Birthday Card

Date1940s

Object NameCard

Mediumcard

ClassificationsMuseum General

DimensionsLength: 15.1cm
Width: 11.8cm

AcquisitionPresented in 2006 by Mr Eric Crockart & Mrs Lorna Crawford.

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDMS076108

Keywords

Celebration

About MeA single sided birthday card featuring a printed design of a lady in a crinoline dress seated under a tree. The front of the card is cut with a scalloped edge which is edged with gold. The front of the card also features a printed verse.

The tradition of sending greeting cards to friends and family goes back to at least the early 19th century. These early cards were hand-made, often featuring a painting or drawing. The first commercial cards were produced in the 1840s for Christmas and were one sided with no folds and no envelopes.

The penny post introduced in England a few years earlier made this new form of communication popular very quickly, especially when cheaper colour printing meant just about everyone could afford to send cards. This combination encouraged card manufacturers to expand their ranges to include cards for other occasions such as Valentine's Day, Easter and Birthdays.