Here are the postcards!
I’ve been collecting postcards since 2008. Since then, I’ve sent and received over 1800 postcards from all over the US and dozens of countries. I respond to every postcard I receive, so I’m always open for private swaps.
My origin story: Back when I was a young boy, I got the idea to write a letter to several world leaders, but I only ever ended up writing the US president and the Queen of England. I was so tickled to receive responses from President Bush and then Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II! Well, they weren’t directly from the world leaders, but rather from their staff members. President Bush sent me an autographed photograph (which I lost later in a show-and-tell accident).
One of the Queen’s ladies-in-waiting sent me a very detailed letter, typed on Buckingham Palace stationery, answering all of my questions about the Queen’s horses and her corgis and her favorite foods. I marveled at the strangely-sized paper, the texture of the embossed coat of arms centered at the top of the page, and the stamps on the envelope. A real person had spent time reading my letter, responding to it, folding it and placing it in an envelope, and then more real human beings had taken the time and effort to transport it from London to some mail distribution center, to an airport in England, to an airport in the US, and back through the various USPS chains until it arrived in a plastic mailbox at the foot of my driveway in southeast Michigan.
I’m still fascinated by this process today, and all for less than the price of some chocolate! So I maintain correspondence with about a dozen penpals across the world, and send and receive postcards. At last count, I have a little under 2,000 postcards that I’ve received. Keep scrolling to see the most recent postcards that have arrived in my mailbox.
love is love (the Netherlands)
This beautiful postcard comes via Postcrossing! I really love the bright and joyful atmosphere here. The sender lives in the Netherlands, where they’re celebrating 20 years of same-sex marriage (and their society hasn’t collapsed, yet, as many Christians presaged!). On my own wedding day, my marriage wasn’t recognized just a few hours after we signed the license because we drove into Virginia for dinner. When we drove cross-country later that year, every time we would cross a state border, we’d check to see if we were married or not. Luckily, this was only ever a joke and we never really had to worry whether we’d be able to support each other as any other married couple might.
She sender writes that she reads a lot of LGBT romcoms, in part because much of the media about and by LGBTQ people tends to focus on trauma and tragedy. To be sure, these are important and real aspects of many LGBTQ people’s experiences, but sometimes you want some cotton candy, you know? Here’s hoping everyone finds the love they most want, and they can live their lives openly and happily.
Death Valley National Park (California)
This postcard comes courtesy of our dear friend Kaylé who took a trip to southern California and visiting Death Valley National Park. I’ve never been here, or to any of the national parks in southern California, so I’m very eager to visit. I guess you could say I’m dying to visit? Anyway, she writes that if I like deserts, this is the park for me. I’m not sure if I like deserts as I haven’t really visited any, so I’m happy to give it a shot! Thanks, Kaylé!
“All My Life” (Germany)
I recently updated my Postcrossing profile to invite LGBTQ-themed cards, including love between people of the same gender. This is the first response to that invitation! What a great postcard to receive. The back indicates it’s a still from the film “All My Life” by Maher Sabry. I haven’t seen it; I wonder if it’s available to stream in the US?
Visoko (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
This is my first card from Bosnia and Herzegovina! It’s slightly disappointing that the sender wrote simple “Greetings from Visoko <3” but perhaps their English is a bit limited. Still, I’d love to learn more about this place and whether the sender lives there, has visited there, or if it’s just a beautiful and famous location in the country. I have a new penpal from Serbia whom I’ve really enjoyed corresponding with, so of course I’ve been learning more about the countries that were formerly part of Yugoslavia. What a rich and fascinating history this part of the world boasts, stretched millennia back into prehistory! Look up the country of Bosnia and Herzegovina; it’s truly fascinating how it was formed! I’m also eager to visit.
greetings from Rosolina Mera (Italy)
Two postcards from Italy in one week - what a treat! This postcard took a while to arrive; it’s post-marked February 21 and only arrived earlier this week. The previous Italian postcard (from Giovinazzo) was postmarked over a week earlier. I’m not sure if that’s on Italy or on the US (or both). But in any case, it’s kind of nice to receive postcards that have been long in transit. I find them kind of charming somehow.
This one hails from Rosolina Mare, a city just south of Venica. More places to visit!
thinking of you (Italy)
This postcard arrived from a private swap with a Postcrosser who lives in Italy! I’m so thrilled to make new friends via postcards and penpals. And of course, I get big ideas about traveling to new places—the one here portrays the port of Giovinazzo in Bari on the heel of Italy’s boot.
Cité de Carcassonne (France)
Voici une vue de la Cité de Carcassonne, envoyée par mon grand ami Dominique. Il écrit que la pandémie a eu un grand effet sur la cité-là car elle compte sur les touristes pour la grande partie de son économie. J’imagine qu’elle souffre comment beaucoup d’autres lieux mondiales. Elle est bien connu par ses murs anciens et aussi son plat original: le cassoulet (et biensûr le jeu de societé). Je ne l’ai pas visité encore, mais j’éspere pouvoir la voir très tôt.
Sequoia National Park (California)
Our friends Greg and James sent us this terrific sight from their first visit to Sequoia National Park, which has been on our list for a long time. This particular view is a great one and makes me think of Great Smoky Mountains National Park back closer to where I grew up (and where I vacationed frequently as a child). Our country is so blessed with such an amazing collection of national parks, and I encourage everyone to visit a new one this year!
Boston alleys (Massachusetts)
Here’s a beautiful postcard sent by my good friend Lingxiao who sends congratulations on our new place as he himself is getting ready to move a new place of his own. Although we live on opposite sides of the continent, we’re both looking forward to the next opportunity to chat and drink some wine again. Thanks!
Taipei sights (Taiwan)
This beautiful postcard comes from Postcrossing and its a wonderful memory of my last trip to Taiwan in 2016. I can’t believe it’s already been five years since the last time I visited; the memories of its food, people, sights, and attractions are very strong. If you haven’t visited Taiwan, I 100% encourage you to look it up! As a bonus, there’s practically no CoVID-19 pandemic there now; so after a brief but strict 2-week quarantine in a hotel, you can live life as normal! Ah, the power of a competent government and people with a sense of compassion and community. I miss you, Taiwan!
the New Hannoveraner (Germany)
What a charming postcard that came from a new penpal whom I met through Postcrossing! I love illustrated maps by themselves, but this map of Hannover, designed to be a spoof of a New Yorker cover, is absolutely terrific! I’m looking forward to exchanging more postcards and music recommendations with Carolin in the future.
illustrated pastries (Alabama)
I absolutely love these postcards made by LouPaper; I’ve bought a bunch and sent them, but have received very few so this was a welcome surprise, especially the pastries theme! This postcard itself comes from Alabama via Postcrossing with wishes for travel to begin soon!
saguaro meets auto (Arizona)
This postcard arrives courtesy of Postcrossing. The sender writes simply “There is something magical about it; you leave as one person and return completely different.” - K.D. Wiggen.
I can’t say that I recognize the quote, nor the quoted (maybe it’s Kate Douglas Wiggin? - what a delicious connection to San Francisco!), but it’s a great sentiment all the same! I’ve never visited Arizona, but it’s certainly on my list.
la première carte postale (Canada)
Aujourd’hui est arrivée la cinquante-unième carte postale de ma très bonne amie Mélanie qui habite Montréal. Nous nous sommes connus par Postcrossing il y a un bon moment, mais nous continuons à échanger des carte postales, des lettres, et des visites. Il y a deux semaines, nous avons asisté une lecture sur l’histoire des cartes postales qui nous a beaucoup plu. Nous avons appris que la Tour Eiffel a eté une des premières images à apparaître sur une carte postale. Donc celle-ci est tellement apte pour notre amitié. Merci beaucoup, Mélanie, et à très bientôt!
Deception Pass, Whidbey Island (Washington)
This postcard came from the Pacific Northwest and pictures a famous bridge crossing a famous waterway. Of course, the PNW has so many famous waterways, but I appreciate that Amelia thought to send it in connection with the famous bridge in the city I live in. I haven’t been up this far along the Pacific Coast, but someday soon I hope to visit it, maybe to see orca or gray whales! This is one of the reasons I love Postcrossing so much; I get to hear from people around the world and I get to add new places to my wanderlust list!
Lake Tahoe is beautiful
This postcard comes from my cousins who visited Lake Tahoe for a weekend. She writes that “Tahoe is beautiful” and I can’t disagree, although I’m sad to only have visited it in winter and never in summer. There’s something about alpine lakes that is so alluring - maybe I’ll be able to visit Lake Tahoe during the summer soon! Thanks, Laura!
potatoes, so many potatoes (Germany)
In my Postcrossing profile, I say that I am interested in food and cooking, so I am absolutely in love with this postcard of potatoes that came from Schermbeck in Germany! Ralf writes that “in Germany, the people love potatoes. Potatoes cooking, potatoes baking, potatoes fried, potato dumplings. Everything is possible.” This is my new philosophy on life and I have Ralf to thank for it: Potatoes - everything is possible.
postal iconography (Canada)
This postcard comes from Québec, Canada via Postcrossing and features many logos of national postal systems from around the world. Can you find yours? I love the color-theming, too. Which places use blue, red, or yellow? There are a few using green, too! But why not black or purple, I wonder?
Peggy’s Postcards: Walt Disney World
I’ve been to Walt Disney World and I’m pretty sure I rode the Skyway, but I’d have to check with my parents to be sure as I was very young at the time. My trip may have even pre-dated this postcard (most of the postcards in this collection pre-date me). Nonetheless, on 23 April 1990 Peggy writes:
Howdy from the land of unrelenting smiles, constant cuteness and a problem-free world. D. turned 40 yesterday at Epcot where he was recieved congrads from hundreds of strangers thanks to the shirt I made that said “I’m 40 today.” We’ll keep ongoing till our feet fall off - see ya! P, D, & S
star field - New Jersey
This beautiful image comes from a Postcrosser in New Jersey. There’s something so beautiful about deep space images; I’m sure there’s a lot of artistry in deciding how to colorize the images, but the shapes and intensity variation are really stunning. It reminds me of two of my favorite scarves which I bought years ago from Slow Factory. I don’t think they make them anymore, but I really love them and when I wear them, I get a lot of compliments.