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Birthday Card

1961 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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
Object type
Materials and techniques
colour printed card
Brief description
Colour printed birthday card with an illustration five cartoon bunnies standing on a giant tiered birthday cake, a Rust Craft card printed in England 1961. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her fifth birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card. Image on front depicts a pink and white birthday cake with five rabbits standing on the tiers, one is standing on a gold ladder and there is a golden '5' in the centre of the cake. There are printed and hand written greetings in the centre of the card.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.5cm
  • Closed width: 10.3cm
  • Open width: 20.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'HAPPY / BIRTHDAY / FIVE / YEAR-OLD' (printed on front)
  • 'These five Birthday bunnies have / Worked all day through / To make this big Birthday cake / Specially for you... / And now that they've finished / They all want to say... / "Happy Birthday to you - 'Cause you're FIVE today' (printed inside card)
  • 'To Jennifer / Love Brian + Marion / xxx' (hand written inside 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.
Subject depicted
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
Accession number
B.416-2010

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Record createdJune 23, 2011
Record URL
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