Not on display

We don’t have an image of this object online yet.

More about images

V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: B.525-2010

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 card
Brief description
colour printed card with an illustration of a bouquet of flowers, a Photo Production card, printed in England, 1968. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her twelfth birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card in a portrait format showing a bouquet of flowers. The card has two pages and is formed from two sheets folded into quarters.
Dimensions
  • Length: 16.5cm
  • Width: 11.5cm
  • Opened width: 22.2cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • To a Dear / Grand-DAUGHTER / on her / BIRTHDAY! (Printed on the front of the card.)
  • Please have a happy / Birthday dear / Filled with things / that bring you cheer ..... (Printed message on the first inside page of the card.)
  • With such a world / of happiness / No words could / ever quite express / How wonderful, / how special too / This day is going / to be for you ~ (Printed message across the centre pages of the card.)
  • And when it's ended / may you find / That all your / cares are far behind, / And future days / all promise you / Great joy in / everything you do. (Printed message on final two pages of the card.)
  • To Jennifer. / with love from / Nannie x x (Handwritten message inside the card on the final page.)
  • "P P inside an oval with an illustration of a feather between the two letters" A CARD OF DISTINCTION (Printed mark on the back of the card in the centre.)
  • PHOTO PRODUCTION LTD. / PRINTED IN ENGLAND (Printed on the back of the card at the bottom.)
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.525-2010

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdApril 8, 2011
Record URL
Download as: JSON