Category Archives: History

Calligraphy

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Dana

I love calligraphy.  The pens and inks and alphabets.  I aspire to one day be proficient at it myself.  But until then, I admire those who practice the art. I read this Wall Streen Journal article a while back about calligrapher … Continue reading →

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Posted in Handwriting and Calligraphy, History, Pen and Paper | Comments Off

J.D. Salinger’s Letters to a Lady

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Dana

(image from NYTimes) Check out this New York Times article about Salinger’s letters to a Toronto woman years before Catcher in the Rye.  The woman he wrote to is still alive and 95 years old. As we document every moment … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, Writing letters | Comments Off

Happy Easter!

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Dana

Thanks to my mother-in-law for sending me this lovely postcard postmarked in 1923! Happy Spring!

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Posted in History, Postcards | 1 Comment

Mr. Zip

Posted on February 11, 2013 by Dana

(image from Beyond the Perf) Beyond the Perf has a great little post about Mr. Zip–the icon of a speedy mail man who educated 1960s America about the use of the new ZIP code system. Mr. Zip is making an … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, U.S. Postal Service | Comments Off

First Day Cover Advertising

Posted on October 2, 2012 by Dana

A friend of mine recently showed me some of her grandfather’s stamp collection.  He had some great First-Day Covers (FDCs) from the 1960s.  Here are a couple of the beauties: The interesting part about these FDCs is that they came through the … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, Stamps and Stamp Collecting | 1 Comment

Artists and Salespeople

Posted on August 20, 2012 by Dana

My dad gave me his favorite magazine from his childhood–an issue of The Leather Craftsman dated September/October 1959.  He always loved the image on the cover and the accompanying story that someone had written from the perspective of the cougar. … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, Stationery | 5 Comments

1910 Postcards Predict the Future

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Dana

My Dad sent me a great link to 1910 postcards featuring illustrations by French artist Villemard.  They depict how he imagined Paris in the year 2000. Some of his predictions were spot on (audiobooks, Skype, and email) but others are laughable … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, Postcards, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

1940′s “Air Mail” Italian Pillowcase

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Dana

Last weekend I had a great visit to my Mom and Dad. While rummaging around in a trunk, I came across this souvenir my grandfather brought back from Italy in the 1940s.  He was deployed there just after WWII as … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, Postal-themed goodies, Travel | Comments Off

They Knew Letter Enthusiasts Would Arise from the Ashes

Posted on May 1, 2012 by Dana

I read this blog entry by Joel Achenbach on the Washington Post the other day about Facebook’s purchase of Instagram.  Wondering what the future held for such new-fangled inventions like Instagram, Achenbach looked back at his 1993 article about the rise of email. He appended, … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, Writing letters | 1 Comment

Letter Writing Social at the National Postal Museum

Posted on April 26, 2012 by Dana

If any of you plan to be in Washington, D.C. this weekend, be sure to stop by the National Postal Museum.  Melissa over at Craftgasm is working with Erin at the NPM to host a letter writing social from 12:00-3:00 … Continue reading →

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Posted in History, Stamps and Stamp Collecting, Stationery, Writing letters | 1 Comment