Postcrossing - send and receive postcards around the World
Ranked #12,514 in Hobbies, Games & Toys, #178,512 overall
Postcrossing - what's that?
Postcrossing is a wonderful idea.
Do you like getting postcards from friends on holiday? Do you like sending postcards? This may be the perfect place for you.
I joined Postcrossing 26th June 2008 and my first postcards went to the USA, Finland, Germany, Holland and Russia.
I expected it to take a month or so before I got a returned card but in fact the cards started arriving much quicker than I thought.
When sending these postcards I include a link to my Squidoo lenses.
This may seem like an old fashioned way of communicating but I like it. It takes very little effort, very little cost, you could simply send one per week to the address generated automatically from the site.
Some members specify the kinds of cards they would like to receive, others leave it entirely up to you what you send, with no preference stated. Of course, if you can't find a card which matches the preference you can send what you have available.
Some members are collectors with a serious hobby, some just do it for a bit of fun. I hope a number of my readers might be interested in joining this site and sending out postcards across the World.
Postcrossing Marriage
... a recent story from the Postcrossing blog
Postcrossing received this article written by Markus (aspen), who recently interviewed Geoffrey (misterteapot, from Australia) and Kati (kilona, from Finland).
Geoffrey and Kati met through Postcrossing. They're now living in Finland. Here's a translation of the story:"Postcrossing took them to a marriage"
I wish them a long and happy Postcrossing life together - wonder if I'll get or send a card to them sometime???
Geoffrey and Kati met through Postcrossing. They're now living in Finland. Here's a translation of the story:"Postcrossing took them to a marriage"
I wish them a long and happy Postcrossing life together - wonder if I'll get or send a card to them sometime???
Where in the World?
... the Postcrossing community spans the globe
The above graph shows the spread of the membership of Postcrossing at the time I joined.
For a current graph see the Postcrossing stats page
Postcrossing numbers continue to grow ...
66,497 members
190 countries
247 postcards/hour
1,448,980 postcards received
69,975 postcards traveling
7,908,746,868 kms traveled
197,348 laps around the world.
Postcrossing Dictionary
... foreign words to help you communicate
This Postcrossing Dictionary has been put together by Postcrosser Sebastian Inacker to help us with unfamiliar languages.If your language isn't yet there, contact him through his site to have it added.
Postcrossers are nice people :-)
How can you help to make Postcrossing a greener hobby
Quoted from the Postcrossing site.
Tips from the Postcrossing forum.
1. Choose recycled postcards or postcards made with fiber that comes from sustainable forests. For instance, FSC certified postcards.
2. Reuse/Recycle envelopes (it can be fun!)
3.Use envelopes/writing pads made of 100% recycled paper without bleaching products.
4. Use your feet or bike to bring your mail to the postoffice
5. Do your writing during daylight or outside and safe indirectly on energy by using daylight.
6. When soaking off your stamps, do them all together in one time and reuse the water as much as possible.
7. Use refillable pens/highlighters and so on to write.
8. Print on both sides of the paper or reuse old courses and so on to print things for personal use.
9. When wrapping things, reuse old paper to wrap them in. Be creative, you can use old maps or newspapers for instance.
10. Get our electricity for our computer from a company that provides it using green sources such as windmills, solar energy, hydro energy, etc, when available.
11. Support an environmental NGO/organisation such as Climate care, WWF, Greenpeace etc.
All good sound advice.
1. Choose recycled postcards or postcards made with fiber that comes from sustainable forests. For instance, FSC certified postcards.
2. Reuse/Recycle envelopes (it can be fun!)
3.Use envelopes/writing pads made of 100% recycled paper without bleaching products.
4. Use your feet or bike to bring your mail to the postoffice
5. Do your writing during daylight or outside and safe indirectly on energy by using daylight.
6. When soaking off your stamps, do them all together in one time and reuse the water as much as possible.
7. Use refillable pens/highlighters and so on to write.
8. Print on both sides of the paper or reuse old courses and so on to print things for personal use.
9. When wrapping things, reuse old paper to wrap them in. Be creative, you can use old maps or newspapers for instance.
10. Get our electricity for our computer from a company that provides it using green sources such as windmills, solar energy, hydro energy, etc, when available.
11. Support an environmental NGO/organisation such as Climate care, WWF, Greenpeace etc.
All good sound advice.
Doh!
What a dork I am, of course it won't spoil any surprises if I put copies of the cards I send out here, the recipients won't know what they're getting until it arrives ... a real Doh! moment there.
These are some of the postcards I'll be sending out. Five cards have gone already :-)
These are all relatively local views.
From the top ...
River Nethy, Abernethy Forest.
Sunlit strean in a Scots Pine forest.
Upper Loch Torridon.
Nethy Bridge - various views including the ruins of Castle Roy.
Loch Ness near Fort Augustus (granted that's a bit of a distance unless you're a crow).
The River Spey and Carn Liath, Monadhliath Mountains.
And here are another couple of cards I'll be sending out shortly ... I wonder where in the World they'll find themselves.
These are some of the postcards I'll be sending out. Five cards have gone already :-)
These are all relatively local views.
From the top ...
River Nethy, Abernethy Forest.
Sunlit strean in a Scots Pine forest.
Upper Loch Torridon.
Nethy Bridge - various views including the ruins of Castle Roy.
Loch Ness near Fort Augustus (granted that's a bit of a distance unless you're a crow).
The River Spey and Carn Liath, Monadhliath Mountains.
And here are another couple of cards I'll be sending out shortly ... I wonder where in the World they'll find themselves.
Above are Loch Mallachie and the River Spey at Glen Feshie.
Woohoo ...
... more cards sent and received
Some countries are quick to receive cards and others seem to take forever. My card to Russia, which was in the first 5 I sent out, still apparently hasn't arrived at its destination.
When I was in Edinburgh at the weekend I found some more general postcards to send out.
Here is one, entitled Rush Hour Scotland
It's actually no joke when you round a bend on a single track road and find a bunch of sheep leaving you nowhere to go.
Coming to Scotland? Drive carefully please, your way may be barred by sheep, cattle, deer etc and they really can make a mess of the front of your car.
I did hear a story of someone who was driving along merrily with a cliff face close to the left of the road and rising up from it. Suddenly a sheep fell from the top of the cliff straight through the windscreen, landing on the lap of the passenger in the front seat.
The occupants of the car were shaken but uninjured, which is more than can be said for the sheep.
Another card I picked up at the weekend is of one of Scotlands most romantically positioned castles, Eilean Donan Castle.
For more information on this castle, including a "walk through" tour, you can visit the Eilean Donan Castle website.
Some more of the cards I bought in Edinburgh.
When I was in Edinburgh at the weekend I found some more general postcards to send out.
Here is one, entitled Rush Hour Scotland
It's actually no joke when you round a bend on a single track road and find a bunch of sheep leaving you nowhere to go.
Coming to Scotland? Drive carefully please, your way may be barred by sheep, cattle, deer etc and they really can make a mess of the front of your car.
I did hear a story of someone who was driving along merrily with a cliff face close to the left of the road and rising up from it. Suddenly a sheep fell from the top of the cliff straight through the windscreen, landing on the lap of the passenger in the front seat.
The occupants of the car were shaken but uninjured, which is more than can be said for the sheep.
Another card I picked up at the weekend is of one of Scotlands most romantically positioned castles, Eilean Donan Castle.
For more information on this castle, including a "walk through" tour, you can visit the Eilean Donan Castle website.
Some more of the cards I bought in Edinburgh.
Cards I have received
... from the beginning
My first three random postcards arrived 7th July 2008, less than two weeks after I joined the project.
Astonishingly, postcards from abroad seem to take less time getting to me than mine do getting to destinations abroad.
Woohoo ... one of the first cards I sent out, this one to St Petersburgh, has finally arrived after 39 days in transit :-)
I wonder what is the longest time it has ever taken a postcard to reach its destination?
Astonishingly, postcards from abroad seem to take less time getting to me than mine do getting to destinations abroad.
Vancouver Canada
Switzerland
Padova Italy
Another card has arrived, from Finland this time.
More cards continue to arrive ... this is great 
to all postcrossers, I love it.
Lisbon Portugal
A gorgeous cat from Finland.
My latest card from Lithuania.
Acadia National Park looks wild and wonderful.
Pennsylvania looks very inviting.
Woohoo ... one of the first cards I sent out, this one to St Petersburgh, has finally arrived after 39 days in transit :-)
I wonder what is the longest time it has ever taken a postcard to reach its destination?
Postcard from Zaarbrucken
Minsk - Belarus
Finland
The Grand Canyon
Komotini Greece
Beautiful card from the Netherlands.
This is replicated from a painting by Herman Henstenburgh (1667 - 1726)
Two months today since I joined :-)
... it's a lot of fun
It's the 26th August, just two months since I joined. I've sent 20 postcards and received 19 and now I can have up to 6 postcards travelling at any time.
I like the Olympic card (see below) I just got and I hope that the sender and I can exchange the special issue of stamps to commemorate the handover of the Olympics from Beijing to London.
The stamps were issued on the same day both in China and the UK.
These cards arrived today.
Since then the following cards have arrived ...
I like the Olympic card (see below) I just got and I hope that the sender and I can exchange the special issue of stamps to commemorate the handover of the Olympics from Beijing to London.
The stamps were issued on the same day both in China and the UK.
These cards arrived today.
Beijing Olympics card.
Stunning Sand Sculpture from The Netherlands
The Foro Romano in Rome
Since then the following cards have arrived ...
Malaysia
Rocky Mountain National Park
The recent cards I've received - up to end of September
- up to end of September 2008
Asterix from portugal
Espoo Finland
The German Alps
Leipzig
Schleswig-Holstein
From Spain
It's now 3 months since I joined Postcrossing and so far I have received and sent 27 postcards, covering a total distance of 178599 kms, 110,976 miles
Postmarks
... added value
Postmarks can add to the collectable value of postcards. Some are special marks issued to commemorate a particular event such as
For example above is Britain's Railways Quest for Speed 70th Anniversary Mallard's World Speed Record 126mph Grantham, in use on the 3rd July 2008 ONLY. You can send away items you want to bear postmarks such as this and have them stamped appropriately before being sent back to you.
The cost of this service is quite modest.
There are also regular graphic postmarks in more general use, an example is the postmark for Edinburgh, below.
For example above is Britain's Railways Quest for Speed 70th Anniversary Mallard's World Speed Record 126mph Grantham, in use on the 3rd July 2008 ONLY. You can send away items you want to bear postmarks such as this and have them stamped appropriately before being sent back to you.
The cost of this service is quite modest.
There are also regular graphic postmarks in more general use, an example is the postmark for Edinburgh, below.
My Postcrossing map ...
... up to date
This is my updated Postcrossing map. Beginning to spread out now.
No-one in Oz yet???
» Sent: 27 postcards
» Received: 27 postcards
» Sent distance: 91,116 Kms (56,617 miles)
» Received distance: 87,483 Kms (54,359 miles)
Countries so far ...
Sent listSwitzerland
Canada
Netherlands
Germany
United States of America
France
Montenegro
Russia
Finland
Mexico
China
Received list
Italy
Switzerland
Canada
Finland
China
Portugal
Lithuania
United States of America
Germany
Belarus
Spain
Ting ... an idea
... make your own postcards
Looking around locally I can't find much of a selection of postcards covering the area.
I have lots of photographs of the local area.
Perhaps Postcrossers would like unique postcards, tailormade postcards ... time to order some new cardstock.
Watch this space ...
I have lots of photographs of the local area.
Perhaps Postcrossers would like unique postcards, tailormade postcards ... time to order some new cardstock.
Watch this space ...
From the Postcrossing Newsletter
... Summer 2008
Postcrossing is three years old ... what started as a single person pet project, now reaches 184 countries and 57000 members.
...we reached our first million of Postcards exchanged and we are now on the fast track to the second million...
A marriage was celebrated between two postcrossers who met on the website, and have since moved to Finland! We are very happy to know that this project provided a way for them to meet.
For more information and to read more about the Postcrossing community click the banner below.
...we reached our first million of Postcards exchanged and we are now on the fast track to the second million...
A marriage was celebrated between two postcrossers who met on the website, and have since moved to Finland! We are very happy to know that this project provided a way for them to meet.
For more information and to read more about the Postcrossing community click the banner below.
Some of the cards which have travelled the World
... and more Postcrossing cards
Want to comment ... leave your message here
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jasminesphotography
Mar 22, 2011 @ 10:29 pm | delete
- Great lens. I love Postcrossing.
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vikksimmons
Jan 29, 2011 @ 1:39 pm | delete
- I was searching for lenses on Finland and this one popped up. :) Sounds like a lot of fun. I may look into it. Interesting topic.
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Quirina
Mar 29, 2010 @ 3:59 pm | delete
- OMG, the postcards you got from Germany are all SO ugly! If you give me your address, I will send you a prettier one!! Anyhow, this is one more good reason for me to join the project. Main reason is that it sounds like fun, and reminds me of when I was a wee lassie and I had pen friends all around the world.... Thank you for sharing!
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JaguarJulie Mar 1, 2010 @ 9:03 am | delete
- OMG, this is so fascinating -- I love this idea!
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jennysue19
Nov 24, 2009 @ 4:54 am | delete
- I've just started Postcrossing. In the first batch I sent some of my cards via Sendoutcards a service that lets you send real postcards and greeting cards from your PC. The cards are printed and mailed in Utah USA., so they will always have USA stamps but I can upload local photos. My second batch are being handwritten and will have. I think postcrossing is a great way to foster friendship across the world.
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luvmyludwig
Oct 4, 2009 @ 9:20 pm | delete
- this sounds like a hobby my kids and I would all enjoy. thank you! I'm heading over right now to check things out!.
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dorincard
Aug 18, 2009 @ 12:26 pm | delete
- I love postcrossing.com, and I love EVEN MORE http://www.forum.postcrossing.com.
Instead of random postcards, which may or may not be interesting, I prefer "what you see is what you get".
:)
Please visit my websites, with many images.
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ChapelHillFiddler
Aug 18, 2009 @ 6:39 am | delete
- What a lovely hobby! I participated once in an art card swap at wetcanvas.com - each of us made enough (handmade) cards so each of the other 20 would get one - it was a fabulous experience.
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fanfreluche May 5, 2009 @ 3:21 pm | delete
- Sounds live a great way to make new friends. I sometimes miss the "good old days" of receiving letters (other then bills) in the mail. I used to have many pen pals when I was a teen, and remember waiting for my postman impatiently. I think I'm gonna try this.
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poutine
Mar 15, 2009 @ 4:27 pm | delete
- Veru interesting concept. Well done lens. 5
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