1990: Began operating Eaton's Stamp and Coin department

Memories from 40 years in the stamp and coin business
by Brian Grant Duff
1990: Began operating Eaton’s Stamp and Coin department

While continuing to offer a selection of antiques from James Eaton, we expanded into antiquities and hockey cards.

Canada’s first Aviation coins, with gold cameos, were issued. Thiird party graded coins started to become popular.

The penny black stamp turned 150 and Fred Eaton kindly took me to the London 1990 International Show

We had drinks with George Holschauer and Bill Simpson, among my ancestor’s uniforms, at the Imperial War Museum. I stood next to Fred Eaton as he acquired the largest known multiple of Canada’s Seaway Invert stamp, at the Christie’s auction, for Ron Brigham.

Example of Seaway Invert block. Peterborough Pane from National Archives (not Ron Brigham’s acquisition in 1990).

Christie’s also sold the American Banknote Company Archives and the market absorbed them all. I enjoyed looking through the Tapling Collection at the British Library in London.

The Tapling Collection includes this 1854, 4 annas stamp in blue and pale red from India with the error of having the head inverted.

My Aunt Flavia arranged for me to have lunch at Christie’s in the City with Elizabeth Pope. Unlike Daniel Eaton, I never managed to make much of the connection.