Hallmark "Journeys into Space Series: Freedom 7" Christmas Ornament, 1996

01

Artifact Overview

Already known for greeting cards, Hallmark introduced a line of Christmas ornaments in 1973. The company's annual release of an increasing array of ornaments revolutionized Christmas decorating, appealing to customers' interest in marking memories and milestones as well as expressing one's personality and unique tastes.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Christmas tree ornament

Date Made

1996

Subject Date

1961

Creator Notes

Designed by Ed Seale of Hallmark Cards, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri. Made in China.

Object ID

2019.65.5232

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Plastic
Cardboard

Color

Multicolored

Inscriptions

ornament: 1961 / Freedom 7 / 35th Anniversary / 1996 ornament, underside: May 5, 1961 / America's first / manned spaceflight / ...the first in a series / of historic flights / leading toward the / nation's goal: Landing / a man on the moon and / returning him safely to Earth. / [TM] / (C) 1996 Hallmark Cards, Inc. 20 / U.S. PAT. NO. 4,682,079 / 1 packaging, front: KEEPSAKE / ORNAMENT / Freedom 7 / JOURNEYS INTO SPACE / MAGIC - LIGHT AND SOUND / NEW COLLECTOR'S SERIES packaging, back: Handcrafted - Dated 1996 / Sculpted by Ed Seale / Limited Warranty Through 1999 Enclosed / First in the Journeys Into Space Series. / Look for series verification 1 on this ornament. / Celebrate the 35th anniversary of the first American-manned spaceflight. / This unique light-and-sound ornament introduces a Collector's Series / designed to commemorate significant milestones in the U.S.space / program. / Remember -- or imagine -- the suspense when the Freedom 7 / was launched on May 5, 1961. The world was asking: "Is spaceflight possible?" / and "Is it safe?" / You'll hear an actual countdown from NASA's Mission Control Center / in Houston, plus authentic sounds of the rocket's ignition. / To start the countdown, press the "LAUNCH" button on top of the base. / You'll hear the words "5 - 4 - 3 - 2 - 1 ... We have ignition -- and liftoff!" The / sound will activate flickeing lights to simulate ignition. The message will play / one time and stop automatically. / Ornament plugs easily into any of the light bulb / sockets on a miniature tree light string. Use only / with standard U.L.- listed light strings of 3.5- or / 6- volt bulbs. / Attached connector cord allows / for easy placement on your tree. / Not for use with blinking lights. / Complete display instructions enclosed. packaging, top: [TM] / Hallmark packaging, underside: Mfd. for and (C) 1996 Hallmark Cards, Inc., K.C., Mo. 64141 / Ornament Made in China / Circuitry U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,079 / QLX7524