The Enduring Appeal of Vintage Norfolk Railway Postcards

Not so long ago, before you could get cheap flights to the Mediterranean, the majority of British people stayed in the UK for their holidays. The extensive and relatively cheap railways meant that you could reach almost any corner of our isle in less than a day. In the first half of the 20th Century, popular holiday spots from Bridlington to Brighton and Weymouth to Whitby competed for the new rail tourists’ attention. One key advertising strategy was the postcard. A 1988 stamp shows the Mallard collecting mail bags. You could travel to your holiday by train, and send your postcards that way, too! Holidaymakers loved to talk about the places they had been on holiday. A postcard mailed from your holiday destination was a great way to show off where you’d been and what you did there. Postcards also provided a format for towns and regions to advertise their charms in distant places. Eye-catching artwork featuring the stunning local scenery (and attractive locals in their swimwear) made the region look enticing to potential visitors – and the simple colour palette made them cheap to mass produce. The “Better by Train” postcards were a marketing hit. Nowadays, they’re a unique snapshot of a time gone by, and postcards that would have sold five for a penny have become collector’s items. Norfolk was no exception to this postcard phenomenon and cards advertising seaside towns such as Cromer and Sheringham are highly prized. The Norfolk Broads was another popular destination immortalised in postcard artwork. Now back in print, you’ll probably see plenty of these charming designs in corner shops as we come up to the summer holidays. What better way to invite your friends and family to come and enjoy the Norfolk countryside? Follow Colour Print on Facebook and on Twitter at @Colour_Print for more fascinating stories about print past and present.