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.
El Perro de Pavlov Café (Spain)
Edmundo sent this postcard from the café where he’d been working while staying in Spain for a few weeks with his family. What a beautiful place it seems, and I can’t help but love any canine-related names.
Grausee (France)
Voici un très beau peinture d’un artiste allemand, envoyé par mon ami Dominique qui nous verrons en juin quand nous serrons en Alsace!
“Grausee” 2025. 150x220 cm. Acrylic on Canvas. 2025. Leo Stachle.
Wagga Wagga (Australia)
Matty writes that Wagga does not have the same climate as Canberra where he lives; it’s hotter and drier. It’s funny how language can impact these things: I think of Australia as a country, but it’s as much a continent, too. Of course there will be a big diversity in climates.
Deauville (France)
Toutes les villes du monde doivent réserver la territoire à la côte pour les parcs, comme à Deauville. Parfait.
NY MoMA (California)
LOL Zhongyan couldn’t decide between two postcards to send, so she sent two! I really love this one; it’s also quite funny.
Bobo Bear (Australia)
Even though I intellectually know that the seasons are reversed between the US and Australia, it always takes me a few seconds to grok it when Matty writes in January that it’s been 35-43C (95-109F) lately. I certainly would be over it, too!
Yoshitani series 23/100
This postcard is less joyous, I’m afraid to say. Home repairs and finding good help to effect those repairs! Oh no!
Bida, the Seven-Headed Snake
West Africa, Soninke Mythology
Yoshitani series 22/100
Julian and Salvo got an unexpected opportunity to see Don Quixote and really enjoyed it!
King Arthur
Britain, Celtic Legend
Why study? (California)
This postcard I got from a student of mine, Zhongyan, who recognizes the deep irony of sending this text to an instructor! I appreciate the wry sense of humor. She was careful to extricate this sentiment from whatever feeling she may have in our class, which is both wise and very witty!
Wagga Wagga, NSW (Australia)
I must have asked Matty in a letter once about suburban sprawl in Australia, which he writes must be as bad as here in the US. I hate it so much; it’s so inefficient, wasteful, and plain ugly.
Yoshitani series 21/100
And this postcard reports the first new wine shipment of the spring; what other reliable signs do you have of the seasons changing? Are there more welcome signs than a wine delivery?
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Mexico, Catholic Saint
Yoshitani series 20/100
Julian and Salvo were in San Diego for a while and enjoyed their visit; but like all good Northerners, they were happy to be back in Northern California!
The Monster Marriage
Mythological Archetype
blue singlet (bis) (Australia)
Matty sends this image and writes about planning his next holidays for 2026-2027. This year will be Pacific-based, and next year will feature another round the world trip. I hope he can stop by SF!
lenticular octopus (Canada)
I sent this lenticular postcard to Andy during our trip to Vancouver last month. We had a great time!
“Octopus (Nuu) / Pieuvre
Octopus (Nuu) are known for their intelligence and transformative abilities. They are often depicted on the shamanic art of Pacific Northwest tribes.”
Yoshitani series 19/100
Julian and Salvo sent a lovely suggestion for visiting friends and family: all of the lovely stairs in San Francisco!
Sky Goddess 2
From the Artist’s Collection
Yoshitani series 18/100
I’m surprised to read that Julian and Salvo found our recent heat wave a bit too much! They usually are such solar-powered individuals; but I agree: it was definitely uncomfortably warm!
Amaterasu
Japan, Japanese Mythology
poulet à la normande (France)
Encore une jolie recette française, et encore une que je n’ai jamais ni préparée ni mangée. Dans le futur!
Italian collection
My penpal Lino sent me these postcards from a trip around Italy. There are just so many beautiful places to visit in this world. I hope I can see more of them!
Yoshitani series 17/100
Julian started training for the Gay Games; it’s really exciting to see another of his many accomplishments taking shape!
Amhaeng-eosa
Korea, Korean Legend
LGTB Maspalomas (Spain)
My Lithuanian penpal traveled to Gran Canaria and really enjoyed himself! It was 28C every day. Wow!