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A 5.5x3.5" vintage RPPC photo postcard from the estate of a vintage postcard collector.
Photo Overview
A clean broadside photograph of the P&O liner SS Arcadia, dressed overall with signal flags and bunting, photographed at anchor in what appears to be Sydney Harbour, Australia. The ship's name appears prominently on her hull amidships, and the distinctive single funnel with its rounded top and 'ARCADIA' lettering is clearly visible. The coastline visible in the background is consistent with Sydney's northern suburbs. This is a real photo postcard (RPPC) capturing the vessel in fine form, likely shortly after her maiden voyage arrival in Australia in 1954.
Historical Notes
MV Arcadia was built by John Brown & Co. at Clydebank, Scotland, and launched in 1953. She entered service for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O) in February 1954, becoming one of the flagship liners on the Britain-Australia run. Displacing 29,734 gross tons, she could carry around 1,400 passengers and became a popular and well-regarded vessel on the Southampton-Australia route.
Arcadia served P&O loyally for over two decades, transitioning from a two-class liner to a full cruise ship as the jet age eroded the passenger liner trade. She was eventually sold for scrap in Taiwan in 1979, ending a distinguished 25-year career. The P&O line itself was later absorbed into what became the Carnival Corporation empire, though the P&O Cruises brand survives today.
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Text Present
Front, bottom center caption: 'P.&O. ARCADIA'
Front, amidships on hull: 'ARCADIA'
Front, funnel: 'ARCAD' (partial lettering visible)
Back, vertical text (rotated 90 degrees, center): 'REAL PHOTOGRAPH'
Back, top: 'POST CARD'
Back, left: 'CORRESPONDENCE'
Back, right: 'ADDRESS'
Print analysis
This is a Real Photo Postcard (RPPC). The back clearly states 'REAL PHOTOGRAPH' in vertical text, and the image surface shows the continuous-tone quality of a genuine photographic print rather than a halftone dot pattern. The postcard format, blank divided back with no publisher imprint, and the photographic quality all confirm this is a Type 1 original RPPC printed at the time of the ship's service, likely circa 1954-1958.
Condition
All postcards we sell are in fair to excellent vintage condition. Please see photos for any tears, folds, smudges, or other age damage that may be present.
