Collector programme

Keep your postcards.
Share their stories.

The Museum of Written Postcards is a growing archive of ordinary, handwritten lives. You do not need to post anything away. Scan your cards, send them in, and we will digitise, transcribe and credit your collection.

Start your collection Upload a postcard

No account required. If you prefer, you can stay anonymous.

Step I

Scan the front and back

Use a phone or flatbed scanner. We need the picture side and the written side, plus any close-ups of stamps or postmarks that help tell the story.

Step II

Send them to the curator

Upload the scans through our simple form. Add a name if you would like a credit, or stay anonymous. The card stays safely with you.

Step III

The AI reads and dates the card

Our curator's assistant transcribes the handwriting, estimates the date, places the route on the atlas, and drafts historical context.

What you get

A public collection page of your own

Sign in to create a collector profile. Every card you contribute will be credited to your collection and linked back to your page.

A permanent, shareable collection page
Credit lines on every card you contribute
Your postcards preserved in a searchable archive
Optional bio and public/private toggle

Prefer to remain anonymous? Your cards can still appear in the museum, credited simply as “a private collection” or the name you choose.

Why contribute

Small histories, saved together

A single postcard can reveal a relationship, a journey, a wartime hello, or a holiday thought. When thousands are gathered in one place, they become a chorus of ordinary lives.

Transcribed and searchable

Handwriting becomes text, so future researchers can find the people and places inside.

Mapped and dated

Each card is placed on the Atlas and in the Timeline, connected to its era.

Credited, not claimed

You keep ownership. The museum simply preserves the scan and gives you credit.

How do I accession a card?

Take a high-resolution photo of the front and back of the card in good lighting — a smartphone will do the trick. Upload it through the Contribute form and you will see the details of the card. It will appear in the gallery and will be fully searchable.

Do I need to post my postcards to the museum?

No. Keep your postcards safely at home. The Museum of Written Postcards only needs a scan or photograph. You keep the original.

Do I need an account?

Not for a single contribution. If you want a credited public collection page, sign in to create a collector profile.

Will my contribution be public?

By default, approved cards appear in the gallery, Atlas, and Timeline. You can choose to remain anonymous or keep your collector profile private at any time.

What happens to the copyright?

You keep ownership of the physical postcard and the scan. By uploading, you grant the museum a non-exclusive licence to display, transcribe, and share the image for archival and educational purposes.

Ready?

Start your collection today

Whether you have one postcard or a tin full, the process is the same: scan, upload, and let the museum do the rest.

Contribute a postcard Read the rescue appeal

Continue your visit

Contribute a postcard·The Gallery·About the museum·The Great Postcard Rescue