort would be greatly appreciated to help structure my approach.

Honestly I found Canada very easy to collect, especially compare to US. Beside few Queens with Ottawa and Montreal printing, the rest is quite easy to ID

Best album is Lighthouse , that will offer a good selection and if you want include special varieties you can add their LB pages that match perfectly the rest of the album, the LB pages are a regular page with a plastic sheet glue over it, the plastic sheet do have pockets (row) for stamps and come in many varieties with different size of pockets ( row ) . If you familiar with SAFE album, it's a little bit the same.

I do once owned a DAVO and all true I prefer their binders, the pages layout is not that good and contain mistakes.

The quality of Lighthouse is top notch, contrary to Palo the mounts are cut with perfection.

Keep in mind that I collect Canada mints stamps, and I suggest you do the same. Except for the 19th century mint stamps don't cost very much more and make a huge difference.

area66 - I quite agree. I have tried and tried - and given up trying to sort out early USA. Collecting Canada is a breeze in comparison. Plus the stamps are better designed. :]

Stamp Smarter has a new online Pop-Up Canadian stamp catalog. It is still in development but is coming along pretty well.
Don

Hi Oracle!

Welcome to collecting Canada. I just wanted to offer up that as a new collector, I have found Canada pretty easy to collect, but being Canadian and I am pretty fluent in our history. I am just starting to learn about different varieties of particular stamps. There are some interesting posts on the small queens on here!

In terms of a catalogue I have found this site helpful for getting started:
http://www.stampworld.com/en/

In terms of starting your collection, you might want to keep your eyes on ebay for a starter collection. You may even find one in one of your preferred albums. That may help you clarify what direction you want to go in.

When you get to the point of filling specific spots in your album, this site might be helpful:
http://www.stamps2go.com/Listing.aspx

I have not made a purchase from there, as I am still organizing, but it looks promising. I plan to try it out in the next few months.

Here is also a link for Library & Archives Canada for stamps:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/...30102_e.html

Good luck and enjoy your adventures in Canadian collecting!

Oracle of Delphi...Might want to go to a couple of local stamp clubs to get your feet wet.

Post any questions here..we will be glad to try and help you.

Robert

You haven't specified mint or used for your Canada collection.

Unitrade is the premier catalogue for my mint Canadian collection.

I believe that Canadian Stamp Auctions is still infected by a virus which hasn't been eliminated. The web site hasn't been updated for some time.

Helpful websites include http://www.adminware.ca/stamps.htm (by the editor of Unitrade), http://www.rpsc.org/canadapost.htm and http://www.flyspecker.com

This is a world-class blog about Canadian philately:
http://canadianphilately.blogspot.dk

Contain a vast amount of information. Highly recommended!

I'll add that the author sells as brixtonchrome on HipStamp and I've found his listings to be the very best I've encountered in terms of clearly and accurately detailing the condition of the items he is selling. I've made several purchases and have been very pleased.

Terry

Wow - A lot of good information in such a short time - many thanks to all. I'll be busy looking up the various websites and other information sources you all have cited.

With regard to what I collect, as with my U.S. collection, I would prefer MNH in very fine condition as far back and as far up in price as my pocketbook will allow, one of the reasons I prefer hingeless albums. Then good quality MH, then used if more affordable but with light cancellation that won't obscure the image too much. I just like to admire the design, artwork, engraving, subject matter, etc. of the stamps rather than cancellations, varieties,postal history elements, etc. that other folks might be more into. Just a basic collector.

In addition to comments for any of the other areas I noted in my original post, I am particularly interested in any recommendations folks might have at this time for particular sources of the kind of material I would be seeking - auctions, dealers, etc. (thank you to the folks above who mentioned a few sources). Again, I'll try to identify you SCF members that have ebay stores which offer good quality Canadian material, but if you would like to bring yourself to my attention, please feel free to post or send me an email.

And if there are any thoughts on what might be an interesting way to kick off the hunt - Canada as a whole, particular provinces, particularly series or subject matters, that would be greatly appreciated.

OK - doesn't look like anyone is comfortable recommending specific reliable sources of Canadian stamps, other than stanps2go or ebay. I'll check out what I can based on the kind advice provided by folks above and get started building my next collection. Thanks.

Some reputable auction houses in Canada do offer very interesting Canada lots, ranging from near complete to date ranges. If interested I can provide 5 or 6 ones I have dealt with, but the stampauctionnework is also a good place to start.