An afterword in the book explains the concept of
freedom of expression and the work done by
International PEN and other charities on behalf of writers and journalists imprisoned or at risk. It is also disclosed that a portion of all proceeds from its sales “will support
PEN Canada in its efforts to bring hope to writers in prisons around the world.” PEN Canada is the Canadian arm of International PEN. Lanthier says the story was inspired by the writer
Nuremuhamet Yasin, Lanthier advocated for his release while volunteering for PEN Canada. At a meeting of PEN advocates, Lanthier met the exiled journalist
Jiang Weiping, who had spent six years in a Chinese prison for a series of investigative articles he wrote exposing the corruption of the government official,
Bo Xilai. Lanthier says that encounter led her to write
The Stamp Collector. In the afterword Lanthier explains “We asked Mr. Weiping if there was any point in writing letters to prisoners who weren’t allowed to see them. He said yes – because the guards
collect stamps.” In June 2013
The Stamp Collector won the
Huguenot Society of Canada Award, presented by the
Ontario Historical Society, honouring the book for bringing “public awareness to the principles of freedom of conscience and
freedom of thought.” ==Illustrations==