Not currently on display at the V&A

Birthday Card

1948 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown (manufacturer)
Place of origin
England (printed)

One of 17 cards donated by Linda Underwood (née Gotts) that were given to her on her 1st birthday from family and friends. Linda turned one in March 1948 and the cards reflect the typography, imagery and graphic styles used for birthday cards in the 1940s.


Object details

Categories
Children & Childhood
Greeting Cards
Object type
Birthday card
Materials and techniques
Colour printed paper
Paper
Ink
Printing
Folding
Handwriting
Brief description
Printed 1st birthday card, England, 1948
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card showing a yellow teddy bear sitting on a cushion in a room. On the right hand side is a large, gold coloured number 1. Inside the card, the messages are printed and written.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10.9cm
  • Card closed width: 14.7cm
  • Card open width: 27.6cm
Style
Mid 20th Century
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • NOW / YOU / ARE / 1 (Printed on the front of the card)
  • To a dear little darling / Who's cuddled and nursed, / And whose Birthday's important / Because it's the FIRST, / Comes a gay little message / With wishes sincere, / For gladness and joy, / And good luck, Baby dear. (Printed on the inside of the card)
  • TO LIDA / FROM AUNT / LIZZIE (Hand written inside the card)
Credit line
Given by Linda Underwood
Object history
This card is from Lizzie, who was a good friend of Linda's mother and her brother. Linda remembers that her mother, uncle and Lizzie "went to the same dances together."
Subject depicted
Birthday
Association
Birthday
Summary
One of 17 cards donated by Linda Underwood (née Gotts) that were given to her on her 1st birthday from family and friends. Linda turned one in March 1948 and the cards reflect the typography, imagery and graphic styles used for birthday cards in the 1940s.
Associated objects
Collection
Young V&A Collection
Accession number
B.588-2016

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Record createdMarch 2, 2017
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1386604/birthday-card-unknown/
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