Once a relatively small rural settlement on the River Clyde, Glasgow expanded dramatically over the centuries to become the largest city in Scotland. From the early eighteenth century Glasgow prospered as it emerged as one of Britain's principal transatlantic trade hubs with North America and the West Indies, as well as one of the world's largest seaports. As the Industrial Revolution took hold, Glasgow continued to thrive, becoming world-famous for its shipbuilding and marine industries. In Victorian times Glasgow was recognised as the 'Second City of the British Empire', while today it is one of the top ten financial centres in Europe. Glasgow: The Postcard Collection takes the reader on a nostalgic journey back through Glasgow's past in a vibrant selection of old picture postcards, offering an illuminating pictorial history of this great city.