Here’s a Christmas postcard from Italy:
It’s of an image from an Italian Christmas even called La Strada dei Presepi.
Postcard message:
“Glen, I went to Padova today. I couldn’t decide which card to pick for you as most of them were quite unispiring. The answer was handed to me on my way out of a restaurant. Buone feste Glen. Hope you and your family had an amazing Chirstmas.”
Here’s another recent arrival from my postcard penpal friend. He was recently in Milan, Italy and sent me this circular treasure for the Collection:
This is one of the few perfectly circular postcards I have. Also, the only one I have of Milan (I have lots from Rome, Venice, and Florence even Forte dei Marmi, but none from Milan for some reason.)
Here’s the back of the postcard:
Postcard caption: “Scala Theatre”
Postcard message:
“Glen I went to Milan today. The city was better than I expected. I don’t really like the picture on this card, but the unusual shape, I’m sure is something you’ll appreciate. Cheers!”
I do appreciate it! Lo adoro! Grazie!
If Italian is the language of love, then what better way to express one’s devotion through such postcard gems as this one:
The beautiful earth-tone colours of the sunset and romantic embrace of the lovers – it’s definitely a postcard meant for love!
Here’s the reverse side:
Postcard message:
“Glen, in my hometown Cassino, I barely managed to find a local postcard. Luckily, I managed to find instead, this and numerous others hidden years forgotten in stores since at least the early ’70s. Hope you like it!”
Like it, now that’s amore!
Here’s another recent arrival from my postcard penpal’s travels in Italy:
Based on the only caption – on the front – “308-56 (Tu?) Oderro Museo Opitergino”, I tried to figure out where this postcard was from. After quite a long time of searching online, I couldn’t find anything about the town or museum. Luckily, my penpal recalled the town. It’s from Oderzo, Italy and it’s of their museum Museo Archeologico Eno Bellis.
The museum has a collection of Roman antiquities (as you can tell from the photograph), but it’s not the most engaging image of the museum or town, as the back relates:
Postcard message:
“In this town I could only find one (1!) single postcard. And of course it had to be old, ugly and uninspiring. Well at least it’s got a cool trimmed border. I hope you like it Glen. Ciao!”
It’s true, I do love postcards with different types of edges. I believe this type is called deckled – and is rather rare nowadays on postcards (but popular with fancy-type greeting cards).
My postcard penpal went to visit his hometown of Cassino, Italy and sent me a bunch of postcards from Cassino and vicinity. He had to scour for postcards, but in the end he found a treasure trove of old postcards to send. These postcards have been waiting for years to fulfil their rightful glory!
Here’s one of the first arrivals:
Here’s the backside:
Postcard message:
“Glen. Here’s another postcard I know you’ll love. My brother keeps asking why anyone would ever send something like this. The real question, of course, is why anyone would not send it! Take care Glen.
P.S. I just realized that this baby is probably well into his 50s.”
When I started this blog, I did it mostly for myself. So I’ve been continuously surprised and delighted to find out other people (non-relations even) read and enjoy see my postcard collection.
I’ve even been more delighted by people sharing their postcards with me and helping to get this medium alive!
I was contacted last month by a fellow Torontonian. Like me, he believes postcards are best when they are shared with others.
He sent me this postcard from his personal collection:
It’s a postcard commemorating a Boy Scouts Jamboree, Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) 2007. It was held in Montecassino, Italy (although I can’t figure out the fleurs-de-lis).
I assume this postcard was given only to Boy Scouts who attended this special event, making it more of a historical genre postcard (commemorating an event of historic importance) more so than an announcement postcard (an advertisement distributed in advance of an event to drum up attendance). I have very few postcards of the historic type, so this was particularly excited to receive this one.
Here’s the back of the postcard:
Postcard message:
“Hi Glen! This postcard celebrates 50 years of the Scouts. JOTA event – look it up! It took place in my hometown a couple of years before I left for Canada (when I was still a boy scout)!”
I love postcards that combine a visual artefact of our times and culture with a chronicle of people’s related personal narratives! So thanks so much to the new donor and pen pal!
A few days ago, I posted a delightful gem from my Italian collection. In that post, I claimed that Europe had the best postcards as in most kitsch or bizarre. In reviewing my vaults, I found another Italian gem:
There’s so much to love about it!
Here’s the back side:
Postcard message:
“Ciao! I did it, I finally found some choice postcards. Note the tortelini, it’s from Bologna, shaped after Venus’ navel. Find the 3 ‘Ts’ on the front of this… the shop keeper made sure I understood!!”
In considering the various Italian gems, I think I will revise my claim to state that Italy has the best postcards in the world! (Please feel free to mail me contenders for this title however.)
