Monday, June 29, 2009

Myrna Loy


Herbert Marshall


I thought I knew nothing about this actor, then I happened to turn on Turner Classic this morning and recognized him immediately in the 1958 film "Stage Struck." He was also the ill-fated Horace Giddens in "The Little Foxes." Who could forget how Bette Davis allowed him to slowly die on the staircase? Marshall was also the original lead in the 1935 movie version of "Accent on Youth," which I just saw on Broadway with David Hyde Pierce.

Marshall lost a leg in World War I, and carried himself with a stiff gait to hide his disability, according to IMDB, the online movie database and wikipedia. Edna Best was the second of his five wives.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Gay Pride








Here are photos I took at the 1983 New York City Gay Pride Parade. Ah, those 80's short-shorts, and sweatbands for aerobic workouts! Who could forget? This year's event will mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in the Village that led to the organized gay rights movement.

Please credit The Paper Collector if you use these photos online or in print.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

The American Car, 1961



Automobile ads from the Jan. 1961 Reader's Digest. Bittersweet.
Look closely at the Cadillac ad (left click) and you'll see the jeweled V and crest were created by Cartier. The 18th century embroidery in the background is from the Brooklyn Museum.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Children's Playmate, July 1947

A little bit of sunshine, via the artist Elaine Enders of Children's Playmate.

Bell Telephone Company, 1955


Here's one thing that's a lot cheaper today: long distance phone-calling. A 3-minute phone call between New York and Boston cost the equivalent of $4.38 in 2009 dollars--and then you had to add the 10% excise tax!

There are so many phone services to choose from today, including Skype and other internet-based calling services that are free or inexpensive.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Father's Day

One of my father's favorites: Dagwood and Blondie. From "Blondie's Cook Book," Selected and Illustrated by Chic Young. Bell Publishing, Drexel Hill, PA, 1947. Remember to left-click on image to read.

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Chronicling America

From the Chronicling America web site:
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

Welcome to Chronicling America, enhancing access to America's historic newspapers. This site allows you to search and view newspaper pages from 1880-1922 and find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress as part of the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
Search for cut-outs and paper dolls to find more interesting articles and images. I found the picture of Dolly's Pretty Wardrobe in the January 17, 1909 issue of the New-York Daily Tribune.

Cash register, c. 1955

I love reading the ads in old magazines, especially when they explain the "latest" technology. Here's one from the August 1955 Readers' Digest, when the new-and-improved cash register was introduced to the public by the National Cash Register Company of Dayton, Ohio.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Paper Doll Family II



The rest of the family from the Saalfield 1934 set. Several missing pieces...note the cute clothes for the girl's missing doll.

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Paper Doll Family I


From the 1934 Saalfied set, Paper Doll Family...and Their House, 1934. The kids post tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Paper Doll Family and Their House, 1934






Saalfield. I found this without any paper dolls in an antique store in NJ about a year ago. Then I bought some interesting small dolls from Carol Carey. It took me a while to realize that they belonged to this booklet! And I found that out while browsing through one of Mary Young's indispensable guides.
This was also a sticker book: furniture, shutters, towels and other accessories were to be pasted in. The kitchen cabinet doors on the far left were supposed to be left partially open, to reveal dishes.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Tommy Tom by Stecher Litho, c. 1915


Here's my own scan of one of the paper dolls I won at the Morphy auction last month. He didn't quite fit on my scanner, so some stitching was done, hence the different coloring on the sailor suit.

Monday, June 15, 2009

France "Liberty Doll"

"Liberty Dolls" were used to promote coffee, newspapers and other products. I'm guessing these were of the post-World War I era. She's holding a copy of the Hartford Courant, one of the oldest newspapers in the U.S. If you look closely, you can read the headlines; one seems to refer to the League of Nations: "Smaller Nations Hold Out for Greater Powers; Two Articles Agreed On."

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Flag Day

Billie Bumps of Dingle Dell by Grace Drayton, April 1913. Pictorial Review, of course.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Friday, June 12, 2009

Baby McCall Goes for a Ride, 1926

Repro of the original, another insert from the 1994 UFDC Region 13 souvenir program.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

McCall's cut-outs, June 1921

This is a reproduction inserted in the souvenir book for the 1994 Jersey Cape Doll and Toy Club, UFDC Region 13 Conference, "Memories from a Seashore Scrapbook."

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Origami Bears

Lone Nunnally has just updated her website, Origami Bears, with pictures of her visit to Denmark, including their paper doll convention. As always, Lone scans in some rare and wonderful cut-outs. The collage above is from her website:

www.origamibears.com

Monday, June 8, 2009

My wins at the Morphy auction

It was hard to resist getting in on the bidding action at the Morphy auction last month. I went fully expecting to just be a spectator--that didn't last once I previewed the lots. Especially this lot--the uncut Bezucha and the Lettie Lane town house folder-- were two items I had long sought out. These and other images are taken directly from the Morphy auction site.


Yesterday I posted my own scans of Spear's Daisy. The lower doll, which matches the image on top box, has some repairs to the head. Both boxes are lined in paper lace.


The Cranford children by Tuck. I already have the boy with one outfit, was glad to get more.
These are all oversized dolls: Our Favorite Dolls by Selchow and Righter; Polly Dolly and Tommy Tom by Stecher Lithographic; and the Curly Locks set (girl with bow not pictured) by Charles Graham Co. All cut, with their original (if frayed) glassine-type envelopes. c. 1915.