I’ve mentioned my love of Bookcrossing. And my ever-growing collection of postcards. So it was only natural that I would be interested in something that combines the two. Enter Postcrossing.
The goal of this project is to allow people to receive postcards from all over the world, for free. Well, almost free! The main idea is that: if you send a postcard, you will receive one back from a random Postcrosser from somewhere in the world.
The postcards I receive from people I know are by far my favorite, but every once in a while, I request an address from Postcrossing and send a picture-postcard of Ohio to another Postcrosser somewhere in the world. Like Bookcrossing, we label our postcards with a unique ID number. When the recipient receives the postcard I sent, they log it in and we see lots of nifty statistics about how far it’s traveled and such. Then my name goes into the hat to receive a postcard from someone else in the world. This is where it gets fun; I’ve gotten postcards from places I never expected to. Like the one I picture here from Malawi. Or the one with the soup recipe from Russia.
I happily added these to my collection, thrilled to have received postcards from places that my friends just don’t seem to go to. And, who knows? Maybe someday I’ll see these places myself and send similar postcards to my friends.
Where is the most exotic place you’ve gotten a postcard from?
Browsing The Atlas 
This is SO cool! I love sending and receiving postcards so I definitely want to find out more about this. When I was in Ushuaia (Southern most town of South America, tiny little place), I was excited to send postcards to other postcard-loving friends knowing they would enjoy the novelty of the location. Thanks for sharing this great idea.
My pleasure. 🙂 I realize now that I didn’t point out the site itself, but it’s pretty easy to guess: Postcrossing.com
Never heard of this but what a great idea. We’ve been the ones to send postcards from exotic places but have never received any. Our most exotic? Bora Bora or Shanghai.
I wish MY friends went to Bora Bora… 🙂 I think I have 1,000 postcards from Florida, but none from Shanghai or Bora Bora.
One of my coworkers mentioned she was a participant in this postcrossing activity so I’m glad you mentioned it here! It sounds really fun and now I’m considering joining it as well. 🙂
Wow! I didn’t think it was very well known. That’s great that you now know two people who do it.
Love this idea! I can’t remember EVER getting a postcard…from anywhere!
No! That can’t be true! Send me your address and we can remedy that. 😉
Truly…great concept! I don’t get postcards anymore either…what with email & Facetime!
It’s becoming a lost art. 😦
Never heard of this, nice idea. Helping to keep a traditional mail service alive as well.
So true! Connecting electronically is nice and convenient, but nothing beats gets a personal letter or postcard in the mail.
I love postcards! I just like to collect them on my trips…I haven’t received any in years. They are great, cheapy souvenirs.
My most exotic postcard I received many moons ago was from a friend who went to Venezuela.
I buy lots of postcards when I travel, too. But I much prefer to receive them in the mail.
Venezuela — I’m envious. I don’t have any from there yet, but I do have a few co-workers from Caracas. Maybe I can drop some hints. 🙂
I’ve never heard of that before! That’s awesome. I’m going to give it a try!
Have fun! I mean, what do you have to lose? Just the cost of a postcard and a stamp. 🙂
I’ve been thinking of doing Postcrossing. This convinces me.
I hope you have fun!
some people have hobby of collecting post card . I always buy from many locations I have visited.