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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Girl watering flowers
Oversize; small girl in bonnet watering flowers which have baby faces in their centers; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Girl watering houseplants
Oversize; Young girl watering potted plants at windowsill and on floor; scene is framed by thin blue line with blue flowering vine; "England #3346" written on bottom of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Girl with accordion and netting
Greeting card art, young girl. wearing red beret and white dress with red stripes, sits playing the accordion with fisherman's netting behind her; "Inf. Eleg. Conval." written on bottom of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Girl with book characters
Greeting card art, girl with open book and characters from book before her, 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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Girl with border of money
Greeting card art, girl tying up her own corset with side border of paper money and coins, 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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Girl with dog and pudding
Greeting card art, Christmas card art, young girl holds decorated pudding while frowning dog sits nearby and cat looks on from shelf above window; plastic art overlay with design sticker is still attached to art. Card which was made from art is also included in plastic sleeve; card was produced by Norcross and is part of "Little Dickens" series, 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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Girl with Easter basket and chickens
Oversize; Easter card art; young girl in bonnet holding basket full of dyed Easter eggs as she approaches white chicken with five baby chicks; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Girl with fan
Greeting card art, young girl in green dress with orange bow and headband holding fan, "Daughter B'day" written on bottom, 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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Girl with Father's Day cake
Father's Day Card art, young girl decorating Father's Day cake, "Daddy fr. girl" 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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Girl with hat and flowers
Easter Card art, young girl in dress holding straw hat full of flowers, "Juv. Niece Easter" written on bottom of card, 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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Girl with pillow and doll
Greeting card art, pink background with young girl putting pillow in pillowcase, doll walking with her, "Juv. Birthday Daughter" written on bottom, Norcross stamps on back, 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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Girl with umbrella and net bag
Greeting card art, Friendship card art, young girl in possibly Edwardian-era dress and hat, carrying umbrella and netted bag; "Inf. F'Ship" written on bottom of art, Norcross stamps on back of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Girl with wings on tiger rug
Greeting card art, cartoon girl with black and white wings, wearing only underwear and gloves, smoking cigarette in holder and lounging on tiger rug, "Hum B'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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Golf scene with heart, ball, and tees
Valentine's Day Card, labeled "Husb. Val." at bottom, golf scene with heart, ball, and two tees, 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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Graduating purple and blue tigers
Oversize; Graduation card art; blue and purple colored cartoon tigers wearing mortarboards in classroom setting; Norcross stamp on back of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Graduation with globe and books
Greeting card art, "still life" style art with globe, books, quill and ink well, rose, and paper, "High School Grad" written on bottom of art, along with possible date of 4/2/69, "Norcross" stamp on back of art, first (not final) printing of card included in sleeve with 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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Green fields with cottages, sheep, and rainbow
Oversize, St. Patrick's Day, green fields with cottages, sheep, and rainbow, unknown date/artist, watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color 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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Greeting card art, Christmas card art & card
Greeting card art, Christmas card art & card, little drummer boy embroidered on plastic backing, final version of card is included and art has been raised so that it retains the texture of original art, embroidery thread or string, color
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Greeting card art, religious Christmas card
Greeting card art, religious Christmas card, small child holing lamb, "Relig. Open. X-mas" written at bottom of art, watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Hansom cab with roses
Valentine's Day Card, Hansom cab with driver and horse, roses, and heart, "Gen. 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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Heart inkwell with pierced parchment and flowers
Oversize, Valentine's Day card art, two-part scene; first scene shows heart topped ink well with white quill sticking out of the top and flowers and parchment scroll in background pierced with gold arrow, second scene contains group of blue and white flowers with green leaves and red heart on grey backround with red scalloped border, watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color. This collection consists of original art work, for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists created during the 1930's and 1940's.
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Hearts and landscape with lovers
Oversize; Valentine's Day card; three piece card with lacy decorated hearts and landscape background with man and woman in period dress; "Property Quality Art Novelty Co. Inc. 787 11th Ave N.Y.C." stamped on front of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, col. This collection consists of original art work, for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists during the 1930's and 1940's.
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Hearts with cherry blossoms and roses
Oversize, Valentine's Day card art, protective paper overlay has been adhered to art, two scene card art, in first scene: red heart with flowers which resemble roses and cherry blossoms in the shape of an arrow going through the heart, second scene has red flower with lacy border and possibly unfinished outline of flowers and ribbon, watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color. This collection consists of original art work, for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists created during the 1930's and 1940's.
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Hello Sugar Ducks Valentine's card
Oversize, Valentine's Day card, two-part scene of yellow ducks, one scene has duck dressed in blue and white kettle-brim or Breton style hat standing in the rain in front of red heart which has "Hello Sugar!" printed on it; second scene has previous duck and second duck with green hat standing under a red umbrella decorated with white hearts and "Be My Valentine?" printed next to them, watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color. This collection consists of original art work, for greeting card companies. This box contains those by unknown artists created during the 1930's and 1940's.
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Hillbilly get well soon
Oversize, labeled "Conval. hum." at bottom on front, 2-panel cartoon, one of man driving car with person tied to hood of vehicle, one of woman kissing man with angry gun-wielding person in background, cartoons seem to be of hillbillys, watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color.
