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Birthday Card

1960 (printed and published)
Artist/Maker
Norcross and Valentine's Cloth of Gold (publisher)
Place of origin
Great Britain (printed and published)

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
Card
Colour Printing
Brief description
Colour printed birthday card for a 4 year old with an illustration of two spaniel dogs, printed and published in Great Britain by Norcross and Valentine's Cloth, given to Jennifer Leaver (née Davies), 1960.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card folded in to four depicting a pair of black spaniel dogs on a red background and a light dusting of gold glitter. There are printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Length: 12.7cm
  • Width: 12.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'A Pair of / Birthday Wishes' (printed on the front of the card)
  • 'Here they are - the same old pair / Still "tops" in every way - / "A very happy birthday to you" / "Many happy returns of the day"'. (printed inside the card)
  • 'To Jennifer / HAPPY BIRTHDAY. / FROM GRANDAD / xxxx' (Handwritten inside the card)
  • 'N / by NORCROSS / ...of course'
  • '08 3838 01'
  • 'VALENTINE'S / CLOTH OF GOLD / GREETING CARDS / MADE IN GT. BRITAIN'
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
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.388-2010

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Record createdMarch 1, 2011
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1193232/birthday-card-norcross-and-valentines/
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