Unfortunately we will probably never be able to establish exactly how many different postcards with motive from the Swedish American Line there really are. Experts suggest around 600, if we count some with only minute variation in motive or which have the same motive but are printed at different printing offices. In reality there are probably a few hundred more, if we include a number of private photographs which have been turned into postcards.

What we know for sure is that hundreds of thousands of postcards were sent, not only by passengers but also by people who simply liked the motives and actually never were aboard any of the boats.

Either way, nobody will most likely ever reach a complete collection, despite the determined efforts of some collectors.