{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1261566"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1261566/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1261566","accessionNumber":"B.419-2012","objectType":"Greeting card","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"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.  \r\nGreeting 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. \r\nGreeting 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.\r\n","physicalDescription":"A folded card, the face of the paper is shiny and has a cheque pattern to it.  The image on the front of the card is of a baby laying in a bassinet holding a telephone receiver.  To the left is a yellow and pink ribbon.  Written on the front are the words: 'Hullo and welcome to the baby'.  On the inside of the card to the left is an image of a rabbit and ball with flowers.  To the right is the following passage: 'Whom will you look like- Mother or Dad? Will you be little or tall! Are you dark - are you fair? What shade is your hair - or haven't you any at all? WE haven't an idea as yet, baby dear, But we know you are sweet and are glad you are here.' At the top is a handwritten message 'with fondest love & all kind thoughts from Mummy'.  At the back is the company's hallmark and text 'British manufacturer'.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"A M Davis & co","id":"A37471"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"printed paper","categories":[{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"},{"text":"Birth","id":"THES48990"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"YVA","id":"THES48593"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES343655"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"card","id":"x30344"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1940","earliest":"1940-01-01","latest":"1940-12-31"},"association":{"text":"published","id":"x30682"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Stephen Mead","dimensions":[{"dimension":"height","value":"12","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"13/3/2013","earliest":"2013-03-13","latest":"2013-03-13"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"width","value":"10.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Greeting card celebrating the birth of Christopher John Mead 1/5/1940, English, 1940","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["B.419-2012"],"accessionNumberNum":"419","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2012,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-01","recordCreationDate":"2013-03-07","availableToBook":false}}