I’ve been toying with the idea of designing an informative 8-page zine that could be given out to newbie letterboxers (not that I’m not still very green myself haha) or given to various organizations I’d like to contact along with requests to hide letterboxes with them.

If you’re unfamiliar with what a mini zine is, it’s essentially a document you print on a single sheet of paper and then fold into a little booklet. Since these have such limited space to work with, I’ve been trying to really nail down the absolute essentials of the hobby to include for someone without any prior knowledge or experience.

At a bare minimum, an explanation of what someone can find, what they’ll need to bring, and where to find clues will be included. But this still leaves me with some extra space for more information. This site and its users are a treasure trove of knowledge, and so I felt it was only natural I ask the experts for their opinions!

Happy belated AQ-CAKE day!

Yes, only on your cake day. Only you see the cake, however, on the "this day in history" widget, scrolling to the bottom, you can see those who are celebrating their AQ-anniversay and the number of years.

condo

i would like to make a suggestion on fostered boxes. i understand the principle behind not being allowed to edit the listing. am agreeing with not editing a listing, to me it has historical value. what i would find beneficial is if the person fostering could record a checkup. as a fostering party i do not want to just mark it as a find. i already found it years and years ago, now i am just checking on it.
smile

Sojourner made up this brochure (pdf file) prolly close to 20 years ago. Lots of great info in it for you to draw from and an updated format like your mini zine is a great idea!
http://www.letterboxing.org/GettingStarted/Letterboxing101.pdf

Yes. Lemony Snicket has 21 years - we were the top 2 on the list. Today I found my 1000th traditional box. :)

In the database, a check-up IS a find. There is literally no difference. AQ just displays the word "checkup" if you are listed as a planter (and it won't be counted towards one's F-count) and displays the word "find" if you are not listed as a planter (and it will be counted toward your F-count).

AQ is smart enough to recognize duplicate finds on the same box and will only count them once, so multiple finds on the same box won't break your F-count.

So just mark it as a find. AQ literally makes ZERO distinction between finds and "checkups" internally. From an AQ perspective, it's like complaining that a "6 eggs" is entirely different than a "half-dozen eggs." They are, quite literally, exactly the same.

-- Ryan

Just a thought, but perhaps AQ could also be configured to display "checkup" if you are listed as the foster person. A recent "checkup" can encourage more new finds, even more so than a recent find. It demonstrates that someone not only found the box, but is actively maintaining it.

I still have mine and keep it close by.

That sounds wonderful! I love zines!

well said. this is what i was trying to convey.

smile

Had a strange situation today. Found a letterbox at a hotel near DIA. It was logged in early June by a known boxer, but then two people (kids) signed in and stamped in — Haley and Annabelle. Have not seen their names in any other local boxes we’ve found. The strange part was their actual stamp had been added to the box/pouch and obviously they did not know how to put the box back together (bags, etc.) after they opened it. Anyone in the area know a family with two girls with those names? We took the stamp out of the pouch (store bought, bright pink baby Minnie Mouse head) and have it. If we don’t find them, we’ll turn it into a HH or a cootie. Thank you!

It's been done! =)

-- Ryan

thank you! you are amazing!

This is such a perfect reference to work from! Thank you so much! I really miss the days when Google would have turned up something like this in the top results haha

Stealth

Mystery Postal #2501 Clue 2:

Pulitzer Prize

There were a large number of guesses yesterday. No correct one yet. If you are new to mysteries do not get discouraged by the first few clues. They will get easier as the game progresses. It is rare for anyone to answer correctly in the first three or four clues. However, I didn't have to worry about AI help. Then again, if AI gets it in three guesses it is cheating by taking pictures of my browser history.

I wonder if this geocache might be the problem: GCAZ02F Denver international Airport Mini TB Hotel.

We wondered if there was a geocache nearby…just didn’t take the time to do a search. All the more reason to insure that letterboxes are put back together properly..glad we were able to take care of that anyway. Thanks!

Those look amazing! Bumping this thread until I can get one ordered>

Thank you.

Were you following an actual posted clue to the box that was listed on AQ? I live very close to DIA and have not seen a box at a hotel near DIA come up in my searches...otherwise, I would have grabbed it! :-)

GF: Yes, two older boxes by alexandria_ky that we’d never gotten before (obviously). This was his Where’s George Series Box #12, I think.

What’s that?

I probably have a filter on that doesn't show boxes with misses or something....and, I don't know any local boxers with names you mentioned, so this is a mystery!

Beetle has hosted a couple mini-zine trackers. She has also created a wonderful little Zine to introduce newbies to letterboxing.

Mystery #2501
Clue 3: Grassy knoll

A guess is allotted to all until 8:00 a.m. on 7.03.2025 to ponder the three clues to date.

Just here to promote a new box that we planted this week in a very special spot. If you are up in the islands, North of Burlington, and love fossils, you should stop by the Goodsell Ridge Fossil Preserve. It’s a very cool site and now has two brand new stamps. There are other stamps listed that haven’t been found for a long time. My young friends that helped me plant are eager to have a first finder!
Box #380396
Fossilized!

Thanks!

Signal Node 411 – The Cloaked Ignition
📍 Easley, SC | The light is already on

A new form of letterboxing is pulsing through South Carolina—and its next signal has quietly ignited.
Signal Node 411 is the second node in the growing Solera sequence, following the Bloom Veil (410). This time, the flame doesn’t flash—it watches. It waits.
Not buried. Not obvious. Just placed with precision.
With symbolic stamps and hidden storylines, this node holds a quiet energy meant for those who sense more than they see.
This is a box for the attuned.
For those who understand that some flames burn brightest in stillness.
🕯️ Find it, feel it, and forward the signal.
The revival of #letterboxing in South Carolina has only just begun.

🎥 Watch the full transmission forSignal Node 411 – The Cloaked Ignition here: https://youtube.com/shorts/mOmLsbyqsWc?feature=share

📦 Begin the ignition:
https://www.atlasquest.com/boxes/clue/?boxId=379983

Ooh, those came out so good! I will have to get one ordered soon~ Probably closer to the fall, after vacation season, though. ;^^

Thank you! I did like my first patch but this one I improved everything I didn't like and it just came out so good! I'm really happy with it and I'm glad people like it.