Rare card alert

 This morning I found in my mailbox the first card I have ever received from Armenia.  I have sent one card there in the past, but this was the first to arrive here in Alabama after a journey of 6,486 miles that took 19 days.  The card came from Arina, a 25 year old woman working as an IT specialist for a travel company.  Armenia is a small player in the Postcrossing world:  only 134 members, and in the 19 years of Postcrossing's existence, the entire country has sent 11,673 postcards, which is only about 1,000 more than I have myself.  So thank you, Arina, for today's Rare Card! 

Dangerous books

 As I've mentioned before, I do enjoy collecting books.  Mostly these are merely books that interest me, or are from authors who I admire, or are examples of the bookbinder's art.  Book collecting in any serious form requires much more financial resources than I am able to muster, so my collection is limited, and not particularly notable.  Nor old.  The vast majority if my books come from the 20th century or later.  Which, as it turns out, may be a good thing.  Just today I read an article about the dangers of some Victorian-era books.  It turns out that some of the dyes and other materials used back then are now recognized as hazardous.  Toxic metals like mercury and lead, and poisons like arsenic can be found in books from the early 1800s.  That's something I will need to keep in mind if I ever acquire a book of that age.

I don't have many antiquarian books at all.  I do have a first edition Mutiny on the Bounty (from the 1930s).  Many contemporary books that are signed by the author.  And a few that have fine, luxury bindings.  Perhaps my most valuable book is Hitch 22, by Christopher Hitchens.  He was an author I admired, so when his memoir came out in 2010, I bought a copy as soon as it was released.  As I used to sometimes do in cases where I was unlikely to meet the author in person, I wrote to Hitchens and asked if I could send him my copy of his book to be signed.  Using a dubious email address I found online, I wrote him and was surprised to receive a prompt and gracious reply.  He would be glad to sign my book, but he apologized that he may not be able to return it quickly, as he was soon going on the road for a book promo tour.  No problem, I though, and shipped him my book, along with return mail supplies.  Then I went on a short vacation out of town.  I was shocked when the book was waiting for me upon my return, signed by Hitchens himself.  Just the next day, I learned why- news reports revealed Hitchens had been struck with a serious illness at a New York hotel and had to cut his book tour short and return home to Washington, DC.  It soon emerged he'd been diagnosed with throat cancer. Despite intense treatment, he died about 18 months later.  With his book tour unexpectedly cut short, comparatively few autographed copies of this book exist, making my copy one of the most valuable in my collection.  A recent search on ABE Books shows similar signed first editions could fetch a price of about $1800.00.  That is, in the very unlikely event I would ever consider parting with my souvenir of a writer and thinker who I greatly admired.

World Postcard Day - prelude

 On October 1 of each year, we observe World Postcard Day in order to remember the creation of this unique and valuable item.  The simple and inexpensive method of communication is commonly accepted to have begun in 1869 and after a peak in popularity has declined in use but endures to today.  Each year, Postcrossing releases a postcard design for the benefit of its member to use to mark the day on auspicious day.  This year's design was announced this just morning and is a beautiful one by graphic designer Rose Wong.  In previous years, Postcrossing has derived the card design from an open contest.  But last year the winning design was later found to have copyright issues.  Also, AI - derived artwork has infiltrated card contest submissions and is difficult to detect.  So this year the card design has been directly commissioned.  We are told that the design is meant to honor the Universal Postal Union, which is an 1874 treaty organization that standardizes and streamlines the exchange of international mail, and this year celebrates its 150th anniversary.  I've already downloaded this year's postcard design and sent in an order to have a batch printed up so I'll be ready on October 1 to send postcards around the world, continuing the quaint, anachronistic hobby I've enjoyed for over a decade.

It's in the mail 8

 This morning, as the nation struggles with a widespread computer network malfunction, I ponder a simpler time when communication didn't depend on digital equipment.  So today I focus on another in an ongoing series of postal collection boxes.  This one is outside the door of Jefferson Tower, part of the sprawling complex of buildings that comprise UAB University Hospital (which was just - once again - named the best hospital in Alabama and one of the tops in the country.)  JT, as we UAB employees call it, is a 1940s era high rise structure that was once the main hospital building in Birmingham.  It replaced Hillman Hospital, the adjacent building which was built in 1888 as a small charity hospital.  So for over 100 years, doctors, nurses and countless patients have passed the site of this mailbox, and no doubt many sent letters from it to tell friends and family of their medical condition.  Hopefully for most, it was a message of good news.

Rare card alert

 After being a member of Postcrossing for over ten years, it is increasingly rare that I send or receive a postcard from a new country for the first time.  But such is the case when a card I sent to Guadeloupe arrived yesterday.  Guadeloupe is Caribbean island and a protectorate of France (similar to the US Virgin Islands), and was first discovered by Europeans in 1493 by Christopher Columbus.  It is a small island with a small population and an even smaller Postcrossing community- only 42 registered members.  So sending a card there is indeed a rare occurrence.  The card I sent was one I created and had printed myself.  It depicts my painting of HMS Bounty arriving at another tropical island, Tahiti.

It's in the mail- UK edition

 Despite obvious differences, the postal systems of the United States and the United Kingdom share many similarities.  Most notably, they both currently suffer from serious mismanagement and regularly impose significant rate increases while services are in steep decline.  But the Royal Mail goes the extra mile to be dysfunctional while being privatized many years ago, and coming under foreign ownership most recently.  Finally, the Royal Mail has adopted ugly barcoded stamps, like some other European countries, while the USPS has so far avoided this travesty.  However, the Royal Mail has long excelled in the charming character of their public collection, or pillar, boxes.  Even today, these adhere to the classic design themes instituted by Anthony Trollope, the popular Victorian novelist who wrote books while keeping his day job as a postal official.  His classic red pillarbox design is a familiar symbol of the UK all around the world.  Part of the charm of Royal Mail boxes is that they bear the Royal Cypher of the reigning monarch when they were installed.  So one can trace the history of any pillar or wall box one might spot by reading the monarch's crest.  The most common, of course would be those boxes bearing the symbol of Queen Elizabeth II, due to her extraordinarily long reign.  But find a box old enough- and these durable articles exist- and you'll see the symbol of Queen Victoria from over 100 years ago.  So today, the notable event was reported- the installation of the first box bearing the cypher of King Charles III.  Another addition to the long, long history of the Royal Mail, which is enough to fill a 700 page book.

Happy Fries Day

 It's Friday, and it's also National French Fry Day.  Maybe.  There seems to be some dispute whether the important day is today or tomorrow.  Either way, it's an appropriate day to enjoy one of my favorite foods.  Commonly thought of as originating in Belgium, fried potato strips are now ubiquitous and found in some form world wide.  They are the most common accompaniment to fast food burgers, chicken and fish.  But they are a suitable match to a good steak.  Among fast food chains, McDonald's is generally acknowledged as virtually the best fry maker.  But when made at home with the appropriate double fry technique, these tasty morsels can't be equaled.  I prefer thin, straight cut fries.  But crinkle cut or even curly fries are tremendous.  Sometimes even waffle fries.  Who am I kidding?  I've rarely met a french fry I didn't like.  And save that ketchup for something else- all a good fry needs is a simple sprinkle of salt.  So however you enjoy your fries/frites/chips, don't let today (or tomorrow) go by without enjoying some fried spuds in your favorite form.

Forever rising

It's already that time again:  US postage stamp prices are rising once again in a few days.  The increase will officially happen on Sunday, July 14, 2024 so as to simplify the change by occurring on a day no mail is delivered.  The USPS says it has raised rates in order to keep up with inflation, which is partly true.  And partly it is to deal with the political decisions made by higher-ups to make the service more fully self supporting.  This is, on the face of it, a noble goal.  Despite a clearly flawed restructuring strategy, the USPS endeavors to wean itself from government subsidies that other supposedly independent services depend upon - Amtrak and the country's air traffic control system, just to name a couple.  So to a heavy postal customer like myself, the increase is a familiar, regular pain in the wallet.  But I can be partially consoled in knowing the USPS is still a better deal than the systems in many foreign countries.  Either way, I've stocked up on some stamps to lessen the blow and save a few cents ahead of the rate increase.  Even though the price has gone up, at least the provided service has diminished!  Yet, I will continue my Postcrossing hobby, and use other USPS services.  And grudgingly pay the higher price.

Just my type 6

 New on the shelf this week: a steel behemoth from the 50s.  I have recently assumed the role of the current custodian of a beautiful Remington Rand Standard typewriter from 1956.  It was purchased from another devoted typewriter collector who is at a stage in life where the collection needed to be downsized.  I've not yet reached that point myself, so I was happy to receive this ponderous tabletop office machine from the decade before I was born.  As any typewriter enthusiast can tell you, machines of this era were made to last, and this one is no exception.  It has been very lovingly cared for by its previous owners and comes to me in virtually pristine condition.  At 68 years old, it functions as well as the day it was made.  The main theme of my typewriter collection tends towards smaller portable machines, but I have to say I really am impressed with this one.  Meant as a heavy-duty office tool, these typers were built to be durable and versatile.  I am sure I will happily generate many letters and documents on this beautiful analog writing device for many years to come,

The book ration has been increased

 As much as I enjoy chocolate, my passion for books is far stronger.  So the library collection grew once again this week as I received my signed, numbered copy of 1984, by George Orwell.  As I mentioned a few days ago, this is a special limited edition volume published by The Folio Society on the 75th anniversary of the first release of the novel.  Despite its scandalously inflated price, I couldn't resist ordering my own copy of a book that means so much to me.  Even though my recent experiences with various shipping services such as UPS and USPS has been lackluster, FedEx conveyed my copy to me here in central Alabama from London, England in astonishingly fast fashion - arriving a day earlier than scheduled.  (Yes, FedEx delivering a book about intrusive surveillance is full of irony.)  Upon opening the package, I found an impressively well crafted tome, just as I would expect from Folio.  It is a top quality example of the bookbinder's art and includes artwork from illustrator La Boca and a forward by Turkish author Elif Shafak.  The book and beautiful barn door slipcase are largely hand crafted in a meticulous fashion, as shown in the video below.  To a book enthusiast like me, this is all an irresistible combination.  The pleasure of fine literature is always enhanced by luxury bookbinding.