The Strangest Postcards in the World – Part 2
We thought that after Gotochi cards, wooden postcards, puzzles, 3D cards and shaped cards, we had already seen everything.
Definitely not... After the first part of our journey through the most unusual postcards in the world, we dug even deeper into the Postcrossing corners of the internet.
We came across a discussion featuring postcards made of leather, porcelain, cork, metal, fabric, scratch-off cards, and even messages sent in a bottle. Postcrossers really know how to take the phrase: “I like unusual postcards” to a completely new level. We warn you, paper will definitely be in the minority today.
Leather postcards
Let’s start with something that sounds like a modern art experiment - leather postcards. In other words, postcards made of leather. It turns out, however, that such cards are not an invention of the Instagram or Etsy era, quite the opposite. Leather postcards were already popular at the beginning of the 20th century. Surviving examples are now interesting collectors’ items. Some had burned-in designs, while others were decorated with inscriptions and illustrations. So actually, strange postcards are not a new trend at all. Our great-grandparents knew how to get creative too.
Message in a bottle
On the Postcrossing forum, one user showed such a piece of mail, which immediately sparked questions: “But how was this even sent?!”.
According to the description, the sender placed the bottle inside a small tube and mailed it with stamps. Would we like to see the recipient’s face? - We definitely would.
Metal postcard
We had wood in the first part, now it’s time for metal.
Metal postcards really do exist and appear in the collections of people looking for cards made from unusual materials. Some resemble thin metal plaques. They can be printed, embossed or engraved.
Cork postcard
If you can make a card from wood and metal, why not from cork? Cork postcards can also be found in collections of unusual postcards.
Cork has one huge advantage – it is lightweight, distinctive and immediately stands out among paper cards. It fits perfectly as a postcard from a place associated with cork production, for example Portugal.
Porcelain postcard
In the world of collecting curiosities, you can come across postcard-like objects made from materials that we absolutely do not associate with correspondence.
While we can drop a paper postcard into a mailbox...we probably would not recommend doing the same with a porcelain one. With all unusual materials, of course, it is important to remember that whether they can be sent without packaging depends on the rules of the particular postal operator. The collectors’ term “postcard” does not always mean that the item qualifies for postcard postage rates.
Fabric postcard
Fabric postcards - meaning cards that use textile materials.
They can be printed, embroidered, sewn, or combine paper with fabric.
If you receive a card that someone spent several hours creating with a needle and thread, it is really difficult to treat it like an ordinary picture postcard. It is one of those postcards that perfectly shows just how thin the line is between correspondence, handicraft and art.
Embroidered postcard
Embroidered postcards have their own incredibly interesting history. A particularly fascinating category is embroidered postcards – cards decorated with embroidery.
Today, similar designs may be associated with handmade crafts and contemporary handicraft, but textile and embroidered postcards are by no means a new invention. Historical examples, especially those connected with the First World War, are now sought-after collectors’ items. A hundred years later, we look not only at the card and its stitching, but also at the message, handwriting, date, stamp and postmark.
And suddenly we are holding a small fragment of someone’s life in our hands.
Scratch-off postcard
And now we return to a bit of fun. You receive a postcard, but part of the illustration is hidden and has to be scratched off.
A postcard you can plant
And what if, after being read, a postcard did not go into an album...but into the ground?
There are eco-friendly projects made from paper containing seeds. After receiving the card, you can place it in soil, water it and – under the right conditions – watch plants begin to sprout.
Of course, when sending plant material internationally, special care must be taken: countries have their own phytosanitary regulations, so not every such card can be freely sent across borders.
Scented postcards
It’s time to discover postcards with another sense. Scented postcards use fragrance substances, sometimes activated by rubbing the surface. Suddenly we can smell: flowers, fruit, chocolate, coffee or perfume. Sometimes much more experimental aromas.
Interestingly, in 2026 the official Postcrossing blog even described a project connected with the scent of a comet.
Yes, you read that correctly. The scent of a comet.
In the archive of the official Postcrossing blog, there is a post from May 2026 titled "The scent of a comet... on a postcard?!". And at this point we have to admit that our phrase “the strangest postcards in the world” is starting to feel completely justified.
The largest postcard in the world
Since we are talking about unusual things...let’s do something really big.
In 2010, the official Postcrossing blog described a postcard created in Krefeld, Germany, which made it into the Guinness World Records.
Its surface area was: 42.69 m².
And its weight - 300 kilograms.
A special truck was needed to transport it.
Just imagine the message - "Greetings from Germany!", a space for the Postcard ID the size of a license plate. 😂
One thing is certain. It would not fit into our album.
Can you really send almost anything by post?
Postal history is full of experiments with what people have tried to send.
If after the first part we were convinced that we had already seen almost everything...after preparing the second one, we now know one thing - this goes far beyond anything we could ever imagine a postcard to be.