A POSTCARD that survived a drop from a hot air balloon and was discovered in a Haslingden street could raise a small fortune when it is auctioned.

The extremely rare 1902 Lifeboat Saturday postcard is one of only a handful from that year still known to exist in the country.

It is dated September 20 1902 and was found in Blackburn Old Road by a J Haworth of Hud Hey Road, Haslingden. Spink Auctioneers, London, will be auction it on June 7.

Consultant Mark Stephenson said: "I have seen 40 to 50 for Lifeboat Saturday from 1903, but I know of only four or five from 1902.

"It was a fund-raiser for the lifeboats and people would buy the cards, they would then be taken up in a hot air balloon and thrown out and whoever returned the card would win a prize."

The card depicts a blue, red and maroon balloon with a banner saying Lifeboat Saturday and two union flags hanging from the basket.

It was bought by someone from The Cottage, Row of Trees, Alderley Edge, and the stamp is from King Edward VII and it was posted back to an address in Manchester.

Mr Stephenson said: "I contacted an aeronautica dealer, they deal in anything to do with the air and he has seen one of these cards, which went for more than £5,000, so we hope this one will raise more than the estimate of up to £2,000."

He said the company sent catalogues world-wide, but postcards such as these were normally bought by English collectors.

The card was discovered when the company has a valuation day in the South West and a woman who had to card in her family since it was sent asked for it to be valued. It is now being sold on her behalf.

If anyone has more information about the cards, they can contact Mr Stephenson on 0207 563 4000.