Odd Hobbies: Pamphlets, Flyers & Letters

Some of my hobbies include writing letters and creating flyers.

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Letters

I have long enjoyed sending surreal, bizarre, enigmatic and/or intriguing letters to friends and strangers. When people don’t write back, I eventually take them off my mailing list. Most people don’t write back after reading my letters — perhaps they decide I am a dangerous lunatic.

Here are some really old letters I sent to my friend Paul many many years ago, when I was a wee lad:

Postal Intelligence Magazine

To fully appreciate this letter, you should keep in mind that I addressed it to:

    Postal Intelligence Test Magazine

    (my address)

and put a return address from:

    Paul Bench

    (Paul Bench’s address)

I then stamped the envelope “RETURN TO SENDER!!” in big red letters and put it in the mail.

The letter arrived about 45 days later at Paul’s house. It had been postmarked three times during those 45 days in various cities and the address to was crossed out with an arrow pointing to the return address which was circled in red ink.

Federal House of Investigation

This letter is a combination ‘Publisher’s Clearing House’ letter & something you’d receive under a totalitarian regime. It is connected to the ‘Smithsonian’s Response to Your Inquiry Regarding Underwear’ letter sent to Paul (not available).