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Birthday Card

1962 (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 of a large stitched on number six with a girl dressed as a cowgirl, a forget-me-not card, 1962. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her sixth birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed birthday card. Image on the front depicts a cowgirl with a lasso, to the left of the image is a large orange '6' which has been drawn to look like it has been stitched onto the card. The section on which the '6' is printed is narrower than the back of the card, so when the card is opened, the cowgirl is still visable. Next to her is a pop up picture of a cowboy sitting on a fence, and a printed greeting. Hand written greeting on reverse.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16.5cm
  • Closed width: 11.5cm
  • Open width: 18.1cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'Happy Birthday / 6 / Year / Old' (printed on front of card)
  • 'Here's a special greeting / and it's coming just to say / "HAPPY BIRTHDAY / to Someone / Who is SIX YEARS / OLD today!" ' (printed inside card)
  • 'With love and best wishes / from / Auntie Peggie + Uncle Reg' (hand written on reverse of 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.421-2010

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Record createdJune 24, 2011
Record URL
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