Once again it's been a while since I've shared any of my more bookish postcards. I'm still very active with Postcrossing, but these days I think I get almost as many cards and letters from friends that I've met online either via Postcrossing or blogging (and I have even been corresponding once again with a penfriend from Germany with whom I lost contact but then connected up with again--and as it turns out she is a Postcrosser, too). Mondays are usually my best mail days, but if I am lucky I will get something good (either a letter, postcard, book or magazine...yes, I am addicted) most days.
I love these poem postcards that Stefanie sends me on occasion. I want to be a better poetry-reader, but my books of poetry usually sit towards the bottom of my bedside piles, so these little poems that come in the mail are a lovely little reminder of what I am missing out on. I wasn't familiar with Edgar Bowers before, but Harold Bloom has called him one of the 20th century masters, so I've added him to my list of poets to explore. Isn't this a great poem--very vivid and creates a strong image in my mind.
Isn't this a great image? I swap book-related postcards with a lady in The Netherlands that I met via Postcrossing. She finds such cool images. This is actually a German postcard titled "The Outdoor Bookcase". I wonder if people can borrow books from it on an honor system? It looks like it might be near the seaside--somewhere scenic anyway.
Another image from my Dutch friend. This is what I would like to be doing right now (yes, complete with cup of tea, apple, and what do you think is on the plate--biscuits?). I'm afraid there is no information on the painter or painting, but it's very pleasant.
This wonderful image is from a friend in London with whom I normally swap art postcards with, but she sent this very bookish card recently. The descriptions reads "Sicilian Avenue" c. 1925. Apparently it is not far from Charing Cross Road. Now this street is all restaurants she tells me.
This colorful postcard came from a Postcrosser who lives in Minsk, Belarus (interestingly I get lots of cards from Belarus--somewhere I had never contemplated visiting before, but now I think it could be lots of fun). Last year was Year of the Book in Belarus--I've gotten a few postcards from a series related to their celebration. Alas, I cannot read Cyrillic, so I am not sure what the description says.
I swap all sorts of postcards with my friend John, who is both a blogger and a Postcrosser. I love this image and have had it hanging on my bulletin board next to my computer since it appeared in my mailbox. It is the "Boots Library, Church Street, Liverpool, 1938". I don't get many library postcards so this is an especially cool one.
I love Colette. I have a feeling she was quite a formidable woman, but this is such an inviting photo, don't you think? Pen in hand, I think she must be writing a letter? Or maybe working on a story? Belle, another blogging friend, sent this to me during last month's letter writing extravaganza.
Another really wonderful image from a Postcrosser in The Netherlands (and another favorite postcard that I keep on display). The artists is Fiep Westendorp who I am told illustrated the books of Annie M.G. Schmidt of "Jip en Janneke" fame. Sorry I don't know the translation (perhaps Cath can help me out?), but the description is "Alleen in boeken hebben ze nog mooie instincten", Het Parool, 18 augustus 1960.
And the stamps are often little works of art, too. I love these--especially the Daphne du Maurier stamp! The one on the left is "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte.
Needless to say I always look forward to coming home from work and seeing what sorts of surprises the mailman has brought me.
For more literary postcards: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. I have loads more and will have to share more later.