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.
the Booksmith (North Carolina)
Kimee sent this postcard from a trip to North Carolina; she must have addressed it and prepared it, but written it and sent it from NC. I’ve done something like that before!
Cabourg (France)
Voici le Grand Hôtel à Cabourg, près de Calvados à la Côte Fleurie. Dominique a également mis un timbre aver un chien Labrador. Tellement mignon!
Adler Planetarium (Illinois)
Emily and Carter took advantage of the free admission for Chicago residents on Wednesday night! It was a rare opportunity for them given their demanding work schedule. They enjoyed seeing what the night sky would look like without light pollution. Next on the list, the Art Institute of Chicago!
we shape our buildings (California)
“…thereafter they shape us” continues the recto of this beautiful postcard. Julian and Salvo sent it from their new social hub, the Battery. It must be some place to have such great postcards!
Bischwiller (France)
Voici l’Ancienne Pharmacie Princière, datant de 1681 (tellement vielle!) à Bischwiller en Alsace, pas trop loin d’où habite-il mon ami à lettres, Dominique. Je trouve cette edifice très charmante.
tangled drawing (New York)
This beautiful postcard comes from our friend Kathrine who’s planning a visit to the Bay Area and we’re excited to see her!
weinlust again! (Germany)
Ici Dominique écrit sur le vignoble le plus proche à chez lui, qui est situé au Forêt Noire en Allemagne. Là-bas, on n’est pas limité avec les vins qu’on produit, comme en Alsace (où on ne fait que pousser sept).
weinlust indeed (France)
Mon ami Dominique toujours m’envoie des tellement jolies cartes postales. J’adore cette series qu’il a trouvé en Allemagne, pas trop loin d’où il habite. J’ai beaucoup hâte d’aller dans les vignobles français et peut-être allemands aussi!
cosmobile collection (France)
Comment peut-on designer une voiture qui est à la fois dans son époque et aussi futuristique? Voilà l’artiste.
Schwarzwald (Germany)
Je me demand pourquoi pas les régions américaines ne font de tels efforts de publicité comment cette cartes allemandes. Elles sont tellement jolies! J’ai envie d’y aller visiter.
Peu importe où se déroule ta vie (Germany)
Une de joies d’habiter près de la frontière est la possibilité de la croiser sans beaucoup de souci. Dominique m’a envoyée cette carte postale depuis l’Allemagne, ce qu’il a achevé à vélo!
Trouville-sur-Mer (France)
Cette ville se trouve dans la Normandie. Je me demande si le nom vient des mots “trou” et “ville” ou peut-être quelque chose d’autre!
Bonne chance, Dominique, avec le cataracte!
Basilica Santa Maria degli Angeli (Italy)
Indeed this place is located in the beautiful city of Assisi, of course associated closely with Saint Francis (or San Francisco). It’s so funny that Lino that thinks about that!
GiroVagando (Italy)
This beautiful postcard comes from the statue dedicated to Domenico Modugno in Puglia. Thanks, Lino!
Palawan (Philippines)
The postcards will likely arrive out of sequence, based on when and where they were sent from. This one, Matty sent from his trip in the Palawan Islands, Philippines.
Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (Italy)
Traveling around Italy and Europe at large, Lino even took the time to send me this great postcard from the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran (Rome).
Frau mit Katze (Germany)
Cet oeuvre a été fait par Alexander Archipenko (1910). Dominique s’est inscrite dans un cours sur l’art contemporain à une université à Strasbourg. Il apprend — et se rappelle — beaucoup!
round hay bales (Iowa)
This is truly a beautiful image. It’s so quotidian and driving across Iowa it starts to feel very boring. But this photo is really incredible. Thanks to Nozomi who sent this from her new home.
windmill (Australia)
Matty is back from his incredible tour and sent this first postcard as he’s settling back into the heat of the summer and returning to work.
the Battery (California)
Our friends spent New Year’s Eve at The Battery and sent this truly beautiful postcard from their time there.