The National Library of Moldova has got a heritage of over 96 000 copies. Among them there are the cards “Souvenir of Bessarabia” which are unique and remarkable. They were in circulation up to 1900 and represented valuable images of Bessarabia: rural life, traditions, people, spectacular scenery of the main rivers Prut and Nistru, towns and cities, etc. From 1898 until 1918, the postcard industry developed rapidly; this period was considered the golden age of cartophily. Studying the postcards in the Department of rare books, I have found some cartophilic documents (36 in number) that drew my attention. They represent the city of Chisinau in the 19th century, and, in addition to their primary function as postcards, they have also a documentary function – the majority of them depict Chisinau’s streets, architecture, historical monuments, etc. of the 19th and 20th centuries.