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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Cowboy with heart
Valentine's Day Card, boy dressed as cowboy holding a heart, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Cruise ship and pennants
Greeting card art, cruise ship at sea, decorated with pennant flag banners, "Bon Voyage" written on bottom of art, "Norcross" stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Cupid on rim of glass
Valentine's Day Card, Cupid prancing on edge of martini or champagne glass with hearts and flowers, "Inform. Eleg. Val" written on bottom, Norcross stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Daffodils, pansies, and tulips
Greeting card art, flowers, including daffodils, pansies, and tulips, with leaves, "Mother" and "To Both Of You" written on bottom of art, "Tempo Graphic Arts, Inc." sticker 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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Deer family in winter
Oversize; Christmas card art; various scenes of deer family in snow with pines and holly with berries; birds, rabbits, and a squirrel are also present; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Dog and Valentine's tug boat
Greeting card art, juvenile Valentine's Day Card, dog dressed as ship captain driving tug boat with hearts on it, Norcross stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Dogs doing their hair
Greeting card art, yellow background with two small cartoon dogs fixing eachother's hair with hairspray and a comb, "Norcross" stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Dog with holly leaf
Greeting card art, simple fold-over card with Cocker Spaniel puppy with holly leaf in its mouth, front of card says " 'scuse me---" and inside "but isn't it Christmas?" has been written in pencil, 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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Door and staircase with Christmas trees
Oversize, Christmas card art, Sepia-toned winter door and staircase with Christmas trees and wreath, watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color
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Dressed up bunnies
Oversize; Easter card art; white rabbits, wearing dresses and suits, dancing and talking; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Dressing witch
Halloween card art, witch behind a dressing screen removing or pulling on stockings; pointed hat, broom, black cat, and jack-o-lanterns, "Hum. Halloween" written on bottom, Norcross stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Dressy woman birthday
Greeting card art, fushia background with woman sitting cross-legged wearing large hat, feather boa, flower and drink in hand, "B'Day" written on bottom under Catagory, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Driving Easter bunnies
Greeting card art, Easter card art, two cartoon rabbits clothed in suit and dress, driving old model car, basket with two chicks and eggs on the side of car, "Grandma & Grandpa Fr. Child Easter" written on bottom of art, Norcross stamps 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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Drummer boy with cardinal
Greeting card art, Christmas card art, young child wearing hat and scarf sits beside drum, cardinal is perched on child's glove, 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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Drummer boy with dog
Greeting card art, Christmas card art, young boy with Santa hat playing a drum while a dog walks along beside him, 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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Easter bunny scenes
Oversize; Easter card art; five scenes with white rabbit involving flowers, Easter eggs, chicks, flowers, and butterfly; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Easter church on hill
Easter Card art, Church on hill with people, water with ducks, trees and flowers, Norcross stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Easter eggs painted by bunnies
Easter Card art, "Easter- Daddy fr Child" and "Easter- Juv. General" written at bottom, bunnies painting Easter eggs, chicken sitting on painted eggs, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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English Tudor-style house with shrubbery
Oversize, English Tudor-style house with shrubbery, watercolor or pencil and ink, black and white This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains holiday and non-holiday art by unknown artists at unknown dates. The card company is unidentified in most cases.
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Fall farming scene
Oversize; farm scene; background shows red barn, house, trees, turkeys, and people raking leaves by stacks of corn stalks; foreground shows people loading pumpkins onto horse-drawn cart and crock with bouquet of flowers next to an apple and nuts; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Fan with hearts and flowers
Valentine's Day Card, fan with flowers, hearts, and music notes, watercolor or pastels, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Father giving bottle to daughter
Greeting card art, exhausted man in armchair feeding bottle to baby girl while moon looks into window, Norcross stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Father's Day golfing bunny
Father's Day Card art, Bunny practicing golf indoors but bouncing ball around room knocking over furniture, putting hole in wall and breaking window, "Hum. Husband F.D." written on bottom, Norcross stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Father to be
Greeting card art, six men wearing suits, appear to be in an office, five appear to be congratulating or celebrating with the other, "Hum. Fath-To-Be F'Day" written on bottom, Norcross stamp on back of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color This collection consists of original art work for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists. Dates range from the 1930's and 1940's, the 1960's through 1980's, and those from unknown dates. The card company is identified in some cases.
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Field with well and pail
Oversize, field with grasses, flowers, trees, and well with pail and stone wall, pen and ink with watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color
