Getting Started
Are you new to letterboxing and still trying to figure out what you'll need to get started? One of the great things about letterboxing is that, at its core, the only thing you need to get started is a clue!
Oh, sure, all that about signature stamps and logbooks and such are important aspects to letterboxing, but the thing is, they aren't technically required to go out and enjoy the thrill of finding a letterbox!
But if you just have to do something the 'right way', I'll mention a few tips below.
Signature Stamps
The Letterboxer's Companion
is a popular book about
how to get started in letterboxing
Many new letterboxers feel that they must get a signature stamp just right before they can begin letterboxing. Hogwash! You probably have a real signature right now—but it didn't happen overnight. First you learned how to print your name in a scrawl that only a mother could love. Then you learned cursive. You probably practiced different looks for your signature, developing it into what it is today over a period of years.
Signature stamps are the same way. When you first start carving your own stamp, it'll probably look a little less than perfect. You'll improve and want to recarve a new and improved signature stamp later.
And that's okay! Don't feel that whatever your first signature stamp is, you're stuck with it forever. Some people carve two signature stamps—one for small logbooks that require a very small signature stamp, and a second one for normal-sized logbooks where they can make their stamp extravagant. Others have seasonal signature stamps. In celebration of my 100th find, I changed my signature stamp from a spider to a turtle. It was originally my goal to replace it after every 100 finds, but got lazy and I'm still using that turtle as a stamp. However, it has evolved over the years, and a version of it wearing hiking boots is now my signature stamp. I'm thinking of adding a sombrero to the mix as well.
Signature stamps will evolve, so don't try to make the very first one the one you'll use forever. Go in with the mindset that it'll have a limited life span and eventually it'll be replaced.
Some eager letterboxers who want to letterbox before even carving a crude signature stamp will use their thumbprint as a signature stamp. It's original, it's always with you so you can't forget it, and it makes a very effective signature stamp. You can even decorate thumb prints using a pen by turning them into animals or flowers or something!
One last comment about signature stamps: Keep in mind that many letterboxes are very small, and have equally small logbooks. If you carve something larger than about one square inch, you'll eventually run into a box where your stamp won't fit. Don't despair! You can always use your thumbprint if necessary! =) Or a portion of your signature stamp. Or just make sure you've carved a signature stamp that can fit into any size logbook!
Logbooks
New letterboxers always have a barrage of questions about logbooks. What size should they be? What should go in them? In a nutshell, it comes down to what you want to do. Every letterboxer has their own way of doing logbooks. Some people stamp finds onto index cards that can be sorted and easily carried. Others create diary-like journals where they paste in pictures of the hike or the clue itself along with information about the date and time, who they hiked with, or any other notes they care to take. For lazy folks out there (such as myself), I only include the stamp image with the name of the box and the date I found it. I don't want to mess around with pasting all sorts of other stuff to the book.
If there's one thing most letterboxers can agree on when it comes to logbooks, it's to use one with blank, white pages. Lined pages look tacky—lines are for writing between, not for stamping on. Stamp images show up on white pages best—colored pages are best for other purposes. Also, if you're into making your own paper, you might reconsider for your logbook. Home-made paper tends to be rather grainy and doesn't stamp very well. Outside of that, it's really up to you and your imagination!
Anything Else?
Of course, there's many more topics to cover about letterboxing, but for this introductory website, that's all your gonna get for now. You already have enough information to get out and start looking for letterboxes today, though, so don't delay! Get out and start hunting!