Title
1940s Ceylon Colombo Palm Fringed Coast Beach Outrigger Canoes RPPC Postcard
Front
Black and white real photographic seascape looking along the palm-lined coastline near Colombo, Ceylon. The view is taken from slightly elevated ground behind a fringe of coconut palms, whose dark fronds frame the picture heavily at the left, right and lower foreground in near silhouette against the bright water.
A broad crescent of sandy beach sweeps away into the distance at the upper left, backed along its entire length by a dense unbroken belt of coconut palms rising to a low wooded ridge on the horizon. The sea occupies the left and centre of the image, with long lines of surf breaking in white foam and running up the beach in successive curved swells. Several dark weathered rock outcrops break the surface of the shallows and lie exposed on the wet sand in the middle distance and foreground, the largest at lower centre with a group of smaller boulders around it.
At the lower right, drawn up on the dry sand beneath the palms, is a cluster of traditional Sinhalese outrigger fishing canoes (oruwa), their long slender hulls, projecting bow and stern points and lashed outrigger booms clearly visible. A solitary fisherman in a light cloth and hat stands among the beached craft. The sky above is bright and almost featureless, giving a strong tonal contrast typical of tropical midday photography.
Printed in white capitals across the lower left of the image: “COLOMBO’S PALM-FRINGED COAST, CEYLON.”
Back
Divided-back real photo postcard back, printed text in red.
Printed heading across the top: “POST CARD”
Beneath: “BRITISH MADE”
Either side of the ornamental T-shaped dividing rule: “CORRESPONDENCE” and “ADDRESS ONLY”
Printed vertically along the left edge: “No. 9 — Copyright by PLÂTÉ, LTD., CEYLON.”
No stamp or postmark present, the card having travelled by Forces mail concession.
Handwritten in blue ink across the top left, underlined: “Forces air mail”
Handwritten in blue ink in the address panel at right:
“Miss J. Milne
Old Sleningford
Hall
Mickley
Nr Ripon
Yorkshire
England”
The message panel is blank.
Estimated Era
Circa 1940s, most probably during or shortly after the Second World War. The endorsement “Forces air mail” written by the sender in place of a stamp indicates use under the wartime and immediate post-war British armed forces concessionary postal rates, and Ceylon was a major Royal Navy and Allied base in the Indian Ocean from 1942, with Colombo and Trincomalee hosting large numbers of British service personnel. The publisher, Plâté Ltd of Colombo, was the island’s leading photographic firm from the late nineteenth century through the mid twentieth, and the “BRITISH MADE” divided back with the ornate T-rule is a stock format of the 1930s to 1940s. The country is still styled Ceylon, a designation retained until 1972. A dating of about 1942 to 1948 is the most likely, with the photograph itself possibly a slightly earlier 1930s negative.
Note: Coins & Banknotes Grading
- Please
closely inspect the photos to understand the condition of the coins or
banknotes before proceeding with your purchase, as grading can be
subjective and varies from person to person. - Please do not place too much hope on grading companies to grade the notes accurately, as they can be notoriously inconsistent.
- Different graders have different opinions, eye factors, and knowledge that influence the final grading.
- Even grading companies do not guarantee that you will get the outcome of your desired grading.
- If
you have any questions or require additional information, I am more
than happy to assist. Please feel free to contact me anytime.
Shipping Information
- Combined Shipping:
We offer combined shipping for all banknotes. To take advantage of this
offer, please add the items to your cart together and only proceed to
checkout once you are ready to pay. The combined shipping is calculated
at the checkout page. Please do not pay for items individually, as the
shipping costs will not be combined that way. - Customs, Duty, Tariff Fees: Buyers are responsible for any applicable customs, duty or tariff fees.
- International Shipping:
Shipping duration can vary, typically ranging from 14 to 60 business
days for standard delivery. Please be aware that these shipping times
are estimates and depend on the operational efficiencies of the shipping
companies, which we cannot control. - Postage Costs:
Please note that international shipping via Australia Post is not
cheap. We strive to keep the shipping costs as low as possible,
sometimes even absorbing a portion of the costs. All orders are sent
with end-to-end tracking for safety and reliability. - Untracked Shipping Requests:
If a buyer insists on requesting an untracked, cheaper shipping option,
we reserve the right to grant or refuse the request. If untracked
shipping is granted, please be aware that we have no way of tracking the
mail, and the buyer is strictly responsible for any losses in transit. - Tracking and Logistics:
Please check Australia Post for tracking status. Since we do not own
Australia Post, we have absolutely no control over their handling times
and methods. Australia is a huge continent, and logistics are
challenging, coupled with one of the highest minimum wages in the world,
making costs and operations tough. Please check with your postal
service or local post offices if any unattended mail notes are left, as
we absolutely can’t control that remotely.
Customer Conduct
- Please be respectful when communicating with us. We do not tolerate abusive behaviour from buyers.
- If you do not agree with the postage cost or any other terms, please refrain from making a purchase.
