“Pochtovoe” grew out of a personal interest — exchanging postcards with people from all over the world during the коронавирус pandemic in 2020. During the period of isolation, the postal service became a way to feel a real connection with the world. Postcards arrived slowly, with beautiful and vivid images, with unfamiliar handwriting and the warmth of living words. This created a sense that even in the digital age, the postcard remains a space of trust and memory.
Gradually, the interest in contemporary postal practices turned into a study of the history of communication. Behind each postcard, a whole world unfolded: family stories, everyday joys and anxieties, echoes of Big History in the lives of ordinary people. The postcard proved to be not just a message with an image — but a full-fledged historical document.
One of the important stages was the PostVenture expedition led by traveler-researcher and postal historian Valery Sushkov. As part of the project, more than 40 historical methods of postal communication were recreated — from pigeon post to space mail. The expedition received the national “Crystal Compass” award (2021) in the “Travel and Expedition” category, which became an important recognition of the value of this field.
The official launch of our project took place on October 1, 2022, under the title “From Nizhny with Love…”. Initially focused on the history of everyday life in the Nizhny Novgorod region, the project gradually expanded to many regions of Russia — from large cities to small villages and rural settlements.
From the very beginning, “Pochtovoe” combined research and education. Our events are created on the basis of research work. Activities include workshops on deciphering postcards from 1880–1917, lectures on the history and culture of writing, exhibitions, masterclasses, and festivals. Participants learn to read old handwriting, understand the language of the past, and see real people behind historical facts.
Over time, the project has gained an international dimension. Materials are published in 13 languages, and initiatives are connected with public diplomacy and cultural dialogue. The postcard is a universal medium, and therefore it is understandable in any country and in any era.
Today, “Pochtovoe” is a community of researchers, volunteers, educators, students, and simply people who care about working thoughtfully with the past. The project brings together science, culture, education, and human engagement.
We believe that history is not only events and dates.
It is voices. Handwriting. Intonation.
And sometimes — a postcard that has traveled a long way to be read a hundred years later.
The story of the project continues — and there is always room in it for new participants.
