Not currently on display at the V&A

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 with an illustration of a girl in a pink sparkly dress and red waistcoat holding her hands in the air. There is a kitten standing at her feet. A Kaye Gibson card, made in England. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her seventh birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed card. Image on the front depicts a girl in a pink dress decorated with glitter, a grey kitten stands at her feet. The right hand side of card is cut to be the same shape as the girl. Inside the card are printed and hand written greetings.
Dimensions
  • Height: 13.8cm
  • Closed width: 9.8cm
  • Open width: 19.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'HAPPY BIRTHDAY / WITH / BEST / WISHES' (printed on front of card)
  • 'Hi there! Happy Birthday! / Hope it's lots of fun / for you / And you'll have a / good time doing / All the things / you like to do!' (printed inside card)
  • 'To Jennifer with love / From Auntie Joan / Margaret, Helen + Colin' (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.449-2010

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Record createdJune 24, 2011
Record URL
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