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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 two schoolchildren, a girl and a boy standing one one side of a gate with a dog holding a present in his mouth sitting on the other side, printed in England. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her sixth birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed card. Image on the front depicts an image of a boy and a girl standing behind a green fence looking at a dog who has a red parcel in its mouth. There are printed and hand written greetings inside the card as well as a picture of two dogs. One sheet of paper folded in four.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.8cm
  • Closed width: 15.2cm
  • Open width: 30.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'With Love on your Birthday' (printed on front of card)
  • 'This Birthday wish / And greeting, too, / Brings a loving thought / That is just for you; / This Doggy friend / has come to say, / Please have a really / HAPPY DAY' (printed inside card)
  • 'To Dear Jennifer / With lots of love / from Aunty Bell' (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.435-2010

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Record createdJune 24, 2011
Record URL
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