First Look at our BALPEX and NAPEX Postcrossing Meetup Postcards

I'm excited to share the postcard designs for the 2026 BALPEX and NAPEX Postcrossing meetups, provided by Linn's Stamp News.

The BALPEX postcard features Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland. We chose this landmark because it perfectly complements the USPS First-Day-of-Issue ceremony for the Diagonal Flag stamped envelope being held at the stamp show. As the birthplace of The Star-Spangled Banner, Fort McHenry is forever linked to the American flag, making it a fitting design for this special event.

For NAPEX, we selected Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. The design reflects the theme of this year's show and celebrates America's 250th anniversary. It also pairs with the show's commemorative postmarks, creating a memorable keepsake for attendees.

A special thank you to Linn's Stamp News for once again supporting Capitol-Beltway Postcard Club Postcrossing meetups with these beautiful postcards. We can't wait to see everyone at BALPEX and NAPEX—and to send these cards on their journeys around the world!

Havre de Grace Postcrossing Meetup Postcard

I’m excited to share the postcard for our Havre de Grace, Maryland Postcrossing Meetup!

When I first started kicking around ideas, I thought I’d feature a bald eagle again. But since my previous meetup postcard already featured an eagle, I wanted this design to showcase a Maryland icon. That led me to the Baltimore Oriole, Maryland’s state bird.

I’ve never had the chance to see a Baltimore Oriole in the wild, but I’m hoping that changes soon. With Havre de Grace located near the head of the Chesapeake Bay and surrounded by wonderful natural areas, it’s one of the places where these birds can be spotted. Maybe this meetup will bring birdwatching luck! Until then, I’ll enjoy the goldfinches that regularly visit my flower garden.

To give the postcard a postal feel, I added a commemorative stamp. At its center is a blue crab, Maryland’s state crustacean. It’s a fun nod to the Chesapeake Bay. Including it may have had one unintended consequence: now I’m craving steamed Maryland blue crabs covered in Old Bay seasoning!

I hope you’ll join us on Saturday, August 1, at the Chesapeake Postcard Show at the Havre de Grace Community Center. Whether you’re a longtime Postcrosser or just starting out, we’d love to meet you. Stop by, sign some postcards, make new friends, and help us celebrate the joy of sending happy mail.

BALPEX and NAPEX Meetup Postcards

  

The Capitol-Beltway Postcard Club is thrilled to unveil our official postcards for the BALPEX and NAPEX Postcrossing meetups. This year is especially meaningful as we celebrate the club's 50th Anniversary, and we wanted to mark the occasion with two special commemorative postcards that honor our past while looking toward the future.

BALPEX: Celebrating the Next Generation of Postcarding

Our BALPEX postcard tells a story of connection across generations. It features an older and a younger woman writing postcards together, celebrating how the joy of postcard collecting and Postcrossing continues to inspire new postcard collectors.

While today's Postcrossers may use computers to connect through the Postcrossing website, the heart of the hobby remains unchanged. Every postcard still carries the excitement of finding something unexpected in the mailbox, creating friendships across the world, and sharing a little piece of home. Technology may have changed how we meet, but handwritten postcards continue to connect people in a way that digital messages never can.

NAPEX: Celebrating History, Home, and Collecting

Our NAPEX postcard celebrates both the Capitol-Beltway region and the 250th Anniversary of the United States. The design brings together iconic symbols from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., including the Washington Monument, the state flowers, and Greenbelt Middle School, the club's longtime meeting place.

Maryland's rich history also takes center stage. Fort McHenry's role in defending Baltimore during the War of 1812 inspired "The Star-Spangled Banner," forever linking our region to the story of the American flag.

This postcard was designed with collectors in mind. We hope it pairs with the special NAPEX postmarks celebrating Postcrossing, the Capitol-Beltway Postcard Club's 50th Anniversary, and America's 250th Anniversary. There's something exciting about matching the postcard with the right stamp and cancellation.

A thank-you goes to Sofia Medillin, whose artwork brought the NAPEX postcard to life. We are grateful for her creativity and talent in helping us celebrate this milestone year.