Not on display

We don’t have an image of this object online yet.

More about images

V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: B.453-2010

Birthday Card

1964 (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 paper.
Brief description
Colour printed pop up birthday card with an illustration of a girl and boy playing leap frog, printed in England by Academy, 1964. Given to Jennifer Leaver (nee Davies) on her eighth birthday.
Physical description
Colour printed card. Image on the front depicts a girl in yellow dress playing leapfrog with a boy in pink jumper, blue shorts and long pink socks., with a puppy. The card is embellished with gold and glitter paint. There is a printed greeting on the front that continues inside, where there is also an image of the girl standing in the background, and boy and puppy lying down. Handwritten greetings are also inside the card. One sheet of paper folded in four.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16cm
  • Closed width: 12.8cm
  • Open width: 25.3cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'A Jolly / Birthday / Message / 8 / TO·DAY' (printed on front of card)
  • '"Hurrah! the jolly / playmates say, / "We hope you'll have a / lovely day / With all the very nicest things / A Happy Birthday / always brings!"' (printed inside card)
  • 'To Jennifer / Happy Birthday / With Love / From / Jill / xxxx' (hand written on back 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.453-2010

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 28, 2011
Record URL
Download as: JSON