Letterboxing – A Typical Day
Here is a typical day of very active letterboxing, looking for three boxes in close proximity. I found two; one appeared to be missing. In other words, enjoy the hike and the location; it’s not just about finding boxes.
2006 update: All three of these boxes are probably missing now. Their clues are no longer online.
Sunday, 14 Apr 02: NH – Manchester, Durham, and Stratham/Greenland
- Manchester, NH – Tombstone LetterboxI found this one fairly quickly. There are several wrong paths you could take, and only one right one of course. It’s in Valley Cemetery. It’s marginally okay in broad daylight on a weekend, but I wouldn’t recommend this location towards dusk if you’re alone. But, letterboxing is the most fun with a companion anyway.
Valley Cemetery entrance
Triple-decker across the streetI was the first one to stamp in this letterbox book.
- Durham, NH – Adam’s Point Letterbox
- Stratham/Greenland – Sandy’s BoxThis one was a joy to find on a gloriously warm & sunny day. If you search for this letterbox, be certain to follow the directions exactly.
I won’t spoil the fun by explaining more, but do exactly what the directions tell you, in sequence, or you’ll get confused. And, afterwards, explore the trails; it’s a fabulous location!
oak tree near letterbox
I think I found the right location. It certainly matched the description. However, three of us searched high & low and didn’t find the letterbox.The hike in to the location is what made me pause and realize that letterboxing isn’t a timed race, and finding the hidden letterbox is just a small part of why this is such fun. So, although I was disappointed that we didn’t find the box, the hike was worthwhile.
Hyde’s Bench (with lens flares)
Water’s edge, at letterbox location(?)
Letterboxing information
Letterboxing is sort of like a scavenger hunt, except that it’s not timed and the prize is the satisfaction of knowing that you found the hidden treasure.
In a nutshell: Using clues (usually found online), you’ll search for a letterbox in an interesting location such as a public park. The letterbox is usually a plastic container such as a Rubbermaid or Tupperware sandwich box.
Inside the letterbox, you’ll find a rubber stamp–sometimes a handcarved stamp–that you’ll use to stamp in your personal journal. It’s proof that you found it.
You’ll also stamp your personal rubber stamp (purchased or handmade) in the letterbox logbook, to show that you’ve been there.
Then, you’ll hide the letterbox where you found it, for the next visitor to find.
This is a rapidly-growing worldwide sport/hobby, that started in the U.K.
If you’d like to use your own handmade rubber stamp (almost no artistic skills required), see Carve Your Own Letterboxing Stamps.
Who goes letterboxing? See this page for photos and descriptions of a May 2002 letterbox gathering.
MY LETTERBOXES
I began planting letterboxes early in 2002. The following are my letterboxes.
ACTIVE
One at Odiorne Nature Center. (Details are at Letterboxing.Org. I’ll post them here, later.)
REPORTED MISSING
- Salem, MA – Briget Bishop letterbox. Reported missing.
- Nashua, NH – Gilson Road Cemetery letterboxes (2). Both reported missing.
- Portsmouth, NH & vicinity – Seacoast letterboxes. One active, one lost.
- Katy, TX (nr. Houston) – Katy Birdwatcher #1. Reported missing.
- Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA (near Seattle) – Three letterboxes, all missing.
LETTERBOXING LINKS
To learn more about letterboxing, check Letterboxing North America, letterboxing.org.
Also visit an international site, Atlas Quest.
For the GPS version of this hobby/sport, check Geocaching, geocaching.com.
Letterboxing Gatherings
Letterboxing gatherings are great events. Friends and strangers — letterboxers at all levels of experience — meet at a location with letterboxes.
Any of the following activities (and more!) can be part of a letterboxing gathering:
- Informal or organized hunts for existing letterboxes
- Event-specific letterboxes may be planted and found
- Swapping stories, stamps and other letterboxing-specific items
- Workshops
- Picnics and cookouts
For photos from a past letterboxing gathering, see this archived page from May 2002 – Hampden, CT – The Sleeping Giant gathering. (Opens in a new window.)
Carve Your Own Letterboxing Stamps
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When I started carving rubber stamps, I was reminded of why I hated high school art classes: I’m frankly terrible at this kind of stuff.
However, using Speedball’s pink rubber stamp material (get the kit – it’s worth it) makes this easy, even if–like me–you’re all thumbs when it comes to this kind of stuff. In 2006, the kit was under $20 at Michael’s. |
Low-tech method
- Sketch your design on paper with a nice black pencil. I recommend a pencil with a 2B or 4B lead, or softer.
- Flip the paper over so it’s face-down on the pink rubber pad.
- Trace over the lines again (or rub the back of the paper really well, all over), on top of the pink rubber pad.
The lines should transfer well to the rubber.
High-tech method
- Photocopy or use your laser printer to print the image/s you’d like on the rubber stamp. (Inkjet will not work for this.)
- Place the image face-down on the pink rubber pad.
- Dab the back of the paper with acetone (nailpolish remover), until the paper is saturated.
The image should appear nice and dark, showing where to cut and where to avoid.
CARVING THE STAMP
Either way, the next step is easy. Cut away everything you don’t want to grab ink. It doesn’t have to be a deep cut, just enough so it doesn’t come in contact with the rubber stamp pad when you’re printing.
You can cut with block printing cutters, or with an X-Acto knife. Different people like different cutters. I took more block printing classes than I can recall, so I’m more comfortable with the block printing cutter.
What’s key is not to undercut the image. That is, the part that contacts the stamp pad should be well-supported on each side. I like the illustration–and instructions–at Der Mad Stamper’s website.
If you make a mistake, you can glue the errant piece back in, so be sure to save it. If you’re using the pink Speedball rubber, Super Glue works fine. I used it, and except for the glue squirting all over my fingers when I punctured the tip to open it, it worked fine.
(Another handy reason to have acetone nearby. It’ll separate your fingers, but alas it doesn’t fully remove the glue.)
I applied the glue with a sewing needle, which did not stick to the rubber… but then the needle was glued to my desk when I put it down for minute.
If you use Super Glue, you’ll need to sand the glue off the stamp before using it. The glue resists ink. Sanding can be done with sandpaper, of course, but an emery board or file works fine too.
When you think you’ve cut the stamp pretty well, use a very light color of stamp pad to test the image. That way, if you need to cut more, you can still see your original lines.
Remember to cut less than you think you need. And also, it’s supposed to look hand-cut, so leave bits of rubber lines here & there for that “artsy” look.
When the stamp is done, you can use it as it is, or you can glue it to a piece of wood (for a handle).
The Shakespeare stamp–of my all-time idol–was my first attempt at carving a rubber stamp. I still use it, years later.
I carved the Aisling stamp (also shown below) specifically for letterboxing; that was the third stamp I carved. The second one was regrettable and is sitting in landfill somewhere.
But, whether you have a hand-carved stamp that you love, a hand-carved stamp that’s ho-hum, or a store bought stamp… get out and go letterboxing! It’s important to go out and play, even with an imperfect stamp.
my first carved stamp
(the bard, of course)
 computer graphic for stamp |
 final rubber stamp (2 1/2″ x 1 3/4″) |
