Mail Archives - Social Correspondence

The Last Letter Writers

For years I promoted the joys of letter writing in my Social Correspondence posts, but often I felt like one of the last letter writers in the world. By letters, I mean the kind written on paper, stamped with the appropriate stamp, and sent to the recipient via U.S. Mail. Today, the concept of letter writing is not merely old-fashioned, but on the cusp of becoming extinct. Handwriting is no longer taught in most schools. Children who receive handwritten cards or letters in the mail struggle to read them. E-mail might be used for quick communications,…

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September 17, 2024

Mail / Post Office / Stamps / U.S. Postal Service

An Abundance of Stamps

Recently, while reorganizing my desk, I discovered an abundance of stamps. More stamps, perhaps, than I will ever use. Among my favorites – Vanishing Species, Songbirds, Edward Hopper Sailboats, American Gardens, and others. Now I have a new favorite, issued by the USPS last month. These stamps feature spectacular images by American photographer Ansel Adams (1902 – 1984). Half Dome in Yosemite, the Sierra foothills, and the Golden Gate Bridge are among the stunning images. A year ago, 100 photos by Ansel Adams were on view in an exhibition at the de Young Museum, San…

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July 1, 2024

Letter writing / Mail / Stamps / U.S. Postal Service

In Memory of Alan Blackman: Letters to Myself

Alan Blackman: Letters to Myself first appeared in Social Correspondence on July 20, 2015. Mr. Blackman died on June 6, 2024 in San Francisco. Alan Blackman has had a long and storied career, as an artist, calligrapher, typeface designer for Adobe, lettering arts instructor, and three years working for the U.S. Post Office at San Francisco’s Rincon Annex. By his own account, however, his most significant work is Letters to Myself. Letters to Myself was a personal project first undertaken by Blackman in 1968. His then 11-year old son Stephen lived across the bay in Berkeley,…

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June 20, 2024

Mail / Post Office / Postal Service / U.S. Postal Service

Sometimes It Can Be Difficult to Love the Post Office

Last week was a great week for personal mail. Each day my mailbox revealed a new treasure, including an oversized post card from Sandra, two beautiful Mother’s Day cards (Happy belated Mother’s Day, everyone!) with handwritten notes from our daughters – thank you, ladies, for those amazing messages! – two additional personal notes from Nancy and Jane, and an article about social calling cards from Joan. Postmarks on the letters included Washington, D.C., Brooklyn, New York, Honolulu, Hawaii, and my home city, San Francisco. How much better can things get than receiving six letters and cards…

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May 24, 2024

email / Handwriting / Letter writing / Mail / Post cards

Postcards in the Mail

Sending picture postcards in the mail is a tradition of somewhat recent vintage. And now, even as the practice fades, who does not enjoy receiving a postcard in the mail? Postcards and notes in the mail The development of postal cards dates back to the late 19th century in Austria/Hungary and shortly after, in Britain. Such cards were standardized in format and did not feature images. Postcards, on the other hand, in which the design features a picture or image on one side, with space for the recipient’s name, address, and a message, on the other,…

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March 17, 2024

2023 / books / email / Handwriting / junk mail / Letter writing / Mail / Post cards / Post Office / Social Media / U.S. Postal Service

It’s That Time of Year

The catalogs have been arriving in the mail for months, because it’s that time of year. The solicitations for charitable and political donations come in multiples every day, and even a few early holiday cards, letters, and invitations are trickling in. The holiday season is upon us! The best holiday mail, of course, is personal: the letters and cards that keep us in touch with family and friends, near and far. I treasure these communications, and have trouble recycling them, even years after receipt. The typical holiday letter has evolved over time. These days, few people…

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December 4, 2023

2023 / Letter writing / Mail / Mailboxes / Post cards / Post Office / Stamps

Underwater Post Offices Throughout the World

Post offices around the world can be charming, unique, or simply functional, but few places feature underwater post offices. Swimming and letter writing are some of my favorite pastimes, but not necessarily together! Only a few underwater post offices have survived, but they have their place in history. Twenty years ago, the small town of Risør, located in the south of Norway, constructed an underwater post office as a novelty for tourists. Established by the local scuba diving club, it was billed as the only dry underwater post office in the world. Constructed in the form…

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October 16, 2023

2023 / email / Fake News / junk mail / Mail

Scams and Fraud

Despite spam filters on our email and posted warnings from banks and other financial institutions, scams and fraud seem more prevalent today than ever. Clearly, scams would not exist if they were not successful. Newly released (Feb. 2023) Federal Trade Commission data shows that consumers reported losing nearly $8.8 billion to fraud in 2022, an increase of more than 30% over the previous year. Topping the list are investment scams, followed by imposter scams. Scams and fraud seem to be hitting home. Those poorly written, error filled emails such as the Nigerian Prince scam, which has…

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October 4, 2023

2023 / junk mail / Mail / Note cards / Post cards / U.S. Postal Service

Free Stuff in the Mail

The holidays will soon be upon us, and already the pitches for non-profit donations are on their way, so expect to receive a lot of “free” stuff in the mail. Within the past two weeks, free items in my mail included one memo pad, one pack of tissues, return address labels from two different charities, one 2024 calendar featuring adorable dogs and puppies, and one set of six birthday cards with assorted designs. I even received a solicitation that included a one-dollar bill. Most of these gifts are from charities that I have never donated to,…

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September 24, 2023

2023 / books / email / Handwriting / junk mail / Letter writing / Mail / Pandemic / Post cards / Postal Service / U.S. Postal Service

What’s in Your Mail?

National Postal Worker’s Day was July 1, which seemed like a good time to check out what’s in your mail. As people have moved from doing business through the mail to electronic communications, first class mail has declined. Banking, including bill paying, and personal communications have largely moved online. Only occasionally do I receive handwritten notes, cards, letters, or postcards, and I suspect that I am not alone. Even event invitations are conveyed electronically, through sites that track responses (RSVPs) and comments from invitees. Since 1926, the USPS has tracked mail volume by type of mail.…

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July 22, 2023