We have heard of stamp collectors and coin collectors, but Attada Babu Rao has had the unique and rare hobby of collecting postcards and aerogrammes for the past 40 years, which generates interest in tourism.
The sixty-three-year-old former Physics lab assistant from SRR & CVR Government College started off with a passion for letter writing through a pen pals association. He has found 130 pen pals from over 57 countries over the years and is still in contact with most of them. His enthusiasm to know more about different countries and their culture led to him receiving his first postcard from one such pen pal.
Providing support to Government and all other organisations trying to create awareness on tourism on the World Tourism Day on Thursday, September 27, he expects to enter the Limca Book of Records one day for the largest number of postcards collection.
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“I may not be able to travel to all these places but am still fascinated by the marvels in them and this is the reason I started collecting”, Mr. Babu Rao, a Lions Club member, told
670 cards
This very passion has now led him to collect about 670 postcards and aerogrammes through the help of his various pen pals. Already a Limca Book of Records holder for the number of pen pals he has, he aims to increase the number of postcards to 1,000 before next year and apply once again for a new claim in the record book.
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The avid collector, however, has been having a few problems lately with his mail because of the neglect of the postal department services.
The letters are tampered with, stamps removed to be reused and sometimes the letters blatantly torn open before they get delivered, he says.
He wishes something is done about this so that he receives his precious letters in proper condition.