Greetings Card
1940 (published)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
A small collection of cards, telegrams and advertising material sent to the donor’s mother to celebrate the birth of her son Christopher John Mead born 1/5/1940. The messages in the cards are brief but it gives a small insight into family life. The telegram message from Uncle Ernest reads: 'Up the Reds' as they are a family of red heads.
Greeting cards to celebrate birth were available but usually only sent by close family members. The telegrams by nature are brief; these were mostly used as emergency communication but also to celebrate events such as a birth. There is some advertising material relating to baby goods, which may have been given out with the telegrams. This child was born at the beginning of the Second World War but probably not at a point that materials were in short supply.
Greeting cards have existed in many cultures during the past few hundred years but it was really in the 1850s that they gain popularity, as rather than being hand crafted one off pieces they were mass produced and cheaply available and the introduction of the postage stamp made the postal service more reliable. They saw another increase in the manufacture of cards in the 1930s with the introduction of coloured lithography.
Greeting cards to celebrate birth were available but usually only sent by close family members. The telegrams by nature are brief; these were mostly used as emergency communication but also to celebrate events such as a birth. There is some advertising material relating to baby goods, which may have been given out with the telegrams. This child was born at the beginning of the Second World War but probably not at a point that materials were in short supply.
Greeting cards have existed in many cultures during the past few hundred years but it was really in the 1850s that they gain popularity, as rather than being hand crafted one off pieces they were mass produced and cheaply available and the introduction of the postage stamp made the postal service more reliable. They saw another increase in the manufacture of cards in the 1930s with the introduction of coloured lithography.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Printed card |
Brief description | Greeting card celebrating the birth of Christopher John Mead 1/5/1940, English, 1940 |
Physical description | A die-cut card in the shape of a cradle, coloured in blue and decorated with flowers. A blonde baby lays on a pillow. A blue ribbon tide in a bow on the left and the printed words Congratulations to Mother, Father and Baby. Inside the card is the printed message: Snuggled in the pillows, Nestled in the lace, A tiny stranger cuddles, With rosy smiling face; May it be a treasure, Bringing joy each day, And may the glad years bless it, In every happy way. On the opposite page is a handwritten message. On the back of the card is the makers hallmark. |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Given by Stephen Mead |
Summary | A small collection of cards, telegrams and advertising material sent to the donor’s mother to celebrate the birth of her son Christopher John Mead born 1/5/1940. The messages in the cards are brief but it gives a small insight into family life. The telegram message from Uncle Ernest reads: 'Up the Reds' as they are a family of red heads. Greeting cards to celebrate birth were available but usually only sent by close family members. The telegrams by nature are brief; these were mostly used as emergency communication but also to celebrate events such as a birth. There is some advertising material relating to baby goods, which may have been given out with the telegrams. This child was born at the beginning of the Second World War but probably not at a point that materials were in short supply. Greeting cards have existed in many cultures during the past few hundred years but it was really in the 1850s that they gain popularity, as rather than being hand crafted one off pieces they were mass produced and cheaply available and the introduction of the postage stamp made the postal service more reliable. They saw another increase in the manufacture of cards in the 1930s with the introduction of coloured lithography. |
Collection | |
Accession number | B.422-2012 |
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Record created | March 7, 2013 |
Record URL |
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