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Birthday Card

Great Britain (printed and published), 1968 (made)
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 card with an illustration of a dog wearing a turban holding a lamp, a Valentine's Dundee card, printed in Great Britain, 1968. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her twelfth birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed card showing a dog wearing a turban with pearls and a pink feather holding a brass lamp. The flame from the lamp is cut-out. Inside the card is a similar illustration but with a pop-up section showing another dog appearing from the lamp like a genie. The card is formed from a single sheet folded into quarters.
Dimensions
  • Length: 15.6cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • SOME BIRTHDAY MAGIC! / If I were / Aladdin / Know what I'd do? (Printed on the front of the card.)
  • I'd make lots / of MAGIC / RUB OFF ON YOU! / Happy Birthday! (Printed message inside the card.)
  • From Uncle Arthur, Auntie Nellie / with lots of love xx (Handwritten message inside the card.)
  • "Pink "V" shape with two small globes in front." VALENTINE's / Dundee (Logo printed on the back of the card in the bottom right-hand corner.)
  • "Pink "N" shape" NORCROSS / NEW YORK (Printed on the back of the card in the bottom left-hand corner.)
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.523-2010

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Record createdApril 8, 2011
Record URL
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