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Birthday Card

1966 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This birthday card, one of a group of 269, was given to and kept by Jennifer Leaver (née Davies). The cards were given to her by a range of relatives and friends and span from 1957 to1975 - the dates of her first to her eighteenth birthday.
Jennifer was born in 1957 and the cards reflect progression of typography, imagery and graphic styles for birthday cards, spanning over three decades.

The cards also reflect the changing and age appropriate imagery chosen by greetings card companies as well as the choices made by those who selected and sent the cards to Jennifer as she grew older.
Some of the earlier younger cards commonly show childish scenes often including illustrated baby animal characters, whereas later cards reflect perceived changes of interest for a growing girl such as images of flowers, fashions and music.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Colour printed card
Brief description
Colour printed birthday card for a 10 year old showing a photograph of a girl holding a puppy, printed in England by Kaye Gibson Ltd, given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies), 1966.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card folded in half in a portrait format. Shows a photograph of a girl in a pinafore dress and red headband holding a puppy whilst sitting on a rock next to the base of a tree. A birthday wish is printed at the top of the card with the large number 10 in gold. There are printed and hand written messages in the card.
Dimensions
  • Length: 14.4cm
  • Width: 11.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'TODAY / YOU'RE / 10' (printed on front)
  • 'Because you are so nice yourself, / It stands to reason, too, / That all the very nicest things / Should always come to you!' (printed inside)
  • 'To Jennifer / Lots of love (cough! cough!) / Jill / xxxxx / xxxx / xxx / xx / x' (Handwritten inside)
  • 'Kaye' (on back in logo)
  • 'KAYE GOBSON LTD / MADE IN ENGLAND'
  • '10K 428-8'
Credit line
Given by Jennifer Leaver
Object history
One of 269 cards donated by Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) that have been given to her on her birthdays from 1-18 from family and friends.
Subject depicted
Summary
This birthday card, one of a group of 269, was given to and kept by Jennifer Leaver (née Davies). The cards were given to her by a range of relatives and friends and span from 1957 to1975 - the dates of her first to her eighteenth birthday.
Jennifer was born in 1957 and the cards reflect progression of typography, imagery and graphic styles for birthday cards, spanning over three decades.

The cards also reflect the changing and age appropriate imagery chosen by greetings card companies as well as the choices made by those who selected and sent the cards to Jennifer as she grew older.
Some of the earlier younger cards commonly show childish scenes often including illustrated baby animal characters, whereas later cards reflect perceived changes of interest for a growing girl such as images of flowers, fashions and music.
Collection
Accession number
B.502-2010

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Record createdMarch 23, 2011
Record URL
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