The Wonderland Postage-Stamp Case

Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, was a bit of a mail fan. In 1889 he invented "The Wonderland Postage-Stamp Case," a little case with twelve separate pockets in which people could keep stamps of different denominations. The stamp case was sold with a little booklet called Eight or Nine Wise Words about Letter Writing.

It seems you can still find one of these online for an exorbitant price.

The postcard was sent by Bryon (the USA).

(Pictures taken from this post.)

The Human Letter

In this letter, John (the UK) enclosed some vintage cigarette cards, which used to be in packets of cigarettes and tea, to nag one's parents to get a particular brand. Among them, one about the man who posted himself.

W. Reginald Bray. The Human Letter 

The owner of the largest collection of postal curios in the British Isles, Mr. Bray was the first man to post himself as a human letter. His collection was started as a hobby in 1898; he made a thorough study of the Post Office Guide and discovered that one of the smallest articles that can be sent by post is a bee, and the largest an elephant! Mr. Bray has posted many peculiar articles, including a shirt front and a collar with the addresses actually written upon them (see illustration). Other things he has sent include a bowler hat, a turnip with the address and message carved on it, a pipe, a cigarette, flask, shoes, cycle pump, etc.

Stamps Brewery

I am often amazed to discover how mail can inspire people in so many different ways. For instance, when brewing beers. Why not?

I have discovered this brand by chance: Stamps Brewery. It is a micro brewery based in Liverpool (the UK). How I would like to visit them! If the beers are half good than the design of the labels, I am sure I would enjoy more than one.

Just because it would be difficult to choose just one of those stamps, you know.

LWA

From now on, I'm a proud member of the Letter Writers Alliance. And you?

I'm Lucky (3)

And I still won another giveaway. Can you believe it? It was hold by Tessa (the Netherlands), the runner of the recommendable blog You have mail from me. I had to guess the number of washi tapes she had, which happen to be... 160! I am sure that now she have even more.

These are the amazing content of the little parcel she sent to me (some time ago):

I'm Lucky (2)

And this was sent by Fab (Italy), from the beautiful blog Wreck This Girl's Mailbox. Because of another giveaway. I was really lucky, don't you thing so?

I'm Lucky (1)

This amazing envelope was sent by Emilie (the USA). She sent it to me because I was one of the happy winners of a giveaway because of the third anniversary of her blog: Winnie's Girl. It happened some months ago, but I haven't posted about it so far because, of course, I use the items she sent to me... I I didn't want to spoil the surprises!

All this was inside the envelope:

Mail Spoon

Don't you have a special spoon to stir your coffee with while you are reading your mail? I wonder how could I live without so far...

Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

Mail Goodies

Not exactly a Christmas present, but I have recently received this bag as a gift. Look at it closely:

Isn't it perfect for a snail mail lover as me? However, who offered me the back hardly knows that I like mail!

And other mail present I have received (mmm... some weeks/months ago, I'm afraid): snail mail sweets. I mean they arrived by snail mail.

Key-ring for Mail Lovers

Two Christmas presents magically received before Christmas. My new key-ring and a little tin of delicious black tea. Have you noticed that the time for collecting the mail is tea time? :D

Fred

It have been a great fun lately to take part in the mail art challenges of the Mail a Smile blog. As you know I was the lucky winner of challenge #1 and I received this amazing envelope as a prize:

And inside I found some stickers and... the nice Fred, whose name means 'peace' in Swedish. You can see that now he is peacefully sitting watching for my letters and postcards:

I had previously got another Fred, in the form of a beautiful green handmade card sent by Micu, as a thank you for my contribution to challenge #2:

  

You can see in the gallery all the handmade versions of Fred.

Lego Postman

Sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

Have you guessed what it contained?

Yes: a little mail carrier because I missed my former one! :D

Also published in her blog nog meer post! The funny thing is that I saw this post before receiving the letter, and I thought she was sending me a picture of the Lego postman... not a real (I mean, 3D) postman!

Red-coloured Envelope with Money

Sent to Heleen (the Netherlands).

In fact, I've got this little red envelope from Bree, who lives in Malaysia. She explained me that during Chinese New Year married adults give unmarried friends and relatives a red-coloured envelope with some money on it. It is a tradition which is practised by all the Chinese in the world. It symbolises health and helps you to protect from bad things.

But I didn't send any money to my friend, but a little love letter brooch: