This early 20th-century postcard provides a beautiful hand-coloured view of the Northern Irish coast and an enchanting message detailing a simple, active holiday routine.
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| Island Magee, Larne, County Antrim 1908 |
The Image: Island Magee, County Antrim
The front of the card, labelled "Island Magee. Aug. 7" (likely indicating the date the image was captured, or perhaps the card's edition), presents a picturesque view of the coast near Larne, County Antrim:
The Scene: We see a wide expanse of the shoreline, with the water ebbing out to reveal a muddy foreshore dotted with seaweed. A prominent, tall, cylindrical structure (perhaps a former lighthouse or beacon) stands on the shore.
The Background: The background features rolling green hills and a scattering of coastal buildings. The overall tone, achieved through the hand-colouring process, gives the scene a slightly romantic, historic appearance.
Location: The area around Larne, including Islandmagee, is famous for its stunning coastal path and views toward the mouth of Larne Lough.
The Message: "Two bathings every day"
The postcard was sent to Mrs. Lowe at an address in Belfast.
The postmark is clearly dated 12:30 PM, AUG 8, 08 (August 8th, 1908), confirming the card's Edwardian vintage and the use of the King Edward VII one-penny stamp.
The sender, signing off as "K. O. S," gives a wonderful, detailed account of their seaside activities:
"Having such a nice time! Two bathings every day. The papers here are very poor. Love from K. O. S."
Key Takeaways from the Message:
"Two bathings every day": This is a fantastic detail! "Bathing" refers to swimming, and the mention of two dips a day highlights how central sea-swimming was to seaside holidays at the time. It speaks to a very invigorating and active holiday!
"The papers here are very poor": A wonderfully human detail. Even in 1908, people were concerned about the quality of their news updates while away!
The Date: The 1908 date places this card firmly in the early part of the postcard boom, when sending daily updates was a popular and stylish means of communication.
This postcard is a cherished piece, perfectly documenting a summer holiday in Ulster over a century ago.
