A few years ago, Canadian House and Home magazine ran a feature on stamp art. I thought it was brilliant. Stamps are easy to find, inexpensive and they blow up beautifully. You can create a collection that celebrates your heritage and some of the country’s best artists.
These 1950’s stamps of a moose, gannet and Inuit hunter are classically Canadian, but your choices are really unlimited. H & H showcased these stamps in white frames with black matting. This idea works perfectly if you’ve collected a few vintage frames from a flea market. Once they’re all painted the same colour, the grouping looks pulled together and customized to your space. Check out the Canadian Postal Archives for some inspiration.
Photography by Michael Graydon – Wall colour – Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray HC 168
H & H recommends enlarging the stamps you choose at a local copy shop. Have the images scanned against a black background so the punched edges of the stamp are visible in the print. I think it would be fun to run with a theme that interests you or choose a collection of stamps by an artist you’ve long admired.
If you’re a fan of The King’s Speech, these vintage stamps of King George VI may appeal to you. They were designed by Herman Herbert Schwartz in 1943.
This 5 cent stamp was designed in 1859.
I love the tranquil colour palette of this stamp. It features the Bay of Fundy on the east coast of Canada and was designed by Ron Bolt in 1979.
Dig out your childhood stamp collection and see if you have any treasures. Even some of the newly issued stamps can be striking. There’s no need to limit yourself to any one country. If you’ve travelled somewhere that still tugs at your heart, why not use stamps from that region? I’d love to see what you come up with.
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