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.
Oklahoma map
I love a good map card, and this one is a perfect example. In fact, the shape of Oklahoma lends itself perfectly to this kind of card, as you can easily fit in a logo or other images under the panhandle. Having lived in north Texas for a few years, I’m well-acquainted with some of the interstates in Oklahoma, which I traveled frequently between Texas and Michigan.
Zhostovo style (Russia)
One of the things I love so much about exchanging postcards is that I always learn something new. This art style is familiar to me and I certainly associate it with Russia, but I did not know its name (Zhostovo) nor did I know that it originated as a painting style on metal trays!
The sender of this postcard included a truly beautiful message as well, which touched me deeply. I’ve offered to start a correspondence which I hope works out!
Charleston Waterfront Park (South Carolina)
This postcard comes from a private swap proposed by a Postcrosser who attends The Citadel in South Carolina. I haven’t been to Charleston but this park does look really beautiful. I do like the main fountain on the left which looks like a pineapple!
girl sleeping on a yak (Los Angeles)
This postcard arrives via Postcrossing from a former SF resident now living in LA. It’s a beautiful illustration! I love the peacefulness of the sleeping girl coupled with the alarm or bewilderment of the yak!
Dutch royals
This postcard comes from Postcrossing and features the royal family of the Netherlands. From left to right: King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, the Princess of Orange, Princess Alexia, and Princess Ariane.
I have always found royal families to be fascinating, maybe because the US doesn’t have a royal family (although, for a fun read, check out Emperor Norton). However, most of the people I know who grew up in and are subjects of (that is: citizens of) kingdoms or empires have quite mixed feelings on their own royal families.
Virtual Postcrossing Easter Meetup (Finland)
This is the second postcard from my new Finnish penpal whom I met through Postcrossing. This is a really beautiful postcard from a meetup, which is an opportunity for Postcrossers to meet in person to talk about their hobby and meet other likeminded people. But this one was virtual (of course) so I’m even more impressed that they were able to get so many signatures on the back! How did they do it? It’s really beautiful!
Niō in Hōryū-ji Temple, Nara (Japan)
My good friend and mentor Linda has found a solution to our global lack of travel problem: where to get postcards?! She writes that her local vintage shop has a nice collection of postcards so she’s having fun finding them to send to friends. This one is in Japanese, otherwise I’d tell you more about it. Here’s what I do know: it’s a depiction of Niō in the Hōryū-ji Temple in Nara, Japan. I haven’t visited Japan so I also don’t have much to tell you about it, but you can already guess what I’m going to write next: it’s high on my list!
Cité de Carcassone (part two)
Voici la quarante-sixième carte postale de mon ami Dominique, et la deuxième de la Cité de Carcassone. J’adore cette vue car elle me fait penser sur les passages subterraines et secrètes où peut-être un prince s’echapperait pour aller voir son amoureux sans que la famille en sache rien. Un jour très tôt, j’éspere, je pourrai visiter la cité et reflechir sur ces (im)possibilités.
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!