Modern Day Letterboxing
Letterboxing is an outdoors sport that started in 1854 in Dartmoor. It is similar to treasure hunting and orienteering with puzzles and clues to find the location of a letterbox. A log book and a rubber or self-inking stamp is placed in to a letterbox and hidden in a public location (usually a park or woods) with clues and puzzles written on an instruction sheet or a website. The aim is to work out where the letterbox is and go to the location. The rubber/self-inking stamp from the box is used on the finders log book to prove the find. This person will have their own personal rubber/self-inking stamp for which they will use on the log book found in the letterbox. Exchanging clues with other team members is allowed.
A History of Letterboxing
Starting in Dartmoor in 1854, James Perrott left a bottle outside Cranmere Pool (A small depression in the peat set in North Dartmoor) for visitor’s cards. This gave hikers an idea to place a letter inside a box addressed to themselves or a member of their family with the aim that the person to stumble across this letter would then post it to the address. This person would then leave a letter in the box and so on. This became popular and boxes were placed in various locations around the countryside, usually in areas where only the most enthusiastic hikers would make it too. Sometimes weeks would pass before the letter was found and sent back.
The tradition goes on; however the letter has been replaced with log books and rubber/self-inking stamps.
What you will need:-
- A waterproof box with a lid
- Two log books
- Two rubber or self-inking stamps with your personal design on
Instructions:-
- Place one rubber/self-inking stamp and one log book inside the waterproof box.
- Hide the box in a public place.
- Make some clues for the finders to access the location of the box. These can be cryptic clues or just simply instructions to the where the box is hidden.
- Place the clues on your local letterboxing website. Whilst on the site, look up a clue to another member’s letterbox.
- Work out the clue, go to the location and find the box. (Don’t forget your remaining log book and rubber/self-inking stamp)
- Use your rubber/self-inking stamp on the log book found in the box and use the stamp from the box on your log book to record your find count.
This is an example of a letterbox
with a
welcome note on the top to all finders.
To design and order personalised, custom made
rubber stamps please click here!
|
