These postcards were collected by Joseph Needham on his travels within the United Kingdom and Europe, or sent to him and Dorothy Needham by friends and family. They show exteriors and interiors of churches, chapels, villages, aerial views, notable buildings, and details of stonework and statues. Many have Joseph Needham's notes on the front, also his notes and drawings on the back. The series also includes postcards from the Frieburg Passion Play dated 1921 or 1922 and the Oberammergau Passion Play dated 1922.
They also include postcards of trains and train stations.
The earliest postcard was sent to Joseph Needham postmarked 1903.
Some were collected when Joseph Needham was on his Cotswold morris dancing tour in 1932.
Some were sent from Joseph Needham to Dorothy Needham soon after their marriage, dated late 1920s.
Some photographs were placed by Joseph Needham in this series of postcards.
Unless stated otherwise, the views show the exterior of churches, chapels and buildings.
In the first box is a list of villages and counties handwritten by Joseph Needham on two postcards from the English Speaking Union. On one postcard is a handwritten quotation from R. Ellis Roberts.