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Birthday Card

1968 (printed and published)
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 acetate and card
Brief description
colour printed card with an illustration of a girl holding a bouquet of flowers, a Rust Craft card, printed in England, 1968. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her twelfth birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card showing a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes holding a bouquet of flowers against a blue-green background. The image is printed on to acetate which is fixed to the front of the card. Between the acetate and card is a layer of glitter, making the flowers sparkle.
Dimensions
  • Length: 17cm
  • Width: 10.4cm
  • Opened width: 20.8cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • With Love, Daughter, / ON YOUR BIRTHDAY (Printed message on the front of the card.)
  • Only a loving daughter / With your sweet and / sunny way, / Could be thought about so fondly / On this, your special day - / Only a daughter who has brought / Such happiness all year / Could be wished the happiness / you're wished / Today and always, Dear! / Happy Birthday! (Printed message inside the card.)
  • To Dear Jennifer / Love & Best Wishes / Mummy / xxxxxxxx (Handwritten message inside the card.)
  • "Paint pallette with an R in the centre and a rose through the thumb hole" RUST CRAFT (Rust Craft logo printed on the back of the card.)
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.
Subjects 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.520-2010

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Record createdApril 8, 2011
Record URL
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