Writer - Black & White Card

Germany   

July 8, 2026

Dany sent this card of German author Bettina von Arnim who lived from 1785-1859. I looked her up but her Wiki wasn't very positive towards her. 

Dany said that she studied Linguistics so she's interested in anything to do with languages and texts, and books. She said that von Arnim wrote about social and feministic topics in the 19th century. Her face even adorned banknotes and stamps!

Bettina von Arnim

There were some cute stamps on the card as well. 

Books - Netherlands and Germany

July 6, 2026

Leah sent this card from Germany. She wrote about her town and her favourite movie [The Blind Side] as she loves the message and how loyalty and love is portrayed.

I've read about 5 of these novels, how about you?

She also asked me what my favourite Jason Statham movie was....I have a few, I like Spy as he's hilarious in it and I also like The Transporter because the action is very cool. 

July 8, 2026

Anneke sent this from the Netherlands and mentions that she lives near the Belgian border. She notes that the stamps show writers from the Netherlands.

 

Austria - Book

Received April 30, 2026

I got this pretty card from Karin in Austria. She basically just sent greetings and translated the phrase on the front of the card for me. 

The card says, "No poet gives a finished heaven, he only sets up the ladder to heaven from beautiful earth." It was written by Joseph von Eichendorff.  It's an interesting thought!

 

I haven't seen these stamps before. The big one on the right is an old vehicle.  The yellow stamp on the left shows a Bodensee Radhaube, a hat made out of gold and silver lamé threads. It's an almost lost art to make these hats and it is made by hand. 

Books - USA

 This card arrived recently from the US. Liz wrote that she lives in Florida and travelled to Japan a few years ago.  

Generic Books, but definitely something I like!

She put some cool stamps on the back of the postcard. I rather like them. 

Thanks Liz!

Germany

 August 3, 2020

This card came from Wilhelma in Germany. She wrote a short but friendly note on the back of the card. She said,

Dear Helen,

My name is Wilhelma and I live in a small village of Black Forest. I'm looking forward to my summer vacation because I need a break to reorient myself.

All the best!

Wilhelma

United States

July 6, 2019

This card arrived (a long time ago!) from the US.  Thomas sent it with a friendly note on the back and some nice stamps.

He wrote;

"Hello, Helen!

Greetings from the Midwest U.S.A.! I was born & raised in K.C. MO. area. we have great B.B.Q. in K.C & a great football team!  I work in It field & like it alot. I would like to hear more about Japan.

Take care, Thomas."

I like the coffee pot stamp!

Russia - Tea

March 12, 2019

This card came from Tanya in Russia. She wrote a few nice words on the back of her card.

She said,

Hello, Helen!

My name is Tanya! I regularly live between Tver and Moscow. The train ride is surprisingly pleasant. I love reading and discovering new things in daily life. I know that our world is getting better and better, every day a little bit, because of you and me.  😃

Chamomile Mo[rest is obscured]

Interesting stamp on the left, the flower one is a sticker and the other stamps are fairly ordinary.

China - Food

January 2, 2019

This cute card came to me from China with a short but friendly note on the back.

Daisy wrote,

Hello from China.
The famous biangbiang noodle of Shaanxi province.
The name of this noodle is very difficult to write in Chinese.

Daisy from Shanghai.

The kanji for biangbiang is very difficult! 

A great assortment of stamps!  

China

June 16, 2018

This pretty little card came from Sun in China.  She wrote a short note and used a lot of stamps on her card.

She wrote:

Hello.
My name is Sun.
I like collecting
steamps[sic]. There are a lot of
lovely cartoons in Japan.
Sun

 It is quite unusual to see so many stamps on a postcard, but I rather like it!

Thanks Sun!

Germany

June 9, 2018

This card came from Germany and was sent by Christian.

He wrote,

Hello Helen,

I'm Christian from Germany. I live in Wenden, Sauerland region. I collect cats and other animal postcards. I hope you'll like this card.

Greetings, Christian


Now, sad to say, I don't actually know anything about this card.  I am fairly certain that the woman is from Game of Thrones, but I am not completely sure.  Can a reader confirm for me?

The back of the card was well decorated too. I rarely do that, but I don't mind when other people do it! I like the car stamp too! Must be a series since I have received another one similar to this.

Russia

April 20, 2018

This card came from Natasha in Russia and she wrote a great comment on the back about her favourite film.  I have seen the film she describes, but it was years ago.  I didn't like the film at first, I probably should see it again as it has been years.  I love receiving cards with lots of conversation on the back!

She wrote:

Hello Helen!
My favorite film is "Withnail & I", a British grim comedy. It is one of the best films about friendship. this is a film that will never be tarnished by age, and neither is it limited by repeat viewings. To me it's one of the greatest comedies ever. It's intelligent and sad and genuinely laugh out loud funny. If you happen to watch it I hope you will like it.  Cheers, Natasha
30 March 2018          -7℃ ☀️

Painter O. Kamieshkova.

I really love this hot air balloon stamp!  Cool.

Germany - Actor in Black and White

September 8, 2017

This great little card came to me from Germany with a nice stamp and a friendly note on the back.  It's also quite an old card...read on and find out more.

Jorg wrote,

"Dear Helen! Best regards from Halle in Germany by Jorg.
Halle is the old birth town of the composer Handel.  Here is the mystic
'Sky Disc' --see in internet.
I like also old movies and books. Good luck for you!

Original from 1956 - a little treasure..."

Gary Cooper in Friendly Persuasion

What a great car stamp.  I really like it!

Thank you Jorg for sending me this lovely vintage card.  I do appreciate it.

Russia - Actor in Black & White

September 4, 2017

Lusja sent this fabulous John Malkovich [Malkovich! Malkovich!] card to me from Russia.  She also used a gorgeous stamp so this was my favourite kind of postcrossing!

She wrote,

"Hello Helen!
I am Lusja, live in Moscow with my husband and two lovely cats.
Wish you and your husband Happiness!"

John Malkovich, Los Angeles, 1989
Photograph by Matthew Rolston

 This stamp is rather amazing!  It's quite big, and the detail is fabulous.

Black and White - Actress and Writer

January 23, 2017

This great card came from Germany with a lovely note on the back from the sender.  She didn't write her name on the card but her note was friendly and chatty which I loved.

She wrote,

"Hello Helen,

Many greetings from the Bremen town musicians in the north of Germany, where I live together with my family, 2 dogs and 6 cats.  

My favorite films are French comedies, because my husband comes from the Provence.

Don't forget to smile today!  

We have now a lot of snow and sunny weather.  Our dogs love snow, the cats not!"

I really like this card.  It seems so "normal" in a way.  I know Marilyn Monroe was married to Arthur Miller, but it really is a frozen moment of time, not sure if it was posed first or not.  

Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, New York City, 1957

I think the big blueish stamp is a new one.  I don't think that I have seen it before.  I hope to get a less stamped version of it sometime!

Russia - Food

October 28, 2016

This pretty card came from Russia with a friendly note on the back, but it wasn't signed!  There was no name on it at all.  It was very difficult to send a thank you back to the senders.

They wrote,
"Hello!  We are family from south Russia, Krasnodar. We love gardening, listen to the radio, reading different kind of books and travelling.  We wish you a lot of great cards from all over the world!"

Lemon Cake
Mary Ginkas

I don't know anything about these stamps.  I am guessing the one on the right is sports related, but honestly, I have NO idea.  Readers?