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Birthday Card

1959 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Forget-Me-Not (printed)
Sands Greeting (printed)
Place of origin
England (printed)

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
Children & Childhood
Greeting Cards
Object type
Birthday card
Materials and techniques
colour printed card
Brief description
colour printed card with a cartoon illustration of two white kittens playing on a chair, made by Sands Greeting and Forget-me-knot, England. Given to Jennifer Leaver (neé Davis) on her third birthday, 1959
Physical description
Birthday card made from colour printed card folded into four sections with a vertical spine and a portrait format. The front of the card shows a cartoon of two white kittens playing on a chair. There are printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Width: 10.4cm
  • When closed and flat height: 16cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • Birthday wishes / just for you (Printed on the front of the card)
  • I'm wishing someone / specially nice / A birthday filled / with cheer / And hoping, too / that 'someone nice' / Will have a perfect year! (printed inside the card)
  • To Jennifer from / auntie Joan and [Jules?] / xxxxx (hand written in blue ink inside the card.)
  • Sharpe's Classic / MADE IN ENGLAND (PRINTED ON BACK OF CARD)
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
Birthday
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
Young V&A Collection
Accession number
B.370-2010

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Record createdFebruary 15, 2011
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1192938/birthday-card-forget-me-not/
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