The use of postcards has declined dramatically over the last few decades, mainly due to the rise of digital communication. Yet the fact that they have become rare has only enhanced their meaning. Receiving one now feels more special than ever.
As the world’s largest postcard exchange project, Postcrossing is dedicated to keeping the tradition of postcards alive. In addition, there are countless groups on social media that allow members to exchange postcards.
It is very easy to find willing exchange partners in countries like Germany and the United States, where postcards are still popular and widely used as souvenirs. But there also countries that are missing even from some of the most ardent postcard enthusiasts’ collections.
While I personally prefer to exchange postcards with like-minded people who send and receive them for fun, I have on occasion paid a small fee for someone to send me a postcard, especially from rare places. Such services can can be found online. Typically, someone offers to send a handwritten postcard to anywhere in the world. It is stamped locally and can include any message you like. This is great not only for collectors, but can also make for a thoughtful gift for family and friends. Imagine the surprise when grandma receives a postcard with birthday wishes in her native language from Timbuktu! There are no limits to your imagination: declarations of love, anniversary wishes, get-well-soon messages, and more.
As far as I know, there has not yet been a list of places online where one can order postcards, so I decided to compile one. It includes NGOs that sell postcards to raise money for good causes, professional freelancers, and trusted individuals who offer to send postcards for a fee. I have only included providers who appear reliable based on ratings or personal experience and whose fees are “reasonable” (which is, of course, subjective). But I cannot make any guarantees regarding their services. Many rare countries are low-income countries, so buying from small sellers there can also do some good.
Here is the list, which I will continue to update (if a link leads to a personal Facebook profile, you need to send a private message):
| 🌍 Africa | €8 | |
| 🇦🇴 Angola | $10 | |
| 🇦🇲 Armenia | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇦🇼 Aruba | Fiverr | $10 |
| 🇧🇩 Bangladesh | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇧🇯 Benin | €6 | |
| 🇧🇼 Botswana | Website | £5 |
| 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | €6 | |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | €8 | |
| 🇰🇭 Cambodia | Fiverr | $10 |
| 🇹🇩 Chad | €6 | |
| 🇨🇳 China | Fiverr 1 | $5 |
| Fiverr 2 | $5 | |
| 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | €6 | |
| 🇨🇿 Czech Republic | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇸🇿 Eswatini | Fiverr 1 | $5 |
| Fiverr 2 | $5 | |
| $5 | ||
| 🇬🇦 Gabon | €6 | |
| 🇬🇭 Ghana | Website | €10 |
| €6 | ||
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇮🇳 India | Fiverr 1 | $15 |
| Fiverr 2 | $5 | |
| 🇮🇩 Indonesia | Fiverr 1 | $5 |
| Fiverr 2 | $5 | |
| 🇮🇱 Israel | Fiverr | $15 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Fiverr | $10 |
| 🇯🇲 Jamaica | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | Fiverr 1 | $10 |
| Fiverr 2 | $15 | |
| Fiverr 3 | $5 | |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | Fiverr | $13.50 |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Fiverr | $10 |
| 🇲🇬 Madagascar | Fiverr 1 | $10 |
| Fiverr 2 | $10 | |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | Website | $14.50 |
| €6 | ||
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇲🇳 Mongolia | Fiverr | $10 |
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | Fiverr 1 | $5 |
| Fiverr 2 | $20 | |
| 🇲🇿 Mozambique | $10 | |
| 🇳🇵 Nepal | Fiverr 1 | $10 |
| Fiverr 2 | $10 | |
| 🇳🇪 Niger | €6 | |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Fiverr | $10 |
| 🇵🇦 Panama | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇵🇳 Pitcairn Islands | Website | NZ$5 |
| 🇷🇼 Rwanda | €10 | |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | Fiverr | $10 |
| 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka | Fiverr | $5 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | Fiverr | $15 |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | Website | $10 |
| €10 | ||
| Fiverr 1 | $10 | |
| Fiverr 2 | $15 | |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | €6 | |
| 🇹🇷 Türkiye | Fiverr | $10 |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | €10 | |
| 🇺🇸 USA | Fiverr 1 | $5 |
| Fiverr 2 | $5 | |
| Fiverr 3 | $5 |
This list is far from complete. If you are aware of any additional providers, or if any of the information in the table above is incorrect, please let me know. Thank you.
Rainer Ebert 