Letters From Dead People is an ongoing ephemera-based story delivered monthly by New Orleans artist L. Delaney.
Step into a world where past and present merge. Where meanings are hidden between lines, and heroes and villains disguise their secrets in code. When you open a box, the scent of age-stained pages greets your nose....
My Subscription Addiction paid for this box. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About Letters from Dead People
The Subscription Box: Letters From Dead People
The Cost: $12.99 per month + free US shipping. A 3-month subscription is $34.99 ($11.66 per box).
The Products: 'A monthly letter delivered from New Orleans – 100 years ago.'
Ships to: Worldwide
January 2018 Letters from Dead People Review
This month's parcel came in an oversized mailer, so I was really curious about what could be inside.
I was delighted to find a poster featuring the famous medium Mina Bird! OK, Mina is only famous if you've been keeping up with the ongoing story behind Letters from Dead People, which involves her mysterious disappearance. The poster is 11" x 17" (about 28cm x 43cm).
Here's a close-up. The poster is printed in a way that gives it a vintage feel. Looking closely, I believe it also contains a clue or two related to the story.
There was only one other thing in the mailer – this envelope addressed to the "GREAT MEDIUM".
It's from Houdini! (Well, this isn't called 'letters from dead people' for nothing!) He writes:
Dear Madame:– You are a fraud and a huckster. And I am coming to New Orleans to prove it. I remain, Dubiously your, Houdini.
A ticket for her 'one night only' performance was included.
Verdict: This month is a departure for this subscription, as usually, it includes multiple smaller items rather than (mainly) one large item. I really liked this month's poster though and I hope that the curator continues to experiment with different formats. The letter from Houdini is intriguing – what proof could he have that Mina is a fraud? I'm looking forward to learning more next month.
To Wrap Up:
Can you still get this box if you sign up today? If you order today, you will receive the February parcel. From Letters From Dead People:
Order anytime of the previous month to get the current box! For example, if you order by December 30th you box will ship on January 1st.
Value Breakdown: This is an ongoing story told through ephemera, so the items rarely have a retail value. It's more about the immersive experience of the story, and I do feel it's worth the $12.99 price. Would I have purchased the poster individually in a store for that price? Probably not – but the cumulative experience is worthwhile.
Check out all of our Letters From Dead People reviews and the Subscription Box Directory for more mystery and crime-themed boxes!
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What do you think of January's Letters From Dead People?
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