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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Holly and berries
Oversize, Christmas card art, holly and berries, watercolor, acrylic, or pastels, color
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Home scenes with hearts, arrows, and key
Oversize, Valentine's Day card art; three-part scene; first scene contains background of house on waterside with trees and flowers, and gold framed red heart and gold key on red ribbon in foreground; second scene contains small hearts with red ribbon and white flowers; third scene contains gold framed heart with scene of house, dirt road, and trees, behind this heart are two gold arrows with red tips and sprigs of blue flowers; "Property Quality Art Novelty Co. Inc. 787 11th Ave N.Y.C." stamped on art; 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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Horse and carriage crossing stone bridge
Oversize, Reflective Moments, horse and carriage crossing stone bridge with city, flowers, and trees, pen and ink, black and white
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Horses with binoculars
Oversize; two cartoon horses standing on sneakered hind legs with binoculars around their necks; one horse is turning quickly, as evidenced by clouds of dust and lines near his head; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Humorous Mother's Day
Oversize; Mother's Day card art; man helps woman dusting on ladder while children and animals run wild in next room; "Hum Moth. Wife" written at bottom of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Husband and wife fish
Valentine's Day Card, swimming huband and wife fish with hearts and hooks, 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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Husband birthday
Greeting card art, man sits in chair with his feet up while woman waits on him, "Hum. Husb. 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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Husband heart with sailboats and daisies
Oversize, Valentine's Day card; three-scene card art; heart with daisies and "Wishes for YOU HUSBAND on Valentine's Day"; second scene contains two sailboats, third scene is corner border with daisies, 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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Ice skating boy and girl
Christmas card art, boy and girl ice skating, boy has pillow tied to his bottom and girl is laughing at him, "Teenage Brother Christmas" written at 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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Jewelry box with flowers
Valentine's Day Card, jewelry box with jewelry, flowers, and heart, watercolor or pencil and ink, black and white 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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Joy At Easter
Easter Card art, daffodils and other flowers in foreground with church and small town in background, original art has been made into card and both are included in plastic sleeve, 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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June girl
Oversize; small girl in bathing suit on blaket under umbrella, girl is applying sun oil from nearby bottle; "June" written at bottom, so possibly intended for calendar; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Kitten playing violin
Greeting card art, kitten with flower crown playing violin while smaller kitten sit on branches and sing, 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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Kittens and bluebells
Greeting card art, kitten reclining in the grass underneath overhanging bluebells, 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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Kittens in mittens
Greeting card art, green background with snowflakes, two kittens in a set of mittens, 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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Knitting angel
Greeting card art, angel sits knitting in bare tree, as gray squirrels hold ball and loops of yarn; landscape in background is snow-covered; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Lace fan with flowers
Oversize, lace fan with flowers, 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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Lamb in eggshell boat
Greeting card art, Easter card art, lamb using eggshell as a boat looking at three yellow duckings in the water, lamb's hat says "S.S. Happy Easter", 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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Laughing Cavalier child
Greeting card art, young boy with black hat and white ruff around his neck, take on Frans Hals' "Laughing Cavalier"; "1968 Inf. Masterpieces Calendar" written on bottom of art; Norcross stamp on back of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Leprechaun with harp
Oversize; Saint Patrick's Day card art; Leprechaun playing harp and dancing; "St. Pat. Cut-Out Leprec." written at bottom of art; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Lion and kitten
Father's Day Card art, Large lion with small black kitten, "Inf. Eleg. 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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Magician with rabbit
Greeting card art, magician in blue suit with purple bow-tie pulling yellow rabbit out of purple top hat on table, 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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Mailbox of Valentines with flowers
Oversize; Valentine's Day card art; landscape scene with house in background behind white picket fence; foreground shows different flowers in pots or planted in the ground and a mailbox overflowing with heart-shaped Valentine's; watercolor, acrylic, or pastels; color
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Male and female cat with record player
Greeting card art, Valentine's Day art; male and female white cats putting vinyl record on record player; "Mommy & Daddy Fr. Child Val." written at bottom of art; Norcross stamp on back of art; watercolor, pastels, or acrylic, color
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Male birthday
Greeting card art, view of country/primitive houses with border above and below houses, "B'Day Nephew" and "B'Day Son in Law" 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.
