Not on display

Birthday Card

1963 (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 of a girl and a boy peering round the stable door to look at a dog and a horse, printed in England, 1963. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her seventh birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed card. Image on the front depicts a horse in a stable with a dog jumping up against the stable door. A girl and boy stand behind watching and the back of a cockerel is just visable behind the boy. In the top right hand corner is a rectangle of pink foil. The card opens in a concertina fashion to show the same boy and girl leaning over a fence, and the cockerel in full. There is also a greeting printed above the image. Hand written greeting on reverse.
Dimensions
  • Height: 17.4cm
  • Closed width: 14.9cm
  • Open width: 25.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'GREETINGS / on Your / BIRTHDAY' (printed on front of card)
  • 'Hope everything you like best / Is what your Birthday brings, / For anyone as nice as you / Should get the nicest things!' (printed inside card)
  • 'YOU'RE / 7 / TODAY' (printed on pink foil)
  • 'Happy Birthday / Jennifer Dear / Fondest Love Mummy / xxxxxxx' (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.441-2010

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Record createdJune 24, 2011
Record URL
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