About Letterboxing

Letterboxing combines artistic ability with “treasure-hunting” in parks and forests that the whole family can enjoy. Participants seek out hidden letterboxes by following clues to their prize: a rubber stamp—often hand-carved—to stamp into one’s own personal logbook.

The basics are that simple, but you’ll find plenty of nuances to keep you busy on a rainy or snowy day (e.g. LTCs, postals or carving stamps and making logbooks for future use). Dig into some of the links below for more information.

• History: Letterboxing has a rich history crossing continents and centuries of time. Where did it begin? How has it evolved? This page has all the details.
• Getting Started: The materials you’ll need to get started with this hobby, and some helpful tips in finding and planting your first boxes.
• Frequently Asked Questions: What is letterboxing? Who does it? Who runs Atlas Quest? Get answers to all these and more.
• Code of Conduct: As with any hobby where thousands of people meet and cross paths, standards have emerged to help everyone get along for the benefit of all. Learn the details here.
• Glossary: Sometimes it can seem as if letterboxers are speaking a foreign language. This glossary contains some common (and not-so-common) terms one might hear letterboxers throwing around.
• Help: Get answers to all your letterboxing and Atlas Quest questions from this member-generated resource. All the world’s letterboxing experts—at your fingertips!
• Tutorials: Trying to figure out how to carve a stamp, make a logbook or how to use a compass? Check out our tutorials for all that and more!

Also consider picking up a copy of The Letterboxer’s Companion which has everything a budding letterboxer needs to know!