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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 birthday card for a 2 year old, with an illustration of a black and a white lamb, printed / published by Sharpe's Classics England, given to Jennifer Leaver (née Davies), 1958.
Physical description
Birthday card folded in to four sections, portrait. The front of the card has an illustration of two cartoon sheep, one white with a blue bow arounds its neck and one black with a pink bow. There is a gold number two as well as printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Width: 14.4cm
  • When closed and flat height: 15.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • A HAPPY / Birthday / DEAR / 2 / YEARS OLD / TO-DAY (printed on the front of the card)
  • THESE DARLING LAMBS HAVE COME TO SAY / "WE HOPE YOU'LL HAVE A HAPPY DAY, / WE'D LOVE TO ROMP AND PLAY WITH YOU, / SO MAY WE HAVE A BIRTHDAY, TOO?" / Hoping you will have / LOTS OF FUN on your BIRTHDAY / with LOVE from / Mirian Sto[rr?] / To Jennifer / 21.1.58
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.358-2010

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Record createdFebruary 1, 2011
Record URL
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