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Birthday Card

1957 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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
Object type
Materials and techniques
colour printed card
Brief description
Colour printed birthday card for a one year old, depicting cartoon lamb and bunny rabbit and a giant birthday cake, given to Jennifer Leaver, A Rust Craft Card, England, 1957.
Physical description
Birthday card made from colour printed card folded in two. The card has a cut away scalloped section on the top of both layers. The front of the card depicts a cartoon lamb and a cartoon toy bunny sitting in front of a giant birthdat cake with one candle. The number one is shown behind the candle. There is a printed message and a written on inside the card.
Dimensions
  • Width: 10cm
  • When closed and flat height: 15cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Happy/ birthday / 1 Year-old!
  • Although you've never / had a cake/ or blown a candle out- / it won't take long / for you to learn/ just what it's all about! (printed message inside card)
  • To Jennifer / with love from Auntie [?] (hand written inside the card in blue ink.)
Credit line
Given by Jennifer Leaver
Object history
One of 269 cards donated by Jennifer Leaver that have been given to her on her birthdays from 1-18 from family and friends.
Subject depicted
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
Accession number
B.346-2010

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Record createdJanuary 7, 2011
Record URL
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