No really, From Russia with Love

Yes, I do love everything 60's.  Sean Connery to me, was James Bond - the only Bond necessary.  But this isn't a blog about Sean Connery, James Bond or any Hollywood picture.  (at least, not this posting)...  So, how did I get to James Bond, aside from his 2nd movie, "From Russia with Love", you ask?  I'll tell you & better than that, I'll show you!!

This, my dear friends, is a 3D (lenticular) postcard, giving the "illusion of depth".  These are my most favourite postcards of all :)   And a very lovely lady (from Russia with Love) sent this wonderful view of The Church of the Resurrection of Christ, or "Our Saviour-on-the-Spilt-Blood".  It only took 51 days to get from Russia to Canada ;)  Of course, we did have postal strike that lasted 1 month here in Canada during that time.  Well worth the wait, at any rate.

So what was my 60's reference?  Aside from the movie  "From Russia with Love" being released in 1963, I am sent back in time when I look at a lenticular photograph or 3D postcard.  I don't know why - maybe it's those praying hands or Mary postcards that were so popular back then.  Haha..  Or the serene scene of a deer and her fawn sitting so peacefully in a meadow - (tho' now that I think about it, were they taxidermied & set up in a studio?... I wonder).  I believe this type of postcard was popular in the 60's.  According to the Evolution of Lenticular webpage, it is the "1950s and 60s: Lenticular Becomes popular in the form of trinkets:  Lenticular trinkets became popular in the form of postcards and magazine covers."Le

So there we have it.  A good reason to be reminded of the 60's when I see such a fantastic representation of a 3D / Lenticular postcard.  And this is a beauty!  In response to this sender's similar interest & the fact that she was so kind to send me such a cool example of a 3D postcard, I am going to send her one from my own collection (and hopefully, I will be able to find another).  A 3D postcard of an actual place in Vancouver, BC!  I couldn't believe it when I actually found this card - that in modern time, there was a place that sold this postcard...

And here it is... the Bloedel Conservatory in Queen Elizabeth Park.  Trust me, it is very rare to find 3D postcards in British Columbia, or more specifically of anything representing British Columbia!  And this I found at a tourist shop in Gastown, at 50% off!  Which kind of tells me, there won't be any more left if I ever get back there. :(  You see, I no longer live in the skirts of Vancouver.  But, I shall cherish it's memories as if time had stopped the day I left the 3rd zone.

ticular trinkets became popular in the form of postcards and magazine covers. 

Lenticular trinkets became popular in the form of postcards and magazine covers.   

Lenticular trinkets became popular in the form of postcards and magazine covers.   

From China with Love

I may have mentioned this before, but I love postcards!  Probably, since the first time I received one before I was 5.  When I locate that one, I know I still have it.  I will be sure to *feature* it.  (it was from mom & dad when they went to Disneyland without me!!!) 

Before the internet, I relied on friends & family to send me postcards telling me how they wished I was there.  Then I discovered postcard pen pal groups, postcard magazines ... and there were Postcard "shows"!!!  That's right!  Imagine going to one of those!!!  *sigh*  ... those are only such luxuries you might find in the big city ... and well, dragging my husband & kids an hour to go to a postcard show is not on any of my visible horizons.  But, ah! computers and access to html & lists of groups were more accessible.  You could print out names & addresses of people in different countries who had specific postcard interests!!!  (Postcards of covered bridges, waterfalls, super heroes, landscapes, space - oh the lists were endless!)  I made friends with people I had never met through the common interest of postcards.  How bizarre!  Well, not to me, but eventually I couldn't keep up to the numerous amount of friends I had made & requests.  

Speed ahead to the World Wide Web... and google.   And, voila!  I found the perfect group.  Postcrossing the Postcard Crossing Project.  An in-evasive way to exchange postcards & make a few good friends along the way.

excerpts from the website:

"The project

The goal of this project is to allow people to receive postcards from all over the world, for free. Well, almost free! The main idea is that: if you send a postcard, you will receive at least one back from a random Postcrosser from somewhere in the world."

How it works:

"First, the short version:

1. request an address from the website
2. mail the postcard to the address
3. wait to receive a postcard
4. register the received postcard in the system"

 Now, just what you've been waiting to see - a Postcard!!!

 

Oh!  So lovely!  Generally, postcrossing is very easy.  We have ID#s to track our travelling postcards.  But, in this particular case, I could not seem to identify the ID# to go with my profile ... which basically means, I was unable to thank the wonderful person who sent this adorable card to me.  

 

So, I do know that this cute card came from China, and I do know that the sender is kind & thoughtful.  I'll repeat the inspiring message,

"Love is a lamp.  While friendship is the shadow.

When the lamp is off, 

You will find the shadow everywhere

Friend is who can give you strength at last."

Unfortunately, I cannot read Chinese characters, so I don't even know the sender's name.  But whoever and wherever you are, I thank you for your kinds words and the sweetest little pandas.