I know I am just an old Brit...but can I offer you my 2c worth about PFX
and the Dartmoor model..cos I like your X count but maybe you'd like to
hear about how we do it...
To make em clear here's a basic list of types of stamps we have....there
are a few other oddities..but broadly...
On the wild moor of Dartmoor we have normal boxes and those "moving boxes"
...what LbNA calls hitchhikers (a much better name imho)..
These are just the same (roughly) as US boxes ... so far so good...(?)
We count these as "score" boxes...F count to the LBNA members.
If you place one / put one out, LbNA counts a P rating..(we don't count
P's in the UK).
We also have boxes in buildings like
pubs/restaurants/churches/hotels/garages even non-buildings like vending
vehicles ..selling, say ice cream.
( I even know one very famous University which has a secret box at the
Porters Lodge !..but that is an "extreme site" so do beware !...sticking
alligators dangerous ? pah ! try prodding a UK University Porter !
There is an agreement (unwritten) that to "Join" the 100 club these latter
building boxes aren't counted ... initially at least...ie after the first
100 then "maybe"....Some folk keep a separate count of these building
types. (I do)
These are not very common in the US I believe, but there are some book
boxes (or were) ..I recall some in Vermont I believe...I haven't checked
lately..they were a nice idea too.. jmho.
But we also have "travellers"...
No not travelling or moving boxes (hitchhikers) but boxes carried by
letterboxers to give to other boxers when meeting them on the moor....like
the X (E) count..
But we "don't" use our personal stamp...we use a special "exchange
stamp"..some folk even change em from year to year and there are some that
last only over say the Christmas/New year holiday.
It's a debate if these are "specials" like the Meet Stamp (Special event
stamps)..but my view is if they are on the move with a boxer then that's a
"traveller".
We keep a separate catalogue of "travellers" and they can be much more
ornate than other stamps..the nearest idea I can compare them too is QSL
cards issued by radio hams.
It is not uncommon for a boxer to carry a set of prepared cards with
his/her traveller ready stamped up on some 6 x 4's , often multicoloured
and with stylish extras like embossing and stuff.
The basic "rules" (if there are any ) is that you do "exchange".. ie
one-for-one.. and only if they are asked for ..and only on the moor....The
question "Are you carrying a traveller ?" may result in a card or an odd
look
These are the nearest to LBNA X counts I think, but the idea of giving
your "personal" to someone is a bit odd, when viewed from my side of the
pond...
Finally a little tale from when I was a newby boxer with my even younger
son, then about 6years old I guess. We were setting off from a remote
car park and as we put on our boots another intrepid couple of hikers
drove up and parked nearby. My young son told em we were going "boxing"
but sadly that he hadn't got a 1000 yet ! They smiled...and I was sure
they didn't know what the Dickens he meant and so we went merrily on our
way. On our return, under the wiper blade was a zip lock bag with two
lovely travellers and a note "To Leo, to help you to your first 1000".
Boxers are cute ..and secretive...we discovered later that they were
10,000 plus count hi-rolling boxers !
Incidentally I keep separate indices for:
M=moor boxes
T=travellers (=X in LbNA land)
B=buildings
W=walk sets (planned walks on the moors)
S=specials (non outside / event stamps etc)
M+W = my true boxing score..Because I used my skill ,judgement ,
and effort , to find those "on the hoof" so to speak !
And of course M+W = "Moorland Wizard" after all !
That's a Brits 2c about T or X counts ..there's lots of room for even more
stamp categories in letterboxland I feel.
Happy Holidays.
Enjoy many good boxing outings and keep scoring...Mind those P's and X's
Graham Howard
PS one day I plan to add a "F" category myself in honour of LbNA but so
far my US F count = 0