How to Participate in National Postcard Week (NPCW)

National Postcard Week is always in early May, and it celebrates the wonderful tradition of the postcard. Participating in National Postcard Week can be as simple as sending one friend a postcard, or as grand as an organized postcard exchange. NPCW promotes postcard collecting and is a great way for postcard enthusiasts, young and old to expand their collections.

National Postcard Week celebrates....

• individuality - your artwork can be appreciated by many others.

• local communities - you can let people know about your local area, not matter how big or how small.

• the United States Postal Service - and it's important role in our country's history

• personal connections and new experiences - meet someone new from a miles and miles away, and learn something about their life,

• that little happy feeling you get when someone has mailed you a letter.

TIP:
Teach Geography With National Postcard Week
Map the origin of all the postcards you receive in return!

• The Local Scenery
• A Local Attraction
• A Local Event
• One of your personal interests
• Your friends or family
• A quote or message you want to send the world
• Your own artwork
• Anything else you can think of

If you are printing your own postcards, you'll need to get a paper of high enough weight for a postcard. I prefer Avery products, because they always seem to be reliably good quality and standard for different printers.

Demaris Swint runs a great website for National Postcard Week, and coordinates a mailing list of people interested in sending and receiving postcards for NPCW. As it says on the site, to get on the mailing list email Demaris at: ezrestexas at aol dot com or send a postcard through the mail at the address listed in Pharr TX.

National Postcard Week postcards are collected and often put in cases or books by deltiologists (postcard collectors). Deliver them to their destination in the best possible condition, and able to be easily archived, follow these tips:

(guidelines adapted from those originally from The Tucson Post Card Exchange Club)

1. "National Postcard Week" and the date should be somewhere on the postcard. It would be better on the front.

2. Your name or the name of the club and mailing address should be included, preferably on the front, but back is okay.

3. The USPS minimum size is 3-1/2x5-1/2 inches, and maximum size is 4-1/4x6 inches.

4. The USPS minimum thickness is 90 lb. cardstock.

5. All postcards printed should be of the same designs. You can design more than one. If you do you should send all designs in a trade.

6. To give your card extra worth, numbering them is an excellent idea. /100 on the back is okay.

7. Be sure to autograph your postcard. A first name is okay.

8. All NPCW postcards should be mailed during NPCW, especially those sent individually with a stamp. Get a hand cancel at the post office desk.

9. If the artwork is not yours, then please properly give credit.

10. Have fun!

If you like the idea of getting postcards by mail, then postcrossing is for you. Post crossing arranges for you to send postcards to people around the world, and then to get some back. Learn about postcrossing - exchanging postcards around the world.

If you are a budding or experienced postcard collector you will want to get a book on postcards in order to learn what to look for. These are a few of my favorites:

These are books of ready to use postcards: