"The Postcard Project"

The Postcard Project

Here is the complete run down of "The Postcard Project"

The "WHO" - The who that is doing it is me.

The "WHAT" - Ok, so here is what it is. I am having photos I have taken made into a max of 50 postcards per image. I'm numbering them, dating them, signing them and handwriting a message on them to the recipient. Then I am mailing them out to family, friends and ANYONE that requests one. I am not looking for one in return in any way, so don't feel you have to send a return postcard. If you like to though keep scrolling a PO Box will be listed soon.

The "WHEN" - Right now, it has started. I have already mailed out some and I am writing more to send out.

The "WHERE" - Worldwide!!!! If you have a mailing address I'll send you a postcard.

The "WHY" and "HOW" --- scroll down just a little more...

The "WHY" - Because I want to.

Okay, here is the real why. The image above is a photo I took on October 22nd, 2024 while I was in Ireland. This is The Pen Corner storefront in Dublin, Ireland. It was a store famous for pens, pencils and stationary and had been a family owned and run business since 1927. It closed in May of 2022. After reading about it's demise and posting the image on my Instagram and facebook page, I came up with the idea "The Postcard Project".

The postcard really is one of the OG versions of social media and text messaging way before there was text messages as we know them today. I love finding and reading old vintage postcards over 100 years old and seeing the messages written. Quite literally people would write to tell others such things as, "I made it home", "I hope you can stop over next week or sometime soon", "I couldn't reach you via telegraph wire so I'm sending you this postcard to let you know...", "Remember the church picnic is this weekend" and the list goes on and on. Next time you see an antique store stop in and ask for some postcards, look for the ones that are used.

We are all strapped to our electronic devices today, we send text messages, IM's, DM's, Messenger messages and a million other electronic forms of messages. A postcard is a tangible item you can hold, view and read. You can tack it up on the bulletin board in your office, hang it on the refrigerator, tape it up somewhere, use it as a bookmark, display it in a small picture frame or put it away in a drawer or some other place to look at it again in the future. You can't do any of that with a text message.

Maybe in 100 plus years from now a postcard I have written will be lingering out there somewhere in an antique store or on eBay or whatever market exists then for old ephemera related items. One thing is probably for certain, there will be a lot less paper items floating around 100 years from now. I won't be here to find out but at least a few of the postcards I have written will more than likely be around just like the one I have next to me from 1913 that I am working with (another project.... stay tuned for that).

"HOW" do you get one

To get a postcard from me all you have to do is request one by saying that you would like a postcard, send me a mailing address you would like it sent to. You can find me on Instagram as Contemplative.Kevin, you can DM the address there or you can also email me at kevin@contemplativekevin.com. I look forward to writing you a postcard soon.

Remember you don't have even have to send me one back but in the rare event someone would like to send me a postcard, I'll have a PO Box listed soon that you can send them to. Check back soon and I'll post the PO Box here on this page.

This project is a fluid project, meaning I am quite literally figuring it out as I go and adjusting things as I go. I am not sure how well it will go. I hope that it takes off to a point that I have a long list of people to get them out too. Keep and eye on this page for updates and on my Contemplative Kevin Instagram page for the most current updates on how the project is going. Also keep and eye on the homepage of contemplativekevin.com, I am hoping to release a blog page and perhaps a store page as well where you can have an opportunity to purchase some of my photographs if you so desire.

Donations for the project

I am not looking for donations but will always gladly accept them. You can send them here - https://www.venmo.com/u/Contemplative-Kevin

Obviously there is cost associated with this project. Regardless of the cost I will keep it going as long as I see fit to do so. I am enjoying this project immensely so far.

The cost of having the postcard made and mailing them ranges depending on if it is being mailed domestically or internationally. As of this moment the cost domestically per card to be made and mailed is about $1.08 and Internationally is about $2.17

Do you want to send a postcard back?

If you desire to send me a postcard back you can send it to the address below.

PO Box 15 Waverly, NY 14892-0015