For two hundred years paper dolls have been inexpensive toys, a two-dimensional form of make-believe. The doll figures were of a hard paper similar to cardboard. The doll’s various clothing styles and accessories were cut out of a printed full sheet of paper. Each outfit had folding tags to mount or dress the doll.
The History of Paper Dolls
The collections could be found in magazine and newspapers and many times were also a form of advertising, to exhibit the newest fashion styles, or showcasing celebrities or royal figures, like England’s Princess Diane. The dolls could also reflect historical figures. During World War One, the Delineator magazine published a paper ambulance with nurses and patients as well as soldiers with their various uniforms. The cut-out dolls could be in the form of an infant, a child or adult. It proved to be an easy hobby and very low in cost.
The first manufactured paper doll was "Little Fanny", produced by S&J Fuller of London in 1810 . The first American manufactured paper doll was "The History and Adventures of Little Henry" and was published by J. Belcher of Boston in 1812. The first celebrity type doll portrayed was the renowned ballerina Marie Taglioni, which was published in the 1830s. In England, a popular doll was that of Queen Victoria.
The McLoughlin Brothers, founded in 1828, became the largest manufacturer of paper dolls in the United States. Their titles of dolls included "Dottie Dimple", "Lottie Love" and "Jenney June".
By 1866, Raphael Tuck was perhaps the best known manufacturer. Her "Tuck Dolls" were easily identified by the trademark, series name and number on the back of each piece. Some of the well known titles included; "Sweet Abigail", "Winsome Winnie", "Bridal Party", "My Lady Betty", "Prince Charming" and the popular "Fairy Tale" series.
McLoughlin and Raphael Tuck continued manufacturing paper dolls into the twentieth century.
Paper Dolls Promoted by Magazines
Ladies Home Journal in October 1908 ran a very popular series titled "Lettie Lane", which was painted by Sheila Young. That series ran until 1915.
Paper dolls enjoyed a huge revival in newspapers during the 1930s during the Great Depression. The dolls were a very inexpensive form of entertainment. The period from the 1930s through the 1950s is known as the "Golden Age of Paper Dolls," as their popularity during those years has never been equaled. "Betsy McCall" series was introduced in 1951 through McCall’s Magazine and was highly successful.
Modern Technology with "Flat Stanley" and Virtual Dolls
Enter the concept of "Flat Stanley" in elementary classrooms across the United States and the world. It originated from a 1964 childrens book, Stanley Lambcrop. It became a journal of Stanley’s adventures shared with other students. Youngsters would color and dress the doll in many different forms and transported "Flat Stanley" to all corners of the world and write of his escapades. He was carried by actually traveling with the child or sent in the mail to relatives and friends everywhere.
With the use of computers world-wide, the "Virtual Paper Dolls" have come online. There is no paper, no cutting out. However, the child can still change their clothing styles and discover how other cultures dress. It has proven to be a very interactive hobby. Selecting outfits for celebrities like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton is done with the virtual dolls, all using the computer. A simple drag and drop method is used with the computer mouse. A creation can still be printed out so the dolls and their outfits are ready to be displayed.
The web site Stardoll.com is an example of virtual dolls. The advantage is that the activity not only allows a child to be creativity but offers the opportunity to share their ideas and styles with a whole online community.
Paper dolls have remained a favorite of children and adults alike, whether in paper or now virtual form.
Sources:
- http://www.flatstanley.com/
- http://marilee.us/paperdolls.html
- http://www.opdag.com/History.html
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