The collection consists of over 2,000 pieces of original artwork used by greeting card and calendar companies, and spans the approximate years 1930-1990. Many of the pieces within the collection are labeled with a Norcross stamp or specifications sticker. The Norcross Greeting Card Company was founded in 1914 by Arthur Norcross and his sister, Jane, in New York City. They published greeting cards, and also sold wrapping papers and parchments. After Arthur Norcross' death in 1969, the business floundered and was sold for the first time in 1974. Subsequent sales saw Norcross combined with Rust Craft Company, but this venture was unsuccessful and what remained of Norcross was later sold at auction. Tempo Graphic Arts, Inc., Miquon Greetings, and Quality Art Novelty Company are stamped or written on some of the works, as well. A few pieces of artwork are accompanied by the partial or final version of the greeting card. Well-known artists with work in the collection include: Joseph Rudolph "Rudy" Nappi, Marjorie Cooper, Ferd Sondern, and Joseph Giordano.
The digitized items here do not represent the entirety of the Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Sharkey Greeting Card Collection, 1930-1990. To view what other materials are in this collection but not yet digitized and available online, search the guide to the Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Sharkey Greeting Card Collection, 1930-1990.
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Valentine's dog chasing cat chasing birds
Oversize, Valentine's Day Card, dog chasing cat chasing birds on motorcycle with heart balloons, watercolor or pastels, color
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Victorian town Christmas scene
Oversize; Christmas card art; Victorian era town scene with three people singing as another man plays the violin; shops and windows in background are decorated with wreaths and greenery; "Corporate Design '79" written at bottom of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Weathervane birthday card for uncle
Greeting card art, Birthday card art; weather vane topped with horse; "B'day Uncle" written at bottom of art, Norcross Art Specifications sticker on back with "79" written in date catagory; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Wildflower poppies
Greeting card art, group of wildflowers with ivy, daisies, poppies, and other blue flowers with leaves and grain-like stalks, "Birthday Gen'l" written on bottom of art, "Norcross" art specifications sticker on back of art with "79" written in date slot, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains art from various artists, many from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Birthday party school bus
Oversize; Birthday card art; Children, carrying supplies for a birthday party, climbing on yellow school bus; supplies include cake, plates, drinks and cups, and balloons; "Birthday Juvenile" written on bottom of art; possible date 7/17/78 written on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Boy and girl watching squirrel
Oversize; Christmas card art; boy and girl standing beside eachother in snowstorm watching squirrel near holly bush; possible date of 4/20/78 written on back; pen or pencil and paper; black and white
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Dog in red light district
Greeting card art, Birthday card art; dog in dress, fishnet stockings, and high heels standing under street light with red globe; Norcross Art Specifications sticker on back of art with date of 12/13/78 and "Studio B'day" under classification; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Dogs with barn
Oversize; red barn with various dogs (Basset hound, Dalmation, Australian shepherd, and German shepherd) depicted; "Australia #1104" and "Gift wrap/April 1978/E'day" written at bottom of art work; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Easter bunny with hat and basket
Oversize; Easter card art; long, narrow artwork of white rabbit wearing orange hat with flowers holding basket full of decorated Easter eggs; "Easter 1978" written at bottom of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Elves Christmas town
Oversize; Christmas gift wrap art; scenes of a town of Santa's elves; elves are seen cleaning, decorating, ice skating, fighting with snowballs, and delivering gifts to eachother; " '78 Corp. Xmas Giftwrap" written on bottom front of artwork; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Famous men from history cartoon
Oversize, labeled "Husb Hum" on back and "bdy. husband hum" on front, cartoons of famous men, watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color.
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Forest animals pushing sled and toy sack
Greeting card art, Christmas Card art, rabbit and mouse pulling sled with red Santa sack of toys, tow other rabbits and a squirrel help to push the sled, Norcross, Inc. stamp on front right side of art, possible date of 6/1/78 written on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Humorous convalescent hospital
Oversize; Convalescence card art; Man lying in hospital bed smiling while at nearby nurses' station, exhausted female nurses lean or lie on counter; "Hum. Conval. Hosp." written on bottom front of art; possible date 5/9/78 on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Locomotive at country station
Oversize; Locomotive train sitting at small country train station as goods are being loaded or unloaded, horse-drawn carts are nearby; art is on thin tracing-style paper and is only attached to backing board on one side; Norcross, Inc. stamp on front of art, along with "Birthday Dad" and possible date 12/15/75; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Pumpkin pie Halloween
Oversize; Halloween card art; three-part scene of girl with cat and Jack O Lantern baking a pumpkin pie; possible date 5/17/78 written on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Squirrel on stump
Greeting card art, squirrel sitting on stump amid fall-colored leaves and grasses; possible date 10/30/78 written on bottom of art; Norcross, Inc. stamp on side of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains art from various artists, many from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Baby boy congrats
Greeting card art, baby boy with hat, overalls, and one shoe on with border of blue; border contains ribbons, flowers, bird, teddy bear, dog, bat and ball, football, blocks, book and horn, butterfly, and pail and shovel; "Baby boy Cong." written on bottom of art; two dates on back of art, one (12/8/77) written under artist's name, second date 12/13/77, as well; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Beer Stein with ice skating scene
Greeting card art, Christmas card art, wooden beer stein with ice skating scene, lid is pulled back and holly and red berries overflow out of stein, possible date 1/5/77 written at bottom of art; "Norcross, Inc." stamp at bottome of art, as well; second possible date of 9/10/76 written on back of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Boy and girl at table
Greeting card art, two children facing away from viewer sitting on cushion and book at a table, country or primitive art style, "Norcross" written on bottom of art along with possible date of 2/10/77, "Anneliese" written in cursive in red ink on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains art from various artists, many from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Bunnies with snowman
Greeting card art, Christmas card art, two bunnies building a snowman in the shape of a rabbit, three red birds are helping; clear sheet with design sticker taped over art; first printing of card made with art is also included and has possible date of 7/1/77 penned on back; "a Norcross Informal Card" printed on back of card; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Chirstmas spread
Oversize; Christmas card art; primitive-style spread of Christmas items including chest with doll, wreath, tree, and present, basket with Santa doll and jarred food, bucket of apples, stocking with orange and nuts, and basket of Christmas cookies; Norcross, Inc. stamp at bottom of art; possible date of 6/17/77 written on back; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Christmas toys
Oversize; Christmas card art; lined up Christmas toys including stuffed animals, toy soldier, Santa Claus, clown, telescope, blocks, wagon, and mechanized toys; "Christmas Juvenile General" written at bottom of art; possible date 7/1/77 written on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Girl with cookies
Greeting card art, Young girl in dress holding tray of steaming heart cookies as cat lays on floor under table; "Juv. Gr.Daughter Things To Do" is hand-written on bottom of art, along with possible date 4/15/77; "Norcross" hand-written on right front side of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Girl with quill and paper
Greeting card art, young girl, in calico dress and bow in her hair, at desk writing on rolled paper or parchment with long feather quill pen, "Inf. Grad" printed at bottom of art, along with possible date 6/6/77; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Girl with teddy bears and holly
Oversize; Christmas card art; Young girl leading parade of three teddy bears with vine of holly and berries and holly wreath; "Juv. Granddaughter" written at bottom of art, along with possible date 2/2/77; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
