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Birthday Card

1959 (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 with an illustration of a girl in her nightgown thinking about a birthday cake, printed by Hallmark and published by Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd. , England. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davis) on her second birthday, 1958
Physical description
A colour printed greetings card folded in to four sections with a vertical spine in portrait format. There is a cartoon illustration of a young girl getting readt for bed on the eve of her birthday. She is looking at the clock and is thiking about a birthday cake.. Inside the card there is an illustration of the same little girl looking longingly out of her window at the moon. there are printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Width: 10.6cm
  • Height: 13.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • hope your / birthday's happy / from beginning... (printed on the front)
  • To END!/ (printed inside the card)
  • with fondest love / from Uncle Ray Aunty June / susan & Paul / xxxxxx (hand written inside the card)
  • HAPPY BIRTHDAY (printed inside the card)
  • Raphael Tuck & sons Ltd / BY APPOINTMENT TO HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN / FINE ART PUBLISHERS / AND TO HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH THE QUEEN MOTHER / FINE ART PUBLISHERS (PRINTED ON BACK OF CARD)
  • Hallmark / Made in England / copyright (printed on back of card)
  • B 1520 (printed on back of card)
  • 15B80-3 (printed on back of card)
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.363-2010

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Record createdFebruary 15, 2011
Record URL
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