We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: B.481-2010
Find out about our images

Not currently on display at the V&A

Birthday Card

1965 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This birthday card, one of a group of 269, was given to and kept by Jennifer Leaver (née Davies). The cards were given to her by a range of relatives and friends and span from 1957 to1975 - the dates of her first to her eighteenth birthday.
Jennifer was born in 1957 and the cards reflect progression of typography, imagery and graphic styles for birthday cards, spanning over three decades.

The cards also reflect the changing and age appropriate imagery chosen by greetings card companies as well as the choices made by those who selected and sent the cards to Jennifer as she grew older.
Some of the earlier younger cards commonly show childish scenes often including illustrated baby animal characters, whereas later cards reflect perceived changes of interest for a growing girl such as images of flowers, fashions and music.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Colour printed card
Brief description
Colour printed birthday card for a 9 year old with an illustration of two girls dressing up, printed for Chimes, given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies), 1965.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card folded in four in a landscape format. Depicts an illustration of two girls playing dressing up with a box of clothes and a mirror. When the card is opened, a pop out is shown of a girl dressed as a ballerina in the middle of two other girls performing for an audience of toys. A birthday wish is printed at the top of the card and a large number '9' is printed towards the left. There are printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Length: 14cm
  • When folded as a card width: 16.6cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'HAPPY / BIRTHDAY / 9' (printed on front)
  • 'AND PLENTY / OF FUN / FOR / YOU / TODAY' (printed inside)
  • 'To Jennifer / with love / from / gill. / xxxx' (Handwritten on the back of the card)
  • 'TRADE CHIMES MARK / REG'
  • 'B/54'
Credit line
Given by Jennifer Leaver
Object history
One of 269 cards donated by Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) that have been given to her on her birthdays from 1-18 from family and friends.
Subject depicted
Summary
This birthday card, one of a group of 269, was given to and kept by Jennifer Leaver (née Davies). The cards were given to her by a range of relatives and friends and span from 1957 to1975 - the dates of her first to her eighteenth birthday.
Jennifer was born in 1957 and the cards reflect progression of typography, imagery and graphic styles for birthday cards, spanning over three decades.

The cards also reflect the changing and age appropriate imagery chosen by greetings card companies as well as the choices made by those who selected and sent the cards to Jennifer as she grew older.
Some of the earlier younger cards commonly show childish scenes often including illustrated baby animal characters, whereas later cards reflect perceived changes of interest for a growing girl such as images of flowers, fashions and music.
Collection
Accession number
B.481-2010

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 22, 2011
Record URL
Download as: JSON