Postbox Saturday | Freshly Painted

Freshly painted. Do not touch

I know you were really eager to hear about the latest adventures of my mailbox. Well, this week it got a new outfit. Does not it look great?

Women on Postcards | M Is for Matryoshka

Сергиев Посад or Sergiyev Posad is the Orthodox capital of Russia and the birthplace of the matryoshka dolls during the 1890s, which have become one of the symbols of the country. Matryoshka is a diminutive form of Matryosha (Матрёша), in turn an affectionate form of the Russian female first name Matryona (Матрёна)

The postcard was sent by Eduard (Russia), and included on the back two matching stamps: more matryoshka dolls, and the coat of arms of the city. 

 

The shape of the postmark is very curious!

[Women on Postcards 2026]

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Water & Moon

The Water and Moon Guanyin Bodhisativa (Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, USA). Received from China through the Postcrossing site.

Thursday Postcard Hunt is dedicated to Sculptures or statues this week. You are welcome to share your postcards!

There Is Nothing Better Than a Typewritten Letter

This is one of the typewriters I own, and the one I use more often for my letters (actually, this photo is taken from here and shows the same model and colour; mine is a bit more worn). It has been in use for over 60 years.

Olivetti Lettera 44

Typewriters have always fascinated me. I just love the sound of the keys and how they allow me to fous solely in writing. Today I came across (old) article about Ten Ways a Typewriter Will Improve Your Writing, with most of which I agree.

Do you use a typewriter? And, in any case, do you like receiving typewritten letters, or do you prefer handwritten ones?

Is Your Mailbox This Rusty?

Herberto Smith, from the exhibition Interferências. Culturas Urbanas Emergentes ('Interferences. Emerging Urban Cultures') in the MAAT (Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology), Lisboa.

Postcard sent by Pedro (Portugal).

Send It Anyway

«Sometimes we hesitate to write because we think we do not have enough to say. Write anyway. Sometimes we think a birthday card is too ordinary. Send it anyway. Sometimes we think a short note hardly counts as correspondence. It counts. The card you almost did not send might remain on someone’s nightstand for months. The note you wrote quickly at the kitchen table may become something someone reads several times.»

Renee Palting, "Writing Letters With My Mom"

Sunday Stamps | Birds in Motion

Today's theme in Sunday Stamps is Birds.

Autumn Flowers

Autumn Flowers wallpaper by William Morris, 1888. Sent by Laura (the UK).

Women on Postcards | I Is for Illustrated Magazine

Postcard sent by Bryon (the USA). I like the mise en abyme technique.

[Women on Postcards - 2026]

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Giants

Processional giants are costumed figures in European folklore, particularly present in Belgian, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Catalan, Italian and English folkloric processions. The main feature of these figures is typically their wooden, papier maché or -more recently- synthetic resin head, whilst bodies are covered in clothing matching the costume's theme.

Several such processions are recognised by UNESCO as forms of intangible cultural heritage, including Belgian and French processional giants listed as Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity and Catalonia's Patum de Berga.

On this postcard sent by Imma (PC), you can see the giants of Olot, existing from the 15th century (the current giants are from the 19th century).

This week's theme in Thursday Postcard Hunt is UNESCO. Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

The First Letter Café in Europe

Café Pli is a coffeeshop (two addresses, in fact) located in the center of Paris. They offer drinks and pastries, but also a letter writing experience:

Over a pastry or a drink, write a letter to your future self. Confide in yourself with an open heart, encourage yourself, wish yourself certain successes or describe a memory... and receive your letter in 1 year, 5 years or 20 years. You can also write to a loved one for an important day to come: surprise him on a specific day in the future, with a card written by your 10 fingers especially for her/him.

They offer different packages. For instance Pli & Drink:

It includes:

• 1 drink of your choice
• 1 card
• 1 envelope & wax seal
• 1 stamp
• 1 tracking number

Storing your letter, to be sent in the future... Prices vary depending on the timing of the fold:

• To be sent within one year : €15
• To be sent in 5 years : €25
• To be sent in 20 years : €45

Additional charge for international shipping: +€4

Have you ever been to a letter café? Would you use the "letters to the future" service?

Every Week Is "Thinking of You Week"

Collage on an envelope sent by Laura (the UK). The postmark made it even more interesting.

Send A Card
Deliver A Smile for
Thinking Of You Week
21-27 September 2026

Year of the Fire Horse [VIII]

Horses at Dusk, from an original painting by Leah Mendenhall. Sent by Phillip (USA) with matching stamps. Perfect for the Year of the Horse!

By the way... It suffered a small accident in way. Or maybe it was attacked by mail monsters...

Sunday Stamps | Celebrating Radio

A 2025 sheet from France celebrating the 50 anniversary of Radio France. 

Below, two se-tenant Canadian stamps from 2020 celebrating the history of radio. As a plus, a Canadian stamp commemorating the centenary of the discovery of insulin. 

Today's theme in Sunday Stamps is Celebrating Inventions. 

Celebrating 250 Years (2)

2026 has been a year of celebrations for the United States of America because of its semiquincentennial. I received this postcard from Bryon in July.

They issued different commemorative stamps, like the series of American Icons curated by fashion designer Ralph Lauren (and no exempt of controversy):

Treasures of the Revolutionary Era, a booklet of 20 stamps showcasing significant artifacts from this pivotal time has been less controversial:

(Notice the postmark!)