This is a wonderful antique postcard capturing a dramatic scene: the launch of the Cromer lifeboat. The boat is shown heading down the slipway into the sea, an event that has drawn a huge crowd of onlookers. Men, women, and children in classic Edwardian attire line the promenade and beach to witness the spectacle, providing a fantastic snapshot of seaside life in the early 20th century.

Published by the 'Rounce & Wortley's Series', a well-regarded local photography firm based in Holt and Cromer, this card is a product of the 'Golden Age' of postcards. The divided back, which allowed for both a message and address on one side, and the printed stamp box indicating a halfpenny rate for inland postage, securely date it to the period between 1902 and 1918.

Unwritten and unposted, this card is a clean example of a highly sought-after subject. It holds great appeal for collectors of Norfolk topography, maritime history, and social history, offering a detailed and evocative glimpse into the past of this famous coastal town and its celebrated lifeboat service.

• Era: Circa 1900s
• Dating: Edwardian Golden Age, c. 1902-1918, based on the divided back layout and the printed stamp box for 1/2d inland postage.
• Origin: United Kingdom
• Publisher: Rounce & Wortley's Series
• Subject: Lifeboat launch watched by large crowd, Cromer, Norfolk
• Condition: Good; unused and unwritten, with a noticeable brownish stain on the upper right of the image.
• Collectibility: Highly collectible for its strong maritime and social history subject matter. Cromer lifeboat cards are very popular, and the view of the large Edwardian crowd adds significant interest. Cards by the local publisher Rounce & Wortley are also sought after.

A one-of-a-kind unwritten postcard from the archive of The Museum of Written Postcards. Sold as-is, sent in a protective sleeve by first-class post.

Each unwritten postcard purchased helps fund our mission to preserve many written histories.