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.

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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.

Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Miyazaki series 69/100 (California)

This postcard is my notice that the project will be taking a brief break while J&S are out of the country. I can totally understand that. They write that they'd “hate for [me] to only get 93 cards!” Too thoughtful!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

sea star or star fish? (California)

I overheard a discussion last night between two friends about whether one should call these animals “sea stars” or “star fish”since they're not really fish. I like the idea of accuracy in naming for sure. In any case, this postcard arrived from our own dear Pinot who was vacationing in Monterey while we were off on the East Coast. He wrote:

“Dear Bà & Daddy, I am having a very good time at camp. There are lots of good smells here. Mira is a great buddy. I get treats for just being a pretty boy, too! Pinot (wet kisses too)”

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Miyazaki series 66/100 (California)

It'll be interesting to go back and see which films get the biggest footprint in this set? Could it be determined based on the popularity or the relative recognizability of the artwork?

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

Moby Dick (California)

It's so appropriate that this should come from Kimee and Michael, the two most avid readers I know. Confession time: I've tried to read Moby-Dick twice but I haven't made it through it.

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

poetry contest of zodiac animals (Isle of Man)

This image is from a free museum in Dublin featuring an exhibit on the history of books and writing. Lauren chose this one to send from the Isle of Man featuring her favorite exhibit.

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

come be my friend (California)

I love these vintage book covers; not much really needs to be changed (although I suspect this one has been changed a bit) because they're so zany and campy sometimes. Thanks to Kimee and Michael for sending this delight!

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

culture vélo - vélorution (France)

Voici une carte que Dominique a trouvé chez son bike-shop avec un néologisme “vélorution” qui combine “vélo” avec “révolution” pour le mouvement d’encourager des gens d’utiliser des vélos et les autres moyens de transport sans pollution.

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Kristopher Geda Kristopher Geda

real regions of the US (Oregon)

What's great is the map on the back of this postcard showing areas of the US that were “pro-slavery” and “open to slavery” which correspond very nicely with “Dumbfuckistan.” Also, lest the print be too small, let me reproduce below the quote printed by H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

“As democracy is perfected, the office of President represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

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More to come from the past…