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.
extreme later-card (Oregon)
I know I’ve written here about how much I enjoy later-cards (postcards bought with the intent to send them but then which don’t get sent for some reason until much later). I love them because they’re a kind of time capsule from previously. This postcard comes from the inimitable Linda in Portland, however the key part is that she bought it when she was in Japan thirty years ago! I love it so much, and I’m so honored to receive it. What a one-of-a-kind postcard!
Singapore canal
I don’t get many postcards from Singapore, so it’s always a delight to receive one from so far away. This one comes from a sender who chose this postcard and the lovely stamp to accompany it.
Diocletian’s Palace (New Jersey)
Sadly, Diocletian’s Palace is not in New Jersey, but the sender of this postcard is! He works in conservation for the National Parks Service, which is just terrific given how excellent our NPS is!
Willy Brandt Places (Germany)
Encore une très jolie carte postale de mon ami Dominique, qui me l’a envoyé de l’Allemagne. Les élèves de l’École Willy Brandt ont dessiné des places où l’ancien chancellor de l’Allemagne avait vécu.
Wigwam Motel (California)
While I can’t say I love the idea of fetishizing indigenous architecture, I do love the kitsch of this and how unabashedly these folks appropriated the cultural heritage of others. It’s really quite something!
On a theme, Michael writes that perhaps he shouldn’t have been surprised that Malibu wasn’t for him but he enjoyed the pier’s selection of postcards (and of course the Rose Bowl he attended in Pasadena).
so many beans (Massachusetts)
What a delightful card! I could see it also including coffee beans, which are incredibly important to me, too!
Hello from Grand Rapids (Illinois)
No, Michigan hasn’t lost yet more territory to a neighboring state; it’s just that this postcard, purchased in Michigan at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, was mailed from Illinois! I haven’t been to this museum, but I think I’ve purchased postcards from its gift shop (most museum gift shops are open without buying admission).
Port of Le Havre (New Jersey)
Okay, the sender of this postcard has read me for filth! She writes, in part, “I am a vet tech, so I have my fair share of poodle experience and opinions! They are smart and aloof…, and tend to have very involved and attentive owners. :)”
Well, damn!
I’ve lived long enough… (Oregon)
Linda knows how to pick ‘em! She writes “American politics and the state of the world in general is making me believe we are in a simulation with the makers just playing around as much as they can.” Co-signed!
Marca Brewing (Japan)
This postcard comes from a sender whose household includes a spouse, an English setter (rescue), and three little birds. What a lovely picture of domesticity!
You Are Loved (Nevada)
We recently ordered a batch of my brother’s new AR holiday cards and received this beautiful postcard in addition! If you’re not already familiar with BL_NK C_RDS, check out the site and get your hands on some delightful and surprising cards!
Toscano Hotel Bar (California)
Our good friends Tracy and Cynthia joined us on our trip to the Mendocino Coast earlier this month and sent this postcard from one of their day trips, on which they took Pinot so we could go to lunch at a nice restaurant!
Toscano Hotel Bar, circa 1913. Established in the late 1890’s [sic] and was purchased… in 1911. Alfred Falleri is behind the bar, William Hale is the tall man, William Isaacson is in front.
wooden Mendocino octopus (California)
Andy gave me permission to scan this postcard, which he received (from me) in thanks for planning a terrific trip to Mendocino coast with four friends. He’s so good about sending me postcards when he’s away that I thought I’d send one while I was away (even if he was with me at the same time)!
beautiful Oregon state
This multi-view comes from a former resident of San Francisco who says she paid just $400/month for a 4-bedroom apartment on Arguello back in the 1970s! What an incredible dream!
if Santa gets stuck… (Michigan)
I do love a holiday postcard (as in a holiday card)! This vintage one comes with a signature at the bottom - perhaps “Mr. and Mrs. Chase B. Bryer”? Luckily, the back was blank so Emily and Carter could send their holiday wishes to me and Andy and Pinot!
pre-Christmas virtual PostCrossing MeetUp (Finland)
I’m so puzzled at how the Finnish PostCrossing group can produce postcards for the virtual meetup that have signatures, stamps, and icons on the back?! Usually at a meetup — at least those I’ve attended in the US - we have a pre-printed postcard with a blank back. We then spend lots of time (it’s quite tedious, which is why I don’t go anymore) signing or stamping the dozens (hundreds?) of postcards that the members have bought. Some people will buy 100 postcards and want each one to be stamped/signed by each of the attendees. I know these are hot collector’s items for the senders and receivers, but my hand cramps and I get tired doing the same thing over and over.
Maybe if I could figure out how the Finnish PostCrossers do it, I would be more inclined to go!
the smallest biggest city in the world (Indiana)
Don’t let me weird title conventions mislead you; this postcard’s tagline refers to San Francisco. Nozomi picked this card up somewhere she can’t remember but of course thought of me. She asks my opinion - is it true? It’s a good question! Many people are surprised at how small SF’s population is (just over 800,000 last I checked, which makes it only the 17th largest city in the US). It has a very outsized footprint for its small population! It certainly has world-renown. I think if you asked the average non-US person to name a US city, it would be in the top five. I think it would be named before Chicago even which is the third largest city in the US. What do you think?
dogs playing (Michigan)
This terrific vintage postcard comes from our niece Emily and her boyfriend Carter, who said it made them think of Pinot. I do believe these are poodles! I’m very grateful for the postcard and their thoughtfulness!
December 2023 Finnish PostCrossers MeetUp
It must have been in sitting down to send a few postcards, that Jussi sent the previous one. This one was sadly damaged in transit and came in a plastic envelope with a note from the Finnish postal service apologizing for the damage. It’s hard to be upset given how much mail arrives in pristine condition! Accidents happen.