THE LETTER EXCHANGE
Connecting Penfriends Since 1982

As long as there are postmen, life will have zest. — William James

What people are saying about LEX



Our Privacy Policy

Privacy is essential to The Letter Exchange. Accordingly, we will not sell, rent, trade, or in any way reveal the name, address, or any other personal information about anyone, subscriber or not, who uses our magazine or forwarding service.













Snail Mail Lives!

Do you look forward to going to your mailbox each day? If not, The Letter Exchange can help! Whether you want to discuss contemporary events or brag about your cat, connect with other crafters or compare opinions on the latest bestseller, you'll find lots of great people to write to by subscribing to "LEX."

  • The LEX Number system lets you remain anonymous until you choose to write directly to your new friends. (We don't print names and addresses.)

  • Pen pal listings in 33 categories from Art to Daily Life to Literature to Religion to Writing help you find compatible penfriends.

  • Ghost Letters let you write in character as historical or fictional people (or whatever!).

And more! We've featured Ronald Reagan's official pen pal, an elf who answers children's letters in Minneapolis, a letter written by Helen Keller at the age of 12, cartoons about pen palling from subscribers, quotes from famous letter writers of the past...you never know what will show up!

No prisoners or singles ads, just good conversation by snail mail.

Two ways to find penfriends

Reply to a listing in the magazine using the free forwarding service.
• Submit a listing for publication and wait for the letters to come!

Subscribe and get real mail

Mailing dates

Winter: February 15
Summer: June 15
Autumn: October 15
Subscriptions—includes 20 free words for listings for each issue
$18—3 issues per year
$19 (first class)
$20 (Canada)
$22 (International)
 
$7.50—single issue: Winter 2008 (#15)
$5 or 3/$12—back issues: Summer 2003 (#1), Autumn 2003 (#2), Winter 2004 (#3), Summer 2004 (#4), Autumn 2004 (#5), Winter 2005 (#6), Summer 2005 (#7), Autumn 2005 (#8), Winter 2006 (#9), Summer 2006 (#10), Autumn 2006 (#11), Winter 2007 (#12), Summer 2007 (#13), Autumn 2007 (#14)
Listing deadlines—only subscribers may submit listings
Summer: April 15
Autumn: August 15
Winter: December 15
 
$.50 per word (20 free words per issue included with subscription)
Letters to LEX and other submissions (articles, cartoons, artwork)—same as the listing deadlines.

Winter 2008 Issue

The Letter Exchange, Winter 2008
Winter 2008, #15

Contents

Listings...Time to pick up your pen, and answer some of these fine people.
 
Ghost Letters...Tired of being yourself? A world of let's-pretend awaits.
 
The Post's Best Friends...Dogs and horses get the mail going.
 
Letters—A Lifeline...60+ years of letter writing.
 
Ahoy There...Sailors appreciate paper mail.
 
Letters to LEX...Of flip-flops, bubbles, and planes.
 
The World of Letters...Akkulānu wants a reply, circa 600 B.C.
 
History of the World's Postal Service...Delivering the mail with dog sleds, stilts, and sun umbrellas.
 
Listings Part 2...Don't put down that pen yet.
 

Links Related to Issue 15

Previous Issues

We forward letters to listings back to Issue 1, Summer 2003. Most listers are still looking for new correspondents!