An image used to create famous postcard of three fishermen is about to return to its place of origin in Trinity Bay.

The picture was taken 40 years ago by Nova Scotian photographer Sherman Hines and still is mailed all over the world.

It shows three fishermen leaning on a boat and sporting mischievous smiles.

For years a rumour had circulated that the men were really actors from Nova Scotia.

But CBC News has learned that the men in the postcard are in fact from Long Cove, Trinity Bay, and one of them, Doug Newhook (on the right-hand side of the photo), now 84, is still alive.

Hayward Smith knew all three of them and can vouch for their authenticity.

"They are absolutely the real thing. You know, when you get two or three fishermen together they're going to clown around a bit and that's what they did for the picture," he said.

Long Cove officials are planning to publicly display a large version of the picture in their community.