What attracted you to....?

It takes my mind off the day's troubles and I can just calm down and focus on what I'm doing at the moment.

Picked it up as a kid from my dad, when I returned to it as an adult it was a great way to relax and unwind while learning about world history.

Like I was writing this!
same, same...

USPS hit all the targets with the 1974 issue: UPU, art, letter-writing, large pictorials, stamps-on-stamps, >4 setenant sets... I remember it well. It was one of the issues that inspired me to start a mini-collection of full panes that had more than 4 setenant stamps (I've quit that now, obviously).

Your request has brought back many fond memories. Japan has issued an annual stamp commemorating International Letter Writing week since 1958. I still prefer the first few issues, but that's my taste. They used to have nice premiums, but they dropped like a rock when the Japanese philately market crashed. Now they're only worth a buck or two, but the early stamps are still wonderfully designed.

Japan also began issuing an annual set for Letter Writing Day since 1980.

If you need pics of these, or more background, maybe you can contact Philatarium. His Japan collection is far more comprehensive than mine.

The US has a few other stamps commemorating letter-writing or depicting quill pens. Actually, I still owe you an envelope with the US Letter Writing Week set. The stamps have been sitting on one of my filing cabinets. I hadn't heard back from you regarding what other stamps you wanted on the cover the meet the overseas mailing rate. But now I think I have an idea of what might interest you. I assume you haven't moved since early last year.