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!)

Women on Postcards | L Is for Loren

One of the most Agnès Varda's iconic images is Sofia Loren in Portugal, taken in 1956 in Póvoa de Varzim, (Portugal). It shows Maria do Alívio ("woman who does laundry for others"), walking, dressed in black and barefoot, down a street, Rua das Lavadeiras, in contrast to the smiling, torn poster showing Sophia Loren and the sign "For Sale". Despite the title, no doubt who is the main character here.

The postcard was sent by Pedro (Portugal). As a bonus, a stamp of the photographer issued in 2024 that I received on a letter sent by Fabienne (France):

[Women on Postcards - 2026]

[Women on Stamps]

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Fietsbrug't Sasje

Fietsbrug't Sasje is a movable cycle and pedestrian bridge over the Eem in Amersfoort (the Netherlands), which was initially conceived as a fixed bridge at first. I have read that a source of inspiration was pictures of the Eemhaven in older times, which show atmospheric images of the harbour filled with ships and masts.

Postcard sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
September theme: BRIDGES

• Week 1 - Over land
• Week 2 - Over water
• Week 3 - Railway
• Week 4 - Moveable

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Ciclo Carta

This letter sent by Pedro (Portugal) was posted on 11 September and reached me a week later, on 18 September. Not bad, considering it travels by bike!

For some reason, letters and postcards to Portugal travel faster than from Portugal. Also, I have noticed that the first CicloCarta took 9 days to arrive; the second, 8 days... What does this means?

I Smell Like Chocolate

Micu (Hungary) sent a lovely letter with interesting contents and stamps. The most surprising was the following one that states "I smell like chocolate":

And it really does! Which seems incredible, because it was issued in 2023, to commemorate the centenary of the Szerencs Chocolate Factory.

I like that Hungary issues so many stamps dedicated to children books' and characters, like these ones:

TV Maci

Manócska (Mazsola és Tádé)

300th anniversary of
Gulliver's Travels 

Summer Mail XVI | End of Summer

Sent by Laura (UK).

Sunday Stamps | Celebrating 250 Years (1)

A postcard sent by Bryon, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. On the back, a sheet issued by the United Nations to commemorate the Sesquicentennial. The stamp features a photograph of the Declaration of Independence on the stamps, with Independence Hall in Philadelphia shown in the background.

Today's theme on Sunday Stamps is Celebrating historical events.

Dove of Peace

In September 2025, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) in conjunction with the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and 10 other postal organizations will jointly issue Dove of Peace embroidered stamps to celebrate the International Day of Peace and promote the value of peace to people all around the world. (More information about this issue.)

Bryon (UN) sent me the stamps from the three UN postal administrations, on the back of the same matching postcard: