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Birthday Card

1961 (printed and published)
Artist/Maker
Academy (publisher)
Place of origin
England (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 5 year old with an illustration of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, printed and published in England by Academy, given to Jennifer Leaver (née Davies), 1961.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card folded in four with a pop up design of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The front of the card shows two bears walking in a field with two blue birds in a tree. The scene inside opens up to reveal Goldilocks running from a cottage and the third 'Mummy' bear carrying a picnic basket. A large '5' is printed at the top of the card in gold. There are printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Length: 17.8cm
  • Width: 13.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'NOW / YOU / ARE / 5 / HAVE BIRTHDAY FUN' (printed on front)
  • 'The three jolly bears / And Goldilocks, too, / Have come with this wish / Especially for you: / "HAPPY BIRTHDAY"' (printed inside)
  • 'From Uncle Cyril, auntie Betsie / & Graham / X' (Handwritten inside)
  • 'an ACADEMY card'
  • '605 -4 PRINTED IN ENGLAND'
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.399-2010

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Record createdMarch 2, 2011
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1193267/birthday-card-academy/
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