
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.
Lette (Italy)
My penpal Lino visited this beautiful city for Easter weekend. There are just so many beautiful places in the world and not enough time (or money)!
morning fitness (Illinois)
Emily and Carter visited a vintage street market and picked up a bunch of cool stuff, including this great postcard! Perfect.
rainbows (Michigan)
This postcard comes from the state I grew up in, not far from my hometown in fact! I reminds me of a pattern I used for repairing a rainbow quilt my mom made for me years ago!
Get what you need (Germany)
Ici une carte postale d’un club gay à Berlin que Dominique m’a envoyé. Parfait!
tous les bleus (France)
Voici baptiste, 22 ans, musicien par une publicité de Levi's. Dominique a trouvé cette carte postale pendant son déménagement. C’est exactement le genre de carte postale que j’adore: celles qui sont oubliées, cachées, perdués et puis trouvées et finalement envoyées des années après leur achat.
Haguenau - Place de l’Ancienne Duane (France)
Dominique est parti d’Haguenau après plus de trois decades, donc il m’amene une vue de la ville comme elle était à l’époque quand il y s’est déménagé.
wizarding world (Illinois)
There's a new Harry Potter shop on Michigan Avenue which our niece and nephew visited. They enjoyed the butter beer and all the wands at reasonable prices! Our nephew got the Elder Wand!
lily pads (Washington DC)
Due to a long weekend at work, Quinn is in Washington DC visiting a friend and enjoying the opportunity to write and see the sights. She visited the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, which I've never been to. I think I'd be too afraid to go!
Great Smoky Mountains (Tennessee)
This PostCrosser sent the card in an envelope, which I'm usually not a fan of - but in this case, it was really great because the card was stamped from the visitor center at this park, and he wrote me a two page letter! Such a personal touch!
Dahlia meet up (California)
We had plans to attend the WESTPEX event last month but when the USPS stamp unveiling was moved from Friday to Saturday, it no longer worked for us. So Kimee and I didn't end up going - but we'll go again some time in the future! This postcard is from a friend who made the WESTPEX event and the Postcrossing meetup!
gay UFO (California)
We were lucky enough to host several people two weekends ago, including Julian and Salvo. Here is the thank-you postcard, perfect as ever, from our dearest friends.
martini, s’il vous plaît (Illinois)
Our niece and nephew sent this postcard from a cocktail bar in Chicago that they took us to a few weeks ago when we were visiting. I’m hoping they'll arrange a few stages here in SF and we'll be able to host them.
money can't buy… (Oregon)
And the truth is, he doesn't even have that much money. He acts like he's the richest person on the planet, but he's a failed businessman again and again. Pathetic.
Easter Virtual MeetUp (Finland)
Jussi sends his greetings from another great virtual meet up! He also reports that Haka, his favorite team, has already played three games, winning to!
Foreign Cinema (California)
Julian and Salvo visited this SF institution not too long ago and picked up a postcard to send to us! I'm not made at all is it combines all the best things in life: best friends, great food, and excellent movies.
Butchart Gardens (Canada)
A few weeks ago, Ray and his husband went to Butchart Gardens to see the beautiful spring display. Andy and I are planning a trip to Vancouver, so we'll definitely see if we can find some time to visit the gardens!
Grupp IV, nr. 10 De tio största, Ålderdomen, 1907 (Sweden)
My friend Johanna found time to send this postcard just a few weeks after welcoming another child to her family! Congratulations! I've never heard of Hilma af Klint, but this piece is really beautiful. I'll be reading more!
Fori Imperiali (Italy)
Lino has been traveling around quite a bit and sends this “hello” (or maybe "ciao") from Rome, “full of history!” He also saw Cirque du Soleil's “Alegria” while there.
jock pack (Australian)
What a fun collection of drawings! Matty writes, "…Instead of one [jock strap], you can have 6 haha”! Who doesn't love abundance?