Postcards with Love

From the Vault:

Postcards with Love

'Special Collection of Postcards "Motherhood",' from archival postcards album. (HC.HP.2017.0018). Courtesy of Qatar National Library.

Ithraeyat Editorial Team

10 minutes read

March 30, 2026

These postcards are frozen vignettes of a timeless truth: the mother in all her glory.

The monochrome palette strips away distraction, leaving only the profound architecture of a shared look, the protective curve of an arm, and the weariness and strength etched in hands that tell stories of labor and love.

These postcards, sent across seas and decades, were never just souvenirs of a place, but fleeting testaments to its soul, carried in the enduring figure of the mother.

Here we share a selection from Qatar National Library’s distinctive collection in Heritage library, we hope you enjoy this trip down a photographic memory.

Explore these vintage postcards:

<p>'Studio portrait of a Georgian family in traditional costumes,' photographed by <a href="https://elibrary.qnl.qa/iii/encore/search/C__SErmakov%2C%20D.I.%2C__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=def" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">D.I. Ermakov</a>. (1846-1916). (HC.HP.2016.0040-0007). Courtesy of <a href="https://elibrary.qnl.qa/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2811182?lang=eng" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Qatar National Library</a>.</p>

'Studio portrait of a Georgian family in traditional costumes,' photographed by D.I. Ermakov. (1846-1916). (HC.HP.2016.0040-0007). Courtesy of Qatar National Library.

<p>'Local woman carrying her child,' photographed by <a href="https://elibrary.qnl.qa/iii/encore/search/C__SBougault%2C%20Alexandre%2C__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=def" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alexandre Bougault</a>. (1851-1911). (HC.HP.2017.0001-0009). Courtesy of <a href="https://elibrary.qnl.qa/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2557023?lang=eng" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Qatar National Library</a>.</p>

'Local woman carrying her child,' photographed by Alexandre Bougault. (1851-1911). (HC.HP.2017.0001-0009). Courtesy of Qatar National Library.

<p>'Local woman carrying a sleeping child on back,' photographed by <a href="https://elibrary.qnl.qa/iii/encore/search/C__SBougault%2C%20Alexandre%2C__Orightresult?lang=eng&suite=def" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Alexandre Bougault</a>. (1851-1911). (HC.HP.2017.0001-0008). Courtesy of <a href="https://elibrary.qnl.qa/iii/encore/record/C__Rb2557022__SBougault%2C%20Alexandre%2C__P0%2C7__Orightresult__X4?lang=eng&suite=def" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Qatar National Library</a>. </p>

'Local woman carrying a sleeping child on back,' photographed by Alexandre Bougault. (1851-1911). (HC.HP.2017.0001-0008). Courtesy of Qatar National Library.