Paper Dolls

OWNING

Children adore dolls, which come in all shapes, sizes and materials.  In the 1800s, as the printing industry came into its own, paper dolls appeared on the market.

Early subjects included famous performers, images created for advertising (Remember Betsy McCall?) and designs made just to sell.  While the 1940s was the boom decade for the paper doll industry, new collections still appear.  Today Barbie® fashions lead the market in sales.

Collectors buy current paper dolls from grocery stores and other retailers, reprints - often altered from the original by the publisher, and antiques.  Illustrated price guides like Tomart's Price Guide to Paper Dolls by Mary Young, are a good aid in pricing older books. 

 

Once acquired, paper dolls for collections should be stored according to the latest paper reservation techniques.  Some tips from Paper Dolls by Anne Tolstoi Wallach: 

• Place the paper dolls in a protective covering like a plastic bag or special transparent envelope.
• "Never glue dolls onto paper."
• Don't mend torn paper dolls.
• Do not use transparent tape anywhere near paper dolls.
• Albums help arrange paper doll collections.
• Keep records of your collections.
• Store or display your paper dolls away from strong light.

 

 

MAKING

If you are at all creative, you may want to make your own paper dolls.  If your paper dolls are destined for a child, consider engaging the child in the process.

CRAFT TIP: A fun way to involve a child is to trace her image on a large sheet of cardboard or poster board.  Color or decorate the doll as you like.  Make clothes for doll out of the same material.

For more elaborate paper dolls, consider getting a book like Creative Paper Dollmaking by Rhonda Rainey.  Rainey explores several media to challenge your imagination.