This one is even more interesting in that the stamps are on the back. I don't think that USPS would approve of this at all - so thanks to La Poste for playing along.
And this is what I sent back - a response to Richard's mail art call Fiat Lux, and he specifically requested that art, address and stamps be on the same side.
The first envelope received in this exchange is a wonderful night scene by Janet F.
Red, white and blue from Florence.
Pretty calendar page envelope from Smash.
Another great wallpaper envelope from Hester with matching note.
And the final one - happy chicks from Marti, with my first sighting of the Special Olympics stamp. I still think that USPS should have had a global forever version of this one - just imagine all the postcards being sent home to all the athletes competing from all around the world. The symbol would have been perfect for the circular stamp.
John sent me a postcard which will be on the blog when the next Bonus Postcards shows up. I sent him another time-related envelope celebrating his theme as well as the new international rate that went into effect May 31.
For some reason I didn't want this composition wrecked with an ugly ballpoint pen or sharpie stamp cancellation, so I took it in for hand cancellation by the postal clerk. He was highly entertained by the layout, and stamped all around the 'clock' for me with a big smile on his face! Sometime the USPS can be extra brilliant to interact with.
It's the June solstice, which occurs in Columbus today at 12:39 pm. ____________________________ Extra: On the subject of time, I do enjoy the fact that the USPS tracking system can tell me that a bar coded package can be On Time , even though it spent 12 days at the Columbus sorting center. I wonder what it was doing all that time? Doesn't seem like a very exciting place to have an adventure to me. And if you notice that the package was shipped Priority 2-day mail, don't worry - the post office doesn't guarantee this delivery time, it's really just a name and nothing more.
There were several great envelopes left from the Christopher Morley calendar. They went to the next few people in my reply to pile: One for the host, Jean
Honi C
CJ
Pamela G
Rose H
And one to Hester where I folded the paper more like Eric's last week, as the image was too nice to cut into.