Our Services
Three Services, Three Deliverables
Each project Quill Cypress undertakes results in a specific, physical output. Below is a full account of what each service involves, how it proceeds, and what it costs.
← Return to HomeHow We Proceed
Our General Method
Every project begins with an initial enquiry. We ask the household to describe what they have — the type of material, approximate quantity, language, and condition. Based on this, we confirm whether the project falls within the scope of one of our three services and provide an estimated schedule.
Materials are collected or received by arrangement. We maintain a written log of everything received and confirm receipt in writing. The project then proceeds according to the service specification: reading and transcription, or organisation and scanning, or layout and printing.
At the conclusion of the project, the finished deliverable is presented to the household alongside all original materials. We do not retain copies of source materials after handover.
Service I
Family Letter Transcription
A specialist service to read and transcribe handwritten family letters that are difficult to decipher because of age or unfamiliar handwriting, producing typed pages alongside the originals in a printed booklet. Up to forty pages of source material is included. The deliverable is purely documentary; the service does not interpret the meaning of any content. Suitable for households that wish to make older letters readable for the present generation.
What Is Included
- Reading and transcription of up to 40 pages of source material
- Typed transcript set alongside the original in a printed booklet
- Ambiguous passages flagged and queried before finalisation
- Printed on acid-free paper with archival binding
- All original letters returned to the household
How It Proceeds
- 1.Initial review of materials and confirmation of scope
- 2.Collection or receipt of source letters by arrangement
- 3.Full reading of each letter before transcription begins
- 4.Transcription with queries to household for unclear passages
- 5.Typesetting and print production of the finished booklet
- 6.Delivery of booklet and return of all originals
Price
RM 1,860
Typical timeline: 3–4 weeks from receipt of materials
Service II
Estate Photograph Catalogue
A photograph-archive programme: photographs already in the home are organised, dated where possible from family input, scanned at standard archival resolution, and arranged into a printed catalogue of up to two hundred images with a written index. Originals are returned to the family. The project is archival and historical in nature.
What Is Included
- Organisation and dating of up to 200 photographs
- Archival-resolution scanning of each photograph
- Printed catalogue with written index
- Family consultation for dating and identification
- All originals returned on project completion
How It Proceeds
- 1.Initial review and count of photographs
- 2.Collection of photographs by arrangement
- 3.Preliminary organisation and sorting
- 4.Consultation with household for dates and identification
- 5.Archival scanning and index preparation
- 6.Catalogue printed and delivered; originals returned
Price
RM 2,980
Typical timeline: 4–6 weeks from receipt of materials
Service III
Heritage Reference Card
A small printed reference card — A5, folded — that records, in calm language and a clean layout, the basic family tree to two prior generations, along with a short written note on family origin supplied by the household. Two printed copies are produced. The card is purely informational. No genealogical claims are made beyond what the family itself supplies.
What Is Included
- A5 folded card, typeset in a clean, readable layout
- Family tree to two prior generations (from information supplied)
- Short written note on family origin (drafted from household input)
- Two printed copies on archival-quality card stock
How It Proceeds
- 1.Brief consultation to collect family names and origin note
- 2.Draft layout shared for household review
- 3.One round of corrections incorporated
- 4.Two copies printed and delivered
Price
RM 320
Typical timeline: 1–2 weeks from consultation
Choose a Service
Which Service Suits Your Materials?
Use this table to identify the most appropriate starting point. Households with both letters and photographs may wish to commission more than one service.
| Materials / Need | Letter Transcription | Photo Catalogue | Heritage Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| Handwritten letters, difficult to read | — | — | |
| Family photographs with no organisation | — | — | |
| Basic family history to share with relatives | — | — | |
| Printed physical output required | |||
| Lower entry cost | — | — | |
| Originals returned after completion | N/A |
Pricing
Fixed Prices, Clear Scope
Service I
Letter Transcription
RM 1,860
Up to 40 pages · Printed booklet
- Reading & transcription
- Printed booklet
- Originals returned
Service II
Photo Catalogue
RM 2,980
Up to 200 photos · Printed catalogue
- Organisation & scanning
- Written index
- Originals returned
Service III
Heritage Card
RM 320
A5 folded · Two copies
- Family tree to 2 generations
- Origin note included
- Two printed copies
Standards
Protocols Shared Across All Services
Written Project Log
A written log is kept for every project, noting what was received, when, and in what condition. This is shared with the household at the conclusion.
Discretion Undertaking
We do not discuss the content of any household's materials outside the project. All team members observe this as a working norm.
Return of Originals
Original letters and photographs are returned to the household at the end of the project, in the same condition as received (or with any noted exceptions).
Archival Print Quality
All printed deliverables use acid-free paper and archival binding. We do not use standard office supplies for the final output.
Next Step
Not Sure Which Service Fits?
Write to us with a description of your materials. We will reply with an honest account of what is possible and which service applies.
Write to Us