A Blind Spot in Philately’s Spotlight: Reflections on Linn’s 2022 Influential Philatelists List
When Linn’s Stamp News released their 2022 booklet The Most Influential Philatelists and Their Epic Stamp Stories, I was genuinely excited to dive in. As someone who’s been knee-deep in the world of stamps—both as a collector and a dealer—I saw it as a promising opportunity to celebrate the people shaping the future of our hobby. Let’s face it, philately has been on the hunt for new energy, fresh voices, and broader engagement. A publication like this had the potential to shine a spotlight on the very folks making that happen.
And to be fair, it did highlight some truly deserving individuals. It was great to see younger names like Charles Epting, Andrew Titley and Alex Haimann. These are familiar names in the philatelic world—young men who have made real, meaningful contributions to the field. Their work matters, and it’s always heartening when dedication like that gets the recognition it deserves.
But as I kept reading, I couldn’t shake a growing sense of unease. It wasn’t that the people featured weren’t worthy—they clearly are. The issue was more about who wasn’t included. The list felt oddly narrow. It leaned heavily toward the Western world, favored a certain kind of philatelist, and, in many ways, seemed out of step with where the hobby is heading. It made me pause and ask: Who decides what “influential” looks like in today’s stamp world? And are we, maybe unintentionally, clinging to an outdated definition of visibility and impact?
A Global Hobby With Local Blind Spots
Let’s talk geography for a minute. Approximately half the world’s population lives in China, India, or Southeast Asia—regions with long-standing philatelic traditions, booming marketplaces, and growing numbers of collectors and exhibitors. And yet, the 2022 list featured just one person from that entire swath of the world.
Even more surprising? Entire continents like South America and Africa were completely missing from the lineup. That’s a major oversight, especially when you consider that these regions have hosted some of the biggest and most vibrant exhibitions in recent years. According to both the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP) and the American Philatelic Society (APS), many of the most significant shows—ones that draw thousands of attendees—have been held in places like Brazil, India, Thailand, and South Africa.
These aren’t small, fringe gatherings. They’re massive, central events in the global stamp scene. To leave out those regions entirely isn’t just a missed opportunity—it sends a subtle, if unintentional, message about who we think matters.
Take China as a case in point. It’s one of the fastest-growing philatelic markets in the world. The China 2019 World Stamp Exhibition in Wuhan attracted over 400,000 visitors and featured 4,700 exhibit frames. That’s not small potatoes. Major dealers and collectors from all over the globe showed up. And yet, Linn’s only featured one person from the region—Anna Lee from Hong Kong. While she’s certainly a bridge between Western and Eastern philately, her inclusion feels more like a token nod than real representation. Mainland China, with all its energy and growth, was effectively invisible.
Influence Isn’t Just Found at the Dealer Table
Another thing that stood out to me was the heavy emphasis on traditional bourse dealers and well-established exhibitors. There’s absolutely value in that. These are the folks who’ve spent decades building up collections, writing books, and contributing to the infrastructure of philately. But the hobby isn’t what it was twenty or thirty years ago. We’re in the middle of a digital revolution, and the stamp world is changing along with it.
Over the last couple of decades—and especially since the pandemic—more and more of the action has moved online. Platforms like eBay, HipStamp, Delcampe and Facebook Marketplace have turned into the 21st century stamp bourse, while Facebook, YouTube, Reddit and stamp blogs are where people learn, connect, and build community. There are online dealers and content creators, many under 50 (myself included), who engage many thousands of collectors every week. Some of them are producing educational content, leading discussions, and making stamps cool for a new generation.
These people are doing important work. They’re growing the hobby in ways we couldn’t have imagined a couple decades ago. So why weren’t any of them featured?
A Broader Definition of Influence
This brings me to a bigger question: What does it mean to be “influential” in philately today?
The answer feels less clear-cut than it used to. Influence isn’t just measured by gold medals, auction records, or how many decades someone has spent attending philatelic award dinners. Those things still matter, of course—but they don’t tell the whole story. Today, influence often looks different. It can be digital, fast-moving, informal, and community-driven. Sometimes, it’s loud and visible. Other times, it’s quiet and consistent.
It might be a dealer selling stamps from their living room to a global audience. A teenager running a stamp-themed Instagram account that makes collecting feel fresh and relevant. A teacher in a remote village helping young collectors explore the world through philately. Or a podcaster who brings philatelic stories to life for thousands of listeners every week.
These aren’t fringe examples—they represent the center of where philately is actually going.
If we're going to talk about influence, we should be paying attention to these shifts. Because this is where growth is happening. This is where new energy is entering the hobby. And this is where the next generation of collectors is forming its own voice.
Looking Forward
The 2022 Linn’s booklet was created with clear care and affection for the hobby. It was full of inspiring profiles and rightly celebrated some truly dedicated individuals. But when I think about what the next edition might look like—whether it comes in 2025 or later—I find myself hoping not for a list that’s longer or louder, but one that better reflects the broader picture.
Philately is no longer centered in the West or built solely on traditional institutions. It’s global, multifaceted, and increasingly shaped by collectors who are reimagining how the hobby fits into modern life. The more we recognize and reflect that reality, the more inclusive—and resilient—our community becomes.
Because at the end of the day, influence in philately isn’t just about who’s already at the center of the story. It’s also about who we’re choosing to listen to next.
