The postcard in the Cartography Service of the National Library of Spain

Abstract

The postcard collection of the National Library of Spain represents one of the most extensive and diverse holdings of this type in the country, both in terms of volume and thematic, typological, and chronological variety. The article examines the historical evolution of the postcard from the late 19th century to the present; how postcards have gone from being an everyday means of communication to becoming a document of high historical, artistic, and sociocultural value, as well as the processes of organization, classification, preservation, and cataloging carried out by the Cartography Service of the BNE. It also highlights their importance as primary sources for research in fields such as history, geography, sociology, tourism studies, and the history of photography. Through both their images and handwritten texts, postcards document urban, landscape, and social transformations, providing a valuable visual and documentary testimony for the study of contemporary history.