When addressing the QSL card, it is very important that you follow a few very specific rules. Although here in the United States, we hear a lot of complaining about our Post Office service, we still have the most forgiving, most mail forwarding, not stealing the mail and reliable postal system in the world, I think. A letter missed addressed to many foreign postal addresses would simply get tossed in the trash. They just don't want to spend the time to deal with bad addresses. Some foreign postal system employees will simply pocket your envelope if they suspect money is inside. So what are we to do?

The First Step in looking up an address for your DX contact is to see if there is a QSL Card Manager handling the duties of QSLing. A QSL Card Manager is a Ham in a country where the postal system is more reliable than where the contact was made and fulfills the chore of returning the QSL cards. They need to receive a nice note of thank you from people like us who rely on them for our coveted QSL cards! For U.S. Hams, it's a good thing when there is a state-side Ham working as the QSL Manager. That means it's a sure thing, if you're in the log, you're going to get a card back. A state-side QSL Card Manager also mean you're spending less money in postage! A good site for finding QSL Managers is HERE. It's nice when you can write a personal side note of appreciation to the QSL Card Manager. I use those larger yellow Postnotes I buy at the office supply. Everybody likes to be told they are appreciated.

The Second Step if your DX contact doesn't have a QSL Card Manager (and most do not) is to find a good mailing address. If QRZ.com has an address listed for a DX operator, it's most likely a good address because the DX Operator has to register him or herself in order to input the information. Possibly the DX operator gives a QSL manager on their QRZ.com listing. Another very reliable DX Call book lookup is the World Wide HamCall Call Sign Server . I always check several different resources to get a confirmation on an address. If I'm investing several dollars in hoping to get a card back in the mail, it's good to verify the addresses.

The Internet has certainly made DX QSL Card sending easy. What did we do prior to the Net?

Thirdly, if you haven't found an address yet, do some searches on Google. Do a search for the call sign. Maybe the call is a special event call sign and will not show up in the regular resources. It is very likely that maybe you wrote the call sign down incorrectly. It's too late now, but during the contact or pileup, I always ask or listen to the station make other contacts closely, to make sure I have it right. If you're a member of a DX organization, ask the other members if they know of an address. If you're not a member, you ought to be. DX organizations help financially support DXpeditions. There is an outside possibility that you worked a Pirate. I have a few cards in the box that fall in one of these categories.

Always write in the bottom of the address the name of the country otherwise you will get the envelope back.

Shall I dare say this, "Write Legibly!". If you have a penmanship problem, have your computer do your printing for you. Many of the logging programs can print the contact information out onto labels that you stick onto the card and can lookup and print addresses.

The outgoing US postage amount for a one ounce letter to an address in Canada or Mexico is $0.69. To all other countries, the cost for a one ounce letter is usually $0.90. Go to the USPS Web Site to determine the correct amount. Do not use pretty collectable stamps on your outgoing QSL cards. Postal workers in some countries will steal your envelope for the stamp. Use dog ugly stamps or maybe even a postage machine inked stamp.

On your self addressed return envelope write USA across the bottom of your address! The postal worker in Hara Zimbabwe might not know that Mexia, Texas is in the United States.

Use those peel and seal type envelopes as your self addressed return envelope for your QSL Card. You try licking dozens of envelopes ever night!

We all love to get those beautiful full color QSL cards from exotic places and so do the DX stations. Full color QSL card printing is affordable now days from several printing companies on the web. Do take a little extra effort and design/print a pretty full color QSL card. The DX station will appreciate it. Take a look at some of the sponsors on this web page.

Since we're talking about QSL card designs, do not have nude women (or men) on your QSL card. Yes, I have received cards with bare naked ladies swimming on the beach on the front of the card. Not that I didn't appreciate the images. In some countries, the DX Operator can actually, and have been, arrested for receiving pornography through the mail. 

In addition to the above, don't get too overly political with your QSL card design. I also have an affection for our flag but try not to wave it too hard on your QSL card. Although we have a special brotherhood with our DX friends, in some cultures flag waving could be taboo.

Look up the country on this list to see the preferred form of exchange, IRC or Green Stamps. In some countries, possession of US currency is a crime.

If you mess up the contact information on your card you are sending, don't scribble over it and try to correct the information. Instead, discard it and start completely over. The DX station probably needs your card too for an award and an altered card will be disqualified for the award.

Do not mention anything about Ham Radio on either envelope. Do not place any call signs on either envelope. This is an indication to a postal worker under temptation, and if there is any indication that there might be currency inside, consider your QSL Card gone. Try to make your envelope appear as boring as possible or like a boring business mailing.

Place your Green Stamps ($$) or IRCs inside the SAE to hide it from being visible from the outside. Also, turn the nice full color side of your QSL card away from the outside of the envelope. It shouldn't be obvious what might be inside the envelope.

On the return envelope, leave plenty of room for the DX operator to place a stamp.