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Birthday Card

1959 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Unknown (printers and publishers)
Place of origin
England (printed)

Jennifer Leaver has kept every single birthday card she ever received and she has given the Museum the first eighteen years worth. Jennifer was born in the mid 1950s and the collection provides a snapshot of the changing designs of cards during this period of change and development in the history of childhood. It is fascinating to observe different trends dependent on the age Jennifer was in each particular year. The cards demonstrate the interests of a girl growing up at this time, from cute and cuddly animals to parties and music.


Object details

Categories
Children & Childhood
Greeting Cards
Object type
Birthday card
Materials and techniques
Colour printed card
Card
Colour Printing
Brief description
colour printed birthday card showing a dog in a canoe and a cat. Printed in England in 1959. Given to Jennier Leaver (nee Davies) on her third birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed card folded in to four sections with a vertical spine and landscape format. The front of the card shows an illustration of a dog in a canoe dressed as a sailor, with a cat also dressed as a sailor pulling the dog in to shore. There is a large number 3 in the top right corner of the card in gold. The card has printed and handwritten messages.
Dimensions
  • Height: 14.5cm
  • Width: 17cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'BIRTHDAY WISHES 3 / TODAY' (printed on front)
  • 'TWO JOLLY PETS SO HAPPY AND GAY, / PADDLE ALONG ON THEIR MERRY WAY, / THEY'RE BRINGING YOU MY WISH SINCERE / FOR A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR, / AND NOW YOUR SPECIAL DAY'S BEGUN / I HOPE YOU'LL HAVE / A LOT OF FUN.' (printed inside)
  • 'To Jennifer / from Marion / & / Brian.' (Handwritten inside)
  • '1/400NT'
  • 'MADE IN ENGLAND'
Credit line
Given by Jennifer Leaver
Object history
colour printed birthday card with a cartoon illustration of a dog dressed as a sailor in a canoe with a cat pulling the dog to shore. Made in England, 1959. Given to Jennier Leaver (nee Davies) on her third birthday.
Subject depicted
Birthday
Summary
Jennifer Leaver has kept every single birthday card she ever received and she has given the Museum the first eighteen years worth. Jennifer was born in the mid 1950s and the collection provides a snapshot of the changing designs of cards during this period of change and development in the history of childhood. It is fascinating to observe different trends dependent on the age Jennifer was in each particular year. The cards demonstrate the interests of a girl growing up at this time, from cute and cuddly animals to parties and music.
Collection
Young V&A Collection
Accession number
B.379-2010

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Record createdFebruary 16, 2011
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1192985/birthday-card-unknown/
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