Contents of Sophia's book safe

(Click on images to enlarge them)

Here's what's in Sophia's book safe:

Postcards? I don't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't postcards! There must be a reason for it though. Is there any sort of pattern to them? The backsides are cryptic, with curious notations that offer little in the way of discernible information. And our fairyfly has scanned the cards to determine if there is hidden writing, the kind that can be seen when heated or under a black light—nothing there.

Below are images of the front and back of each postcard. I've listed them in alphabetical order by country for ease of reference.

BRAZIL
(statue of Christ, Rio de Janeiro)

 

CHINA
(The Great Wall)

 

CZECH REPUBLIC
(Astronomical clock, Prague)

 

ENGLAND
(Houses of Parliament & Big Ben, London)

 

FRANCE
(Clock by Victor Laloux at Musée d'Orsay, Paris)

 

GERMANY
(Rathaus-Glockenspiel, Munich)

 

RUSSIA
(Spasskaya Tower & Saint Basil's Cathedral, Moscow)

 

TURKEY
(Hagia Sophia, Istanbul)

 

USA
(Mount Rushmore)
 

(San Francisco)
 

VATICAN
(St. Pete's Basilica)
 

Hopefully the scroll enclosed will offer some direction.

For ease of readability, here's what the scroll says:

Valiant Knaight of the Firmament, The existence of this scroll means that once again the cryptex has had to be moved to keep its location secret. If the cryptex has been activated, then you know time is of the essence and must be followed strictly to prevent the scroll’s destruction. Go where the clocks lead in the order they dictate. Having come this far, you have already proved your worthiness. Now proceed with vigor and (like Sophia) wisdom, and you will prevail. Instinct will take you far. Travel is a blessing and a privilege. Trust what you know, and learn what you don’t. Continue quickly. Keep faith. Secure the message at all costs. Once the cock has crowed and you are in possession of all the pieces to the cryptex’s puzzle, take a brief stroll via “Maria quadratum est scriptor” to the nearest brew house to work things out. Ordering a Ritterschlüssel is sure to put you in the proper mood and frame of mind.

The scroll includes the phrase "Go where the clocks lead in the order they dictate." What could that mean as applies to the postcards? Which of the postcard cities show a clock? I'd advise keeping a written list of the cities for future reference. You will also want to keep a list of answers to all questions preceded by a rosette 🏵 emoji (as shown in the first question in the form below.

This part of the quest requires precise answers and concentration. If you get things wrong, you will not be able to move on, so be sure to answer each question with care.