Cynthia - Ham Radio Card

Cynthia, I believe you listed Ham Radio Cards on your "what you collect". Does this qualify, do you have it? If the answers are Yes, and No. Let me know and you can have it. - Jeff

Just for info - those are known as QSL cards.

thanks Moonbird - jeff

QSL stamp
Melbourne Australia :

The picture is indeed a QSL card.

The term QSL is ham short-hand for Can you confirm?/I confirm.

When hams are using CW (continuous wave, or Morse code); instead of spelling out a lot of phrases they use the Q code.

Three letters all beginning with Q (Question) save a lot of time.

The reply is usually the same three letters. eg q: QTH? a: East Overshoe, NY.

The QSL cards are usually sent by both hams as a confirmation of their QSO (contact).

Often, the cards go to a central QSL bureau (something like a post office) where volunteers sort the cards for distribution.

The Australian (Cinderella) stamp is one applied at some bureaus to show it has been handled by that particular bureau.

Since many hams make thousands of contacts per year, the bureau system is a convenient money-saving way of sending out "confirmation of contact" cards.

The cards which have been sorted by the bureaus are bulk-shipped to and from bureaus in other countries; and, while it is cheaper than by regular mail, it can mean long delays (even several years) in getting a confirmation.

The cards may be needed quickly by a particular ham to verify a contact with a ham because the QSL is needed as proof for a ham who is trying to get some sort of an award for making contacts with certain countries or for making contact on particular frequencies.

In that case, sending cards directly or (in the past several years) by email is done.

Many hams are stamp collectors (myself included) probably because of our common interest in geography.

73 (best regards)
VE7DXU

The verified reception stamp catalogue.

Jeff if any interest, Google "EKKO stamps"


From Mr. Art Mangan 2008

Thanks for all the information everyone. Really helpful. - Jeff

I've wanted to start collecting EKKO stamps for a couple of years now, just haven't yet.

Just was looking at my 64 Amateur Radio Commemorative so I thought I'd post it to the topic.