{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1261568"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1261568/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1261568","accessionNumber":"B.421-2012","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, white thick card, with a gold scalloped edge.  An insert has been fixed inside by a blue ribbon tided into a bow on the left hand side.  The front centre of the card has been embossed which is decorated with a decorative image of blossom, that is coloured in blue and pink with the words, Congratulations to Mother, Baby and Daddy. Inside the card is the printed message, Congratulations - Just the very dearest baby, any parents ever had.  Is the one, I'm very certain, that has made.  Your home, so glad.  So I send that dearest baby my congratulations true for its very wise selection of a happy home with you.  It is hand signed from Auntie Edie.  On the back of the card is the makers hall mark and the words British manufacture.   ","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"A. M. Davis & Co","id":"A37471"},"association":{"text":"Publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Printed paper","categories":[{"text":"Birth","id":"THES48990"},{"text":"Children & Childhood","id":"THES48980"}],"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":"11","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"10/04/13","earliest":"2013-04-10","latest":"2013-04-10"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"8.4","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.421-2012"],"accessionNumberNum":"421","accessionNumberPrefix":"B","accessionYear":2012,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-04-01","recordCreationDate":"2013-03-07","availableToBook":false}}