December 2021 Newsletter.

Hello Letter Lovers...

History of the Christmas Card 💌

Ever wondered when the first Christmas Card was sent? Or how many are sent a year? Whether or not you're posting out Christmas Cards this year, surprise your friends and family at the holiday table with these festive postal facts. 

In the spirit of the season, I hope you'll don your jingle bells and join me as we take a look at four vintage Christmas [Post]Cards from the archive. 

Thank You

As always, thank you for another brilliant year. Thank you to new readers who have discovered the archive this year, and thanks to friends who have been sharing, donating, and writing in with your letter stories. You are the heart of Flea Market Love Letters. 

Currently Featured

Recently, we came into some seriously interesting letters. We're excited to bunker in for the next few weeks and get those stories ready to share with you in 2022. In the meantime if you'd like to get caught up with our current series -- "McAllister" --you can find all published letters here.

Thanks as ever to our friend and fellow creator Rafal Kostrzewa for helping with photography for an upcoming exciting project! 

Helping Hand

Our friends at From Me To You know the value of a letter at Christmas. If you'd like to support From Me To You this Holiday Season they are currently running an appeal for Stamps, which you can support here. 

Earlier this Winter the team announced they are writing a book about the story behind the charity! Mazel Tov Alison, Brian, et al. at From Me To You. Roll on 2023!

Write More Letters

Santa and I love this time of year for how it brings letters into focus. Did you know that according to Hallmark Americans will send 1.3 billion Christmas Cards this season? If you're a letter lover who believes we should write more letters all year long snag a 'Write More Letters' Mug, Shirt, or Tote all available here.

All proceeds from the 'Write More Letters' Project go to the charity Hope For The Warriors which helps U.S Veterans and Military Families.

"Collector Corner"

This is where I like to share articles, videos, interviews etc. Basically, all things letters from around the Internet! Do you know of an interesting letter story? Reply to this email and I will feature it in an upcoming newsletter. 

Peach Can Letter: 1918

We've had some pretty unique finds for the archive but no letters on Peach Can wrappers yet! Check out this appraisal of a one-of-a-kind piece of WWI history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYvtjKlZOmc

Experts Crack Mary Queen of Scots Final Letter

Ever heard of "letter locking"? Through an elaborate system of threading and piercing parchment letter locking effectively, according to this NPR piece, was early encripted email. And this month historians have figured out how Mary Queen of Scots so intricately "locked" her final letter. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzPE1MCgXxo&feature=emb_logo

From the Desk Of...

Every month we aim to write and share relevant blogs on letter writing or collecting! This segment of the newsletter is where you'll find them all in one place. 

Our final "Writing Through the Decades" is here! We look at this edition of "Routledge's Complete Letter Writer" for advice on finding love after widowhood, children's party invitations, and suggestions on helping a friend unlucky in love. 

It's December! Curl up with "Last Christmas in Paris: A Novel of World War I" this month's "Book About Letters". Perfect for letter lovers looking for a seasonal read in the style of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society". 

Take a closer look at two vintage Paris Postcards -- 1948 & 1971 -- in context with the monuments they depict in this latest installment of the Then & Now series.

Visiting the Musee de la Poste in Paris was a highlight of my trip there in October. In this blog I look at Moulin Balls, plague prevention via post, fashion with a distinct "stamp", and more.