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Birthday Card

1958 (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 card for a 2 year old, depicting cartoon bears going on a picnic, printer / publisher, KG, England, given to Jennifer Leaver (née Davies), 1958.
Physical description
Birthday card folded in to four sections, landscape, with a 3-D pop up section in the middle. The front on the card depicts an illustration of some bears going on a picnic. Inside the 3-D section this theme is continued with lots of bears walking, playing , eating and climbing trees. There are printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Width: 16.5cm
  • When closed and flat height: 12.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Happy Birthday / 2 (printed on front of card)
  • The party for / the teddy bears / is going to be / a spree / becuase it is / your birthday / they laugh and / dance with glee. (printed in the central pop up section of the card.)
  • To Jennifer Ann with lots of love / and best wishes for a very happy / birthday from auncle Arthur & / Auntie Nellie (hand written in blue ink on the back of the card.)
  • KG / PRINTED IN ENGALND / 435/3
Credit line
Given by Jennifer Leaver
Object history
One of 269 cards donated by Jennifer Leaver (née Davies) 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.356-2010

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Record createdFebruary 1, 2011
Record URL
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