Women on Postcards | S Is for Seagull

The Seagull
 Portrait of Valentina Tereshkova, 1964.
By Soviet Amir Nuriakhmetovich Mazitov (1928-1992)

Валентина Терешкова ('Valentina Tereshkova', born 1937) is a Russian engineer, politician, and former Soviet cosmonaut. 

Having flown a solo mission on Vostok 6 on 16 June 1963, Tereshkova became the first woman in space; she remains the only woman to have flown into space solo, and, at 26 years of age, the youngest. Her call sign on this flight was Чайка, (Chaika, 'Seagull'). After her launch, she radioed down:

It is I, Seagull! Everything is fine. I see the horizon; it's a sky blue with a dark strip. How beautiful the Earth is ... everything is going well.

Eduard (Russia) sent the postcard with two matching stamps: a Russian stamp issued in 2013 that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first woman in space (It includes a seagull!). And a Soviet one issued 30 years before with the same motive: 20th anniversary of Tereshkova's Vostok 6 flight.

This postcard was sent on 25th December 2025, and arrived just this week. It took less time to reach the Moon!

Spring Letters

Letters sent by Laura & Alan (the UK).

Send Someone a Love Letter

Letter sent by Phillip (the USA).

Letter sent by Bryon (United Nations).

Letter sent by Heleen (the Netherlands).

Christmas Lighthouse

By Мария Шевцова

Postcard sent by Eduard (Russia) last year, and arrived at the end of January. There is a beautifully matching stamp on the back: a snowy landscape commemorating the 400th Anniversary of Yeniseysk

The back of Eduard's postcards are always interesting!

Santa's Reply

Maybe you remember that last year I sent two letters to Santa. I want you to know that, in January, I received a very nice letter from him.

Refreshing Postcards

Postcards are my main way of travelling these days, so the my preferred postcards to get through Postcrossing are tourist, traditional ones, But I always list a few more things I like on my Postcrossing profile, because some senders need more ideas, or cannot find tourist postcards in the places they live in. And one of these things is citrus fruits. I love oranges and lemons, and they never fail to cheer me up. So, from time to time, I receive some, like this postcard sent by Yesim (Germany).

Besides the postcard, the nice stamp and the friendly message, she took the time to decorate the back. How cool is it?

The same day, I received this postcard by Fleur (the UK). A lot of citrus and lighthouses and Christmas stamps on the back, too. Postcrossers trying to do their best really rock!

Just Some Random Envelopes for You to Enjoy

Sent by Sandy (Germany), Phillip (the USA) and Fabienne (France).

Japanese Labels

Do you agree that the cutest mailing labels come from Japan?

Postcard from Kazakhstan

It is always nice to get mail from a new country. This postcard was sent by postcrosser Olga from Kazakhstan. It features the impressive architecture of the presidential palace. 

I love that the back was covered with stamps, but there was still room for a friendly message.

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Snail Map

This illustration by Olga Kuleshova was sent by Eduard (Russia). But it is a sort of map, or travel diary, featuring some places in Spain. I can recognise most of the landmarks, but some of the destinations surprised me; for instance, Guadalajara (the only one I have never been to!).

On the back, the sender added some vintage Spanish stamps, just for making it more interesting.

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Thursday Postcard Hunt
February theme: MAPS

• Week 1 - Country
• Week 2 - City or Metro/Transportation
• Week 3 - With Pictorial Landmarks
• Week 4 - States/Provinces/Counties

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!

Pure Love

Love is when the postal services love you so much that they allow you to send mail without stamps! Or maybe that is how it works in Wonderland.

(It was not intentional: the sender just forgot to add the stamps. The envelope, made of a big playing card, arrived safe and sound from the USA, and no further payment was required.)

С Новым Годом / Happy New Year

Sent by Eduard (Russia) and Phillip (the USA).

Zoetermeer

This postcard from a 2022 Postcrossing meeting reached me more than two years after it was written. However, this time, the postal services are not to blame...

It was the sender who waited until she get the perfectly matching stamps!

Another Stamp on Stamp

Another stamp from the same series, sent by Alan (UK).

I Need This Rubber Stamp!

It is not unusual that my letters contains a couple of paragraphs about books. This way, I could write an index on the envelope, as Rosemary (Canada) did!

Naturaleza Muerta

Naturaleza muerta (='Still Life'), by Frida Kahlo (1951). Postcard sent by Anastasia (Russia), as a thank you for another Postcrossing postcard. 

Quijotes

It was quite a surprise to get this Don Quijote-related postcard from Russia, sent by Eduard.

I think I found a suitable postcard to reply, this time...

Thursday Postcard Hunt | Christmas Meetup

I got this postcard at the beginning of 2023. I guess the meeting was full of fun, and I hope they all have the chance of meet again this year!

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Thursday Postcard Hunt

December theme: CHRISTMAS

• Week 1 - Santas (or equivalent)
• Week 2 - Trees / ornaments
• Week 3 - Animals
• Week 4 - Snowy scenes / manger scenes

Everyone is welcome to share their postcards!