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Birthday Card

1960 (printed and published)
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 4 year old with an illustration of a panda playing a drum, printed and published in Great Britain by Hallmark Cards, given to Jennifer Leaver (née Davies), 1960.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card folded in half depicting a panda wearing a hat playing a drum. A large '4' is printed at the top of the card in the pandas hat in red. There are printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Length: 15cm
  • Width: 10cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'HAPPY / BIRTHDAY / 4 / YEAR / OLD' (printed on the front)
  • 'HOPE YOU HAVE / A LOT OF FUN / NOW THAT / YOUR BIRTHDAY'S HERE, / AND YOU'LL LIKE BEING / FOUR SO WELL / YOU'LL STAY THAT WAY / ALL YEAR' (printed inside)
  • 'To Jen / from John / xxxxxxxxxxxx' (Handwritten inside)
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.393-2010

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Record createdMarch 1, 2011
Record URL
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