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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Hanging baskets of plants
Oversize; Easter card art; hanging woven baskets containing different plants, including a spider or airplane plant, a fern, a violet, a coleus, and other yellow and pink flowering plants; "Easter-Mother" written on bottom of art, along with possible date of 6/10/77; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Hanging gardens "April" geraniums
Oversize, Hanging woven basket of pink geraniums against yellow background; art was possibly meant for calendar as "Hanging Gardens" and "April" are written at bottom of art, along with possible date of 10/24/77, but second possible date 8/5/77 written on back of art; watercolors, acrylic, or pastels on board, color
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Mice creating Valentine
Greeting card art, Art and finished Valentine card; three mice making Valentine, one with red can of paint, one placing white ribbon or lace, and one holding spool of ribbon or lace, Norcross, Inc. stamp on front of art; finished card has possible date 8/25/77 written on back; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Mouse decorating boot
Greeting card art, Christmas card art; mouse decorating boot (home) for Christmas, hanging garland and ornaments; Norcross Art Specifications sticker on back of art with date 77; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Paper doll
Oversize; Paper doll with eight outfits and accessories, including hats, cat, ball, and presents; possible date of 2/15/17 on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Phone and poinsettia
Greeting card art, Christmas card art, older crank-style phone on wall with poinsettia on table in foregound, snow on trees outside window in background; Norcross, Inc. stamp at bottom of art along with possible date 1/20/77, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Reflected bunny and butterfly
Greeting card art, Easter card art, bunny and chicks sitting at edge of water as butterfly hovers closely, bunny and butterfly are reflected in water, "Easter- Daughter" written at bottom of art, along with possible date 5/3/77, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Roses and water
Oversize; Foreground white and pink roses frame a pink-tinted water scene in background; Norcross, Inc. stamp on bottom front right corner of art; possible date 4/19/77 written on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Santa and Mrs. Claus asleep
Oversize, "Xmas Hubby" and "Xmas Wife" written on bottom on front of art; Santa and Mrs. Claus, with cat and dog, asleep in chairs by Christmas tree surrounded by opened presents, watercolor or pastels, color
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Six year old birthday
Greeting card art, Birthday card art; animals, including bears, cats, and bunnies, clothed and wearing birthday hats eating ice cream, surrounded by green bushes and flowers; possible date of 6/8/77 written at bottom of art, as well as "B'day- 6 yr Old Gen."; "Norcross" hand-written on right front side of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Sleeping Christmas girl
Oversize; Christmas card art; young girl asleep in bed under red, white, and green quilt, with stocking attached to bed post and toys on the floor, as dog watches Santa Claus and reindeer fly by window; possible date 2/2/77 written on bottom front of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Snow animals
Oversize; Christmas card art; forest animals building 'animal' snowmen including bears, raccoons, squirrels, and rabbits; Norcross, Inc. stamp on bottom front of art, along with "grandson"; possible date of 8/1/77 written on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Son and wife Valentine
Greeting card art, Valentine's Day card art, red background with two heart-shaped cut-outs; one cut-out contains man and woman looking at Valentine's Day card, second cut-out shows house with woods in background and picket fence in front, small bouquet of daisies; cross hatching artistic techique "Val. Day Son and Wife" printed at bottom of art, along with possible date 4/1/77; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Victorian house and car Valentine
Greeting card art, Valentine's Day card art, portrait of a man dressed in a suit and Bowler hat, Victorian house in background, and antique convertible car in foreground, "Val. Husband" and "Val. Dad fr. Both" printed at bottom of art, along with possible date 3/15/77; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Yarn winding rabbits
Greeting card art, two rabbits, one dressed as a man and one as a woman, sitting in chairs; lady rabbit is winding yarn which is wrapped around male rabbits hands, possible date 2/22/77 written at bottom of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Brother Valentine card,
Greeting card art, Brother Valentine card, jockey racing on horseback with white heart in background; possible date 1/20/76 at bottom of art, along with "Brother Val."; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Elephant with party hat and balloon
Greeting card art, Small, very wrinkled elephant with red party hat on head and yellow bow tied to tail, holding yellow balloon with trunk, floating as confetti falls around it; possible date 12/3/76 written at bottom of art; second possible date 10/6/76 written on back of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Moose by stream
Greeting card art, large moose with antlers walking through tall grasses at edge of water; trees and mountain in background, "Animal Sketches" written on bottom, along with possible date 12/22/76, 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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Orchestra and conductor
Greeting card art, Birthday card art, orchestra and conductor without defining lines, note on side of art says "see attached mechanical for black line plate" but plate is not attached, possible date 5/14/76 written at bottom of art, along with "Hum B'Day", watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Otter on rock in stream
Greeting card art, brown otter standing on rock in middle of stream or river with woods in background, "Animal Skeches" written on bottom, along with possible date 12/22/76, 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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Reclining woman with Valentines
Oversize; Valentine's Day card art; woman reclining on bed with a drink, cookies, and chocolate; beside her, on table, sits bouquet and wrapped present; Norcross stamp on bottom of art, along with hand-written "Wife Valentine" and possible date of 3/16/76; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Small girl with toys
Oversize; Birthday card art; young girl holding teddy bear sits at toy piano in front of dolls, doll house, ball, and window; "B'Day Juv. Girl" written at bottom of art, along with possible date 7/27/76; Norcross, Inc. stamp at bottom of art; Bobbi Barto stamp with address on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Still life with vase
Greeting card art, Birthday card art, nature scene with house, trees, and ducks in pond in background, glass vase with pussywillow branches and yellow flowers, possibly Rapeseed, in foreground, "Birthday-Mother" printed at bottom of art, along with possible date 1/13/77; second possible date of 12/10/76 on back of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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St. Patrick's Day blessing
Greeting card art, St. Partrick's Day decoration art & card, large green woodgrain shield surrounded by Irish symbols such as a castle, harp, thatched roof house, pot of gold and lantern, man driving horse-drawn cart, and large Celtic cross, "Cut out decoration" written at bottom of art, finished cut-out is included with blessing printed in shield area and possible date of 12/22/76 written on back, both original art and finished cut out are kept together in plastic sleeve, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Woman with needlework
Greeting card art, Mother's Day card art, woman sitting against pillows sewing with basket of yarn and fern in background; "From Both M. D." printed at bottom, along with possible date of 8/19/76; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
