Letterboxing

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