letterboxing
Post on 14-Sep-2014
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LetterboxingGo places, see things, get inky!
What is it● A fun hobby that involves some problem
solving, art, and going new places.● Rubber stamps, many of which are hand
carved, are hidden in various locations by "planters"
● Planters leave clues, some of which require deciphering, for people to locate hidden stamps.
● Letterboxers find stamps and add to their logbook, leaving their own stamped image.
A little history● In 1854, in Dartmoor, England, James
Perrott hid a bottle by Cranmere Pool. ● He included his calling card in the bottle so
future visitors could contact him and leave their own calling cards.
● The bottle was replaced by a small tin box in 1888. Visitors now left self-addressed postcards and the next person to visit the letterbox would retrieve the postcards and mail them back from their hometown.
A little more history● By April 1905 the number of visitors
required a better way to track finds. The tin box was replaced with a zinc box which now included a log book.
● The idea, which still is seen in practice today, of using a rubber stamp was left as a suggestion in the log book, July 22, 1907, by John H. Strother.
"Reached the pool at 7.10pm, misty day with cool breeze, and would suggest that a rubber stamp, something like the post office stamps for postmarking letters or rubber stamp for putting the address at the top of a piece of notepaper be provided and kept here. If this were done it would be proof that cards posted had really come from Cranmere."
Slow-growing hobby● Second letterbox placed at Belstone Tor 40
years after the first!● 44 years would pass before someone planted
a third box at Ducks Pool.● 122 years after the first planting only 15
letterboxes were found in Dartmoor.● With the creation of a newsletter in 1976 the
popularity grew and by the 1980s thousands of boxes had been planted.
Popularity = Problems● Planters became so enthusiastic about hiding
boxes they began dismantling historic rock walls, marking plants with graffiti, and otherwise causing destruction.
● Dartmoor National Park proposed to eradicate all but the first two boxes, which now had permanent housing to contain them.
● Accepted etiquette, still observed today was agreed upon and kept the hobby alive.
Etiquette ● Boxes should not be sited in any kind of
antiquity and should not damage site.● Boxes should not be sited in any potentially
dangerous situations where injuries could be caused.
● Boxes should not be sited as a fixture. Cement or any other building material is not to be used.
Crossing the Pond● In April 1988 Smithsonian magazine
publishes a small article about letterboxing hobby starts to take off in the United States.
● Eventually Letterboxing North America (LbNA) is founded in 2001 and over 1000 boxes known.
● Enthusiasts have now planted boxes worldwide.
Why do it?● Solve puzzles!● Visit awesome
places you might otherwise never see!
● Collect stamped images, many of which are amazing works of art.
Memorial Boxes for Jennifer
Hiking the Hobbit Trail
Northern Oregon Coast
Lettingboxing the Crescent City
Some Resources● They Live and Breathe Letterboxing
Smithsonian, April 1988http://www.letterboxing.org/Smithsonian.html
● Letterboxing North Americahttp://www.letterboxing.org/
● Atlas Quest (find clues, location search)http://www.atlasquest.com
● Dartmoor Letterboxinghttp://www.dartmoorletterboxing.org/
Join me!Sherri Montgomery
@PDXyogini