If you love real mail and wish there was something beautiful in your mailbox more often, then my Tanukipost is just right for you. Instead of a quick message on your phone, you receive a handwritten postcard, a personal travel letter or a small envelope full of paper finds, thoughts and little extras from the road.

Tanukipost is my personal version of snail mail clubs, or Schneckenpost in German: slow, analogue, lovingly put together and deliberately different from everything that disappears within seconds. A card can sit on your desk. A letter can be read again. A small paper find can stay, even when the moment has long passed.
 

Why snail mail?
In a world where almost everything has become digital, fast and casual, real mail suddenly feels special again. A message is quickly read and forgotten. A handwritten card has weight. It was chosen, written, sent and made its way through the world until it arrived with you.

That is exactly what my snail mail is about. Not mass-produced goods, not perfect glossy products and not a newsletter on paper either. It is about small greetings from the real world. About personal words. About travel impressions, postcards, stickers, haiku, paper finds and flat little things that fit inside an envelope.
 

A handwritten letter: Each piece of snail mail is created individually by hand and is not simply sent as a standard text.

Small extras from the road: Depending on what is available locally, your mail may include postcards, stickers, haiku cards, bookmarks, paper finds or other little extras.

Personal travel impressions: I do not just write any random text. I tell you about places, moments and small observations, but I do not limit myself to only that. Every card and every letter receives its own individual text.

Ideal as a gift: You can order snail mail for yourself or have it sent directly to someone else.

Every edition remains unique: The contents change depending on the place, theme and availability. Even if you order more than once, you will never receive exactly the same thing twice.
 

What is snail mail?
Snail mail is the English term for traditional post, meaning letters, cards and messages that are sent by regular mail instead of digitally. The name plays with the image of a snail, because real mail is slower than digital messages. That very slowness is part of its charm.

Snail mail is not just old-fashioned post in new packaging. For many people, it has become a conscious counterpoint to fast digital everyday life. Instead of a short chat message, it is about paper, handwriting, stamps, envelopes and the feeling of holding something personal in your hands.

Around the world, different forms have grown from this idea: classic pen pal friendships, postcard exchanges, snail mail clubs, creative envelopes, small paper packages, artist trading cards, sticker letters, journaling mail and lovingly put together envelopes with little extras. Some people send long personal letters. Others design beautiful envelopes. Others collect lovely postcards, old paper finds or small memories from different countries.

My snail mail takes up exactly this idea and connects it with travel, writing and my own way of experiencing places.
 

Where does the idea of snail mail come from?
People have been sending messages for a very long time. Long before modern postal systems, there were messengers, riders, trade routes and organised forms of communication. Later, national postal systems, stamps, postcards and international rules emerged, making it easier to send letters across borders.

The modern term snail mail came about as a contrast to digital communication. As electronic messages became faster, traditional post suddenly received a new name: snail mail. At first, it was meant jokingly, because letters are slow compared with digital messages. Today, however, there is often something positive in it. 
A letter takes time. A postcard needs a place. A handwritten message needs a moment. And that is exactly what makes it special.
 

What makes my Tanukipost special?
My travel mail is not a classic snail mail club where the same thing is sent to dozens of people every month. It is more like a small greeting from the road. I travel, discover places, browse through shops, markets and small stands, collect postcards, bookmarks, paper finds and flat little things, and turn them into personal mail for you.

It might be a postcard from a city where I currently am. A travel letter with a small observation. A haiku on a card. A sticker that fits the theme. A paper find I discovered along the way. Or a letter that feels as if someone had placed a piece of the journey inside an envelope.

The goal is not to stuff as many things as possible into a letter. It is about giving each piece a small connection. Why this particular card? Why this paper find? What did I see, think or feel in this place? That is how snail mail is created that feels more personal than a souvenir and more tangible than a social media post.

​

And even though it is officially snail mail and I sometimes call it that, I decided to name it Tanukipost. That is because my little buddy Konpei travels with me. He is a tanuki plush toy I discovered at a flea market in Japan. He is my travel buddy and therefore perfectly suited to become the mascot of Tanukipost. That does not necessarily mean that anything with or about tanuki will end up in the letters. But if I find something suitable, I will consider it.
 

Tanukipost as a small journey in your mailbox
When you receive travel mail from me, it should not feel like a normal order. It should feel more like a small moment that found its way to you. An envelope you open. A card you turn over. A few lines that were not written for everyone, but for you.

My Tanukipost can be a small greeting for yourself, if you want to treat yourself to something nice. It can also be a gift for someone who loves real mail, could use a little encouragement or would be happy about a personal surprise in their mailbox. It is also wonderfully suited for birthdays, congratulations, Christmas and New Year greetings.
 

Postcard, travel letter or paper find letter?
So you can find exactly the format that suits you, there are different types of Tanukipost.

The postcard is the small entry point. You receive a handwritten card with a personal greeting and a sticker. It is ideal if you want to bring a little joy to yourself or someone else.

The travel letter is the heart of the snail mail. You receive a handwritten letter from the road, along with a postcard, a self-written haiku card and a sticker. Here, the personal text takes centre stage.

The paper find letter is the special version. In addition to the travel letter, you receive extra items such as a bookmark and a paper find. This turns each envelope even more into a small collectible.


Who is Tanukipost for?
Tanukipost is for you if you love real letters. For you if you collect postcards. For you if you enjoy small paper details, stickers, haiku, travel stories or special paper finds. And also for you if you want to show someone that you put more thought into it than just quickly typing a message.

It is for people who love reading, travelling, collecting, writing or enjoying small things. For everyone who wants to open their mailbox and find more than just bills, advertising or official letters. And for everyone who misses the feeling that someone has written something truly personal for them.
 

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Snail Mail

What is snail mail?
Snail mail is real, analogue mail. For me, that means handwritten postcards, personal letters and small extras sent by regular post. The idea is based on the snail mail concept: conscious, slower and more personal mail instead of fast digital messages.

When is it shipped?
I send new orders within a few days after your order.
Subscriptions are sent from the second month onward always on the 15th of each month.
Please note that snail mail is sent as regular letter post. The actual delivery time therefore depends on the destination country and the respective postal delivery times.

Can I give snail mail as a gift?
Yes, you can have snail mail sent directly to another person. To do this, please enter the name and full address of the recipient when placing your order, or add them directly as the delivery address. Then the snail mail will be sent directly to that person.

Is the snail mail personalised?
Yes. Every piece of snail mail is written by hand and personally put together. Depending on the product, the text may be a personal greeting, a small travel observation, a self-written haiku, a miniature or a short letter from the road.

Is there tracking?
No. Snail mail is sent as regular letter post and not as a parcel. That is why there is no tracking.

This also means that an exact delivery date cannot be guaranteed.

What can be included in snail mail?
Depending on the product, it may include a handwritten postcard, a travel letter, a haiku card, stickers, bookmarks, recipe cards, origami instructions, small paper finds or other flat extras. The exact design can vary depending on the place and availability.

Can I add wishes?
Yes. When placing your order, you can add wishes or notes. For example, whether the snail mail should feel more calm, poetic, humorous or be written as a gift. I will try to take your wishes into account, but I cannot guarantee every motif or extra.