Most envelopes get thrown away once you’ve read what’s inside. In Mail Drop, the envelope is the part worth keeping.
The book collects 38 years of envelope art sent to Thrasher Magazine. Inside were letters with questions, complaints, suggestions and stories from skaters. On the outside was artwork by readers and professional skate artists alike, all working with whatever space was left around the address and stamp.
The 250-page book is mostly pictures, with short backstories that give some of the envelopes a bit more context. It’s the kind of book you can open anywhere. You might stop at an illustration, then spend a few more pages looking at how someone worked the address into the drawing. Seen together, the envelopes show how readers made themselves part of the magazine, even before anyone opened their letters.
It’s a 25 × 20 cm softcover with glossy pages, and an easy recommendation if you’re into skate art or the history around Thrasher.