About

Those who know me know that my adolescent world was a small one, and though I was grateful for my friends, I was always curious about the world beyond my infinitesimal bubble.

I have met many of my longest lasting friends through the internet. Through online games, forums, and of course, penpal websites. Many of them live in other countries.

Recently, I have caught the penpalling bug again, and though I have received and sent snail mail to and from internet friends in the past, it's been years since I've sent or received anything. I want to change that. And not only do I want to change that, but I want to go all out and fully immerse myself in the hobby aspects of snail mail, especially philately.

We take the designs of the definitive stamps that we use every day for granted, but whether we consciously acknowledge it or not, every stamp we use or will ever use will someday become an historical artifact, a snapshot of an aspect of daily life from that time. Just as an example, if you are from the UK, you likely have some definitive stamps featuring the late Queen Elizabeth II, who is now being replaced on new stamps with King Charles III. You may have such stamps without barcodes, while all new definitive stamps from Royal Mail will require barcodes.

You or a family member may have lived in a state which no longer exists, known to philatelists as "dead countries" - such as the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, or East Germany, with any stamps in your possession being artifacts from that state's existence.

Or, you may have commemorative stamps from an historical event, such as the Olympics.

Stamps are more than just utilitarian. They are historical artifacts, works of art, symbols of the nations that issued them and of the time periods in which they were issued. Each stamp has a story behind it, specific factors that contributed to it coming into existence.

And some of them are simply aesthetically pleasing.

Join me on my philately journey.