Telling Radio Stories Through Stamps: Amateur Ham Radio and Project Magnet in Philately

This poster explores how amateur ham radio and Project Magnet can be understood through the clear and simple lens of philately. Postage stamps and special covers act as small windows into big ideas, letting us follow the growth of radio communication and early efforts to study unusual events in the sky. Amateur ham radio is rooted in curiosity and the desire to connect. Operators use their radios to talk across neighborhoods, countries, and oceans. Many stamps show these moments: people at their radio stations, antennas on rooftops, and symbols of friendship formed through radio contact. These images help us see how a personal hobby turned into a worldwide community, one contact at a time. They also remind us that regular people — not just scientists — played a role in shaping long-distance communication. Project Magnet adds an interesting and unusual chapter to this story. Launched by Transport Canada in December 1950, the project set out to study Earth’s magnetic field and to look into reports of mysterious objects in the sky. Some of these objects were described as Unidentified Flying Objects or UFOs, and the project explored the idea — till unproven — that such objects might move using magnetic forces. Although Project Magnet did not confirm any extraordinary conclusions, its work reflected the public’s growing interest in strange sightings and the desire to understand them using simple measurements and open-minded investigation. Philatelic material connected to space themes, science flights, and sky-watching events helps illustrate how people at the time reacted to both radio exploration and the curiosity surrounding UFO reports. When placed together with ham radio stamps, these items show a shared spirit: people trying to understand forces and signals they cannot see — radio waves in one case, unexplained lights in the sky in another. By using stamps, postcards, and specially marked covers, this poster presents these topics without technical language. Philately makes it easy to follow the human story behind radio hobbyists and early magnetic research. Through these tiny pieces of paper, we discover how ham radio and Project Magnet both reflect a simple truth: people everywhere have always been eager to explore, to listen, and to learn.