Gourt > Recreation > Outdoors > Letterboxing
- For the process of transferring a widescreen image to video in a widescreen ratio see letterbox.
Letterboxing is an outdoor hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art and problem-solving. Letterboxers hide small, weatherproof boxes in publicly-accessible places (like parks) and distribute clues to finding the box in printed catalogs, on one of several web sites (see below), or by word of mouth. Individual letterboxes usually contain a logbook, a rubber stamp, and an ink pad. Finders make an imprint of the letterbox's stamp on their personal logbook, and leave an impression of their personal stamp on the letterbox's logbook — as proof of having found the box. Many letterboxers keep careful track of their "find count".
History and origins
Modern-day letterboxing's origins can be traced to Dartmoor, England in 1854, when hikers on the moors began to leave a letter or postcard inside a box along the trail (sometimes addressed to themselves, sometimes a friend or relative) — hence the name "letterboxing". The next person to discover the site would collect the postcards and mail them. The first Dartmoor letterboxes were so remote and well-hidden that only the most determined walkers ended up finding them, allowing weeks to pass before the letter made its way home. Increasingly, however, they have been located in relatively accessible sites. As a result, the tradition of leaving a letter or postcard in the box has been forgotten. Clues to the locations of Dartmoor letterboxes are traditionally distributed in print format in the Dartmoor 100 Club's regularly-updated catalogue. More on [ Letterboxing ]
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Letterboxing North America - US-based portal offering FAQ, links, forums, and a members-only section where clues can be submitted.
Meta Description: [ LETTERBOXING is an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming treasure hunt style outdoor quest. ]
North America Webring - Links to dozens of forums and clue sites.
Meta Description: [ Devoted to the hobby of Letterboxing, primarily focusing on North America. ]
About.com: Letterboxing and Geocaching Attract Walkers - Article describing the basics and the factors that motivate people to start letterboxing.
Meta Description: [ Letterboxing and geocaching attract walkers to new sport. Letterboxing is a sport that combines walking, solving puzzles, treasure hunting and a personal flair. ]
Aisling Dart - Artist from Salem, Massachusetts describes her boxes.
Meta Description: [ Letterboxing: Some letterboxes in Salem, Massachusetts. ]
All Info About Raising Boys: Letterboxing Family Fun - Brief article includes details on supplies and features instructions for participation with children.
Meta Description: [ Raising boys and girls is different. Raising boys means dealing with a child that is full of energy and, at times, somewhat difficult to manage. Here parents can find information and help raising boys. Tips on raising boys safely and keeping them under control are here too. ]
Atlas Quest Letterboxing - Trip planning portal offers clue search by country as well as tutorials and premium members services.
Meta Description: [ Atlas Quest is the go-to website for letterbox clues from around the world with support for over 200 countries and territories. You'll also find letterboxing tutorials, learn about other letterboxers, and much more! ]
Brett and Penny's Letterboxing Page - List of their boxes planted, found, and exchanged, primarily in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
British Columbia Letterboxes - Introduction, photographs of personal stamps, and clues for boxes planted in southwest British Columbia.
Buckaroo's Letterboxing - Clues for boxes she planted in Washington and Massachusetts.
Catbead Mischief - Offering clues for letterboxes in the Syracuse, New York area.
Chuck's Letterboxing - Chuck and Molly's letterboxes in Connecticut.
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection: Letterboxing - Official site supports letterboxing in publicly owned state forests.
Meta Description: [ Overview of letterboxing in Connecticut's State Forests. ]
Dartmoor Letterboxes - Introduction, tips and things to avoid, news, survey, and letterbox clues for the Dartmoor area.
DartmoorLetterboxing.org - History of the activity, similar to orienteering, begun in 1854 at Cranmere Pool on the moor, and now popular in many countries. Offers a forum and contact information.
Meta Description: [ Letterboxing on Dartmoor ]
Der Mad Stamper - Rubber stamp carver Mitch offers instructions on how to carve a stamp, and some examples.
Dutch Letterbox Site - Clues for boxes in Dartmoor and in the Netherlands. [English and Dutch]
First Finds - Posts first finds submitted by new US letterboxers, organized by state.
Fleur de Lis' Letterboxing Journal - Weblog about his letterboxing hobby.
Fox News: Letterboxing Makes Hiking an Adventure - Feature story datelined Oakland, New Jersey.
Meta Description: [ Fox Features: Letterboxing Makes Hiking an Adventure, Treasure hunting for hikers -- called letterboxing -- has become a popular pastime. ]
Have Feet Will Travel - Introduction, contact details, and guidelines for letterboxing in the Dartmoor area.
Meta Description: [ letterboxing how to start what you need to know ]
History of Dartmoor Letterboxing - Account first published as More Dartmoor Letterboxes by Anne Swinscow in 1986.
Hitchhiker List - Hitchhikers are a form of traveling letterbox. Site includes lists of hitchhikers and last reported letterbox location.
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Holcomb Farm - Clues to boxes hidden in Granby, Connecticut.
I-95 Letterboxes - Clues to quick and easy letterboxes to find while traveling on Route I-95, from Maine to Florida.
Letterboxers Anonymous - Forum with clues and discussion topics. Includes helpful hints on methods and supplies.
Letterboxing Germany - Clues for Germany and other European countries. Includes photos and tips. [English, German]
Letterboxing Northeast - The Drew family of East Lyme, Connecticut, offer clues in New England states as well as Washington, DC, South Carolina, and Colorado.
Letterboxing Questionnaire - British university student studying letterboxing for her dissertation asks visitors to answer a few questions on the activity.
Mark and Sue Pepe - Couple from Kensington, Connecticut describe activities in eleven states and the island of Aruba.
Massachusetts Letterboxes - Bonnie and Betsey Sennott offer clues to their boxes in Massachusetts.
Mirkwood's Letterboxing - Clues to boxes placed by Ruthann Zaroff and her family throughout Michigan, plus images of the stamps she created for them.
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Nebraska Letterboxing - Information about letterboxing in and around Nebraska. Includes clues and logs for local letterboxes, as well as some resources for letterboxing in general.
NeeDeep's State Stamp Letterboxes - Ambitious family project placing letterboxes in each state, patterned after the US quarters series.
New England Area Letterboxing Gatherings - Mark Sue's blog of letterboxing events in New England.
New Zealand Letterboxing - Clues, views, and news including boxes from Team Psychokiwi, Judi, Linton, and the Bunny.
NPR : Letterboxing - Radio host Linda Wertheimer and Thomas Johnston, an enthusiast in Washington, D.C., find a letterbox near the White House. [audio]
Meta Description: [ Letterboxing is a British hobby recently imported to the United States. It entails using clues -- now posted on the World Wide Web -- to find secret boxes hidden in odd places on city streets. Hear NPR's Linda Wertheimer and Thomas Johnston, an enthusiast in Washington, D.C. ]
Oklahoma City Letterboxes by Dennis Williams - Clues to boxes in Oklahoma City as well as New Mexico, Alabama, and Costa Rica.
Perfect Circle Letterboxing Guild - Family and friends offer clues to letterboxes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Silent Doug's Letterboxing Site - Articles including getting started, outdoor ethics, and explanation of cryptic letterboxer codes. Also includes list of boxes found and clues for boxes placed in New York and Pennsylvania.
Meta Description: [ Letterboxing.Info, by Silent Doug -- A site devoted to letterboxing, a great outdoors activity the whole family can enjoy. Letterboxing combines elements of a scavenger hunt, hiking, orienteering, map reading, puzzle solving and creative expression in a unique activity that's growing in popularit... ]
Smithsonian Magazine: They Live and Breathe Letterboxing - Abstract of an article by Chris Granstrom, with link to a few references.
Stamp-in-the-Box - A collection of information and clues relating to letterboxing, a hobby that combines hiking, art, orienteering and mystery in a treasure-hunt style activity.
Meta Description: [ A collection of information and clues relating to letterboxing, a hobby that combines hiking, art, orienteering and mystery in a treasure-hunt style activity ]
The Gazette: Letterboxing a Hobby of Inky Fingers and Hidden Treasures - Article on local letterboxing from chain of community newspapers near Washington, DC.
The Space Traveler - Family offers clues for Pennsylvania, New York and other states.
The World of Letterboxing Community - Forums and worldwide clues database.
Meta Description: [ The best little letterboxing community on the net! ]
Twograysquirrels Letterboxes - Clues to letterboxes placed by twograysquirrels, mostly in Maryland and Virginia.
Urban Letterboxing - Database of clues to letterboxes in urban locations, primarily in Europe.
Wanda and Pete's Letterboxes - Clues for boxes placed primarily in Rhode Island, but a few in other states as well. Also includes logs of the movement of hitchhiker boxes, primarily in New England.
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Washington Post: Thinking Inside the Box - Article by Caroline Kettlewell describes her discovery of the activity.
What is Letterboxing? - Michelle Spalding offers a history of letterboxing in England and the United States with bibliography.
Yahoo! Groups: Letterboxing Northeast - Discussion group for the northeastern US.
Meta Description: [ LbNE: Letterboxing Northeast ]
Yahoo! Groups: Letterboxing USA - Discussion group for US letterboxers.
Meta Description: [ letterbox-usa: Letterboxing North America - USA ]
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