Daphne and Tornado paper dolls

c.1948. I'm pretty sure that's Daphne, and I think Tornado was her puppy...hope more knowledgeable collectors will correct me if I'm wrong. Click on image for larger view, and to save on your computer. 

Shackman out-of-print paper dolls for sale

Paper Doll Review is selling limited quantities of out-of-print paper doll books. In addition to Marilyn Henry's fabulous interpretations of Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford, there are the Shackman reproductions of vintage paper dolls, beautifully done. I have several in my collection and was happy to add a couple more. The price is right, in the $12 to $14 range.

Click here to order.

Infinite Variety: Three Centuries of Red and White Quilts

I know this isn't a paper show, but there are quilters (and others like me who just love quilts!) who follow this blog, and I hope they heard about this show at the American Folk Art Museum. There's a free app available at the museum web site, with every quilt in the exhibit, statements from the curator and collector, Joanna S. Rose, and cell phone audio tours.

Sleek Brenda Starr fashions

c. 1947

A mystery Starr paper doll

 ...at least to me! I'm not sure the gown goes with this character, but it fits. And I believe she may have been part of an ongoing story line. 

Brenda Starr's variety

A variety of dresses and styles: slinky cocktail dress, strapless evening gown, a work-day dress and an old-fashioned gown. I'd place this in the late 1940s, too, because of  the fuller profile, longer hemlines, and hair style.

Brenda Starr, glamour girl

c. 1947, a guess.

Shirtwaist

March 25, 1911

Star

Two Collectors

Two paper doll collectors passed away recently:  Lone Mortensen, who published the Danish newsletter PD Bladet, and Nina Brown.  I was acquainted with them through online groups and publications for collectors. Thanks to the Yahoo and Google groups for the notification. Their fellowship will be missed.

Brenda Starr's umbrellas

c. late 1940s, I'm guessing.

More Daphne c. 1945

As you can see I bought a collection of Brenda Starr paper dolls recently, all cut but not identified or matched with clothing or accessories. I just finished sorting them out. I originally posted just the red dress last month; here's the rest of Daphne's wardrobe. On Saturday I visit Carol Carey, a long time collector. She'll identify a lot of the characters in this batch.

Siberia's costume party

Mariachi, cowboy and hula girl. The hula outfit doesn't quite fit; might be missing something, or perhaps it was cut improperly.

Siberia's back

Here's another cut set of Siberia, Daphne's maid from the Brenda Starr comic strip. Hats or other accessories may be missing. If you have an idea of the date, let me know.

Family history and collections

Angela Escritora, a follower of this blog from Brazil, sent me some photos of her family memorabilia. And it is special indeed. The dance card and program is from her grandmother's wedding in 1916. She has posted pictures of the wedding, and other family photos, here.

 

The black and white picture is an advertisement for her great-grandfather's jewelry store.

Her collection of Japanese poem card are part of a memory game that is played on New Year's Day. You can see Angela's collection of saint cards here, and more family documents  here. 

Thank you for sharing these beautiful items with us, Angela.You are lucky to have a special record of your family history.

More on Siberia by Dale Messick

A message from Nancy Goldstein:

"I've followed black paper dolls somewhat because of my work on cartoonist Jackie Ormes and her Torchy newspaper cut outs.

Her are a few details about Siberia who was indeed part of the comic strip story:

Siberia first appeared in the comic strip Brenda Starr, Reporter on Sunday, May 31, 1942. Her role was as maid for the heiress Daphne Dimples, an apprentice and something of a rival to reporter Brenda. Daphne was selfish and ornery and Siberia put up with a lot! The few pds I've seen show Siberia in beautiful clothes--as well as the obligatory maid's outfit. So we can give cartoonist and creator Dale Messick snaps for creating a beautiful and smart African American woman in the comics, quite a contrast to the usual derogatory stereotypes.

"Siberia had a boyfriend, Dusty Rose. These attractive black characters and their paper dolls possibly helped inspire cartoonist Jackie Ormes to create Torchy's Togs, the paper doll topper for Torchy in Heartbeats, a 1950-54 adventure strip starring Torchy, another beautiful and clever black woman. More about Torchy is on my web site: http://www.jackieormes.com

Two paper dolls from the early 1940s are attached.

I hope others will send you their color Siberia pds. What we see in digital research archives is B & W, and often (I am guessing) they did not bother to scan or microfilm the pds.

Cheers,
Nancy"

Thank you Nancy! And I have other cut Siberias to share here, will scan in this weekend.

More from the Crossley catalog

 Online bidding has begun at Theriault's. Bid here.(Link fixed)

Some rare Sunday supplement sheets.

The Crossley Paper Doll Auction

Theriault's will once again auction items from the Virginia Crossley paper doll collection on Sunday, March 27. The online bidding has already started. You can view the full catalog and place a bid here.

Virginia had a phenomenal collection of uncut celebrity books, in addition to all kinds of vintage and antique treasures. Here are some of my favorites. Several items I've never seen before; the last picture shows a handmade collection. Click images for a close-up view.

William & Kate Paper Dolls by Tom Tierney

You can order your copy from Dover here. After you make your purchase, you'll be able to download a copy of Kate's wedding gown after the nuptials on April 29.

A magazine called Tea in Texas offers a wonderful profile of Tom Tierney. Click here for the magazine's archive, and go to page 40 of the March-April issue. Thanks to Jenny Taliadoros for alerting me to the article.

And the annual Tom Tierney paper doll party is fast approaching:

3rd Annual Texas Paper Doll Party
March 26 & 27, 2011
Tom-Kat Paper Dolls
216 Main Street, Smithville, TX

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT
Kathy O'Tierney at 512-237-1256, or go to
texaspaperdollparty.com

Siberia by Dale Messick

Above, Siberia by Dale Messick. There were other African-American characters featured in Messick's paper dolls, but I think this is Siberia. Was she included in the comic strip story line, or just a paper doll? Let me know, I'm clueless on that point.

Below, more from Garth Lax about the fantastic museums within driving distance from the convention host city. 

2011  INTERNATIONAL PAPER DOLL CONVENTION                               LET  FREEDOM  RING !                                         Email # 6                              ART  AND  AMERICANA !   In a previous email, on the subject of Museums, I left you dangling on the subject of a marvelous Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.   Now, we'll cover it, in concert with another Museum of sorts that houses the greatest collection of Americana anywhere in the world.   BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM   On US 1, in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, is a Museum housed in a converted 19th Century grist mill. It's a 20 mile, or 30 minute, drive from your Convention Hotel, and if you like the art of the Wyeths, you're going to love this Museum.   The Brandywine River Museum has an extensive collection of works by the Wythe family - - N.C., Andrew, and Jamie - -  as well as works by Brandywine school founder Howard Pyle and students including Maxfield Parrish, as well as paintings by American illustrators Charles Dana Gibson, Rockwell Kent and others. Other works include 19th-century landscapes, still lifes and interior scenes by artists including Jasper Cropsey, George Cope and Jefferson David Chalfant. The Museum is open every day from 9:30 to 4:30. Admission is $10 US for Adults, and $6 US for Seniors (65 and above).   But there's more.   As luck would have it, The house where N.C. Wyeth raised his extraordinarily creative children and the studio in which he painted many of his memorable works of art have been restored to reflect their character in 1945, the year of the artist's death. Educational tours departing from the museum are offered at timed intervals Wednesday through Sunday; $5 per person in addition to museum admission.   And even more luck, for there's a second tour!.   For more than 70 years, the Kuerner Farm was a major source of inspiration to Andrew Wyeth. Since his earliest painting of the farm in 1932 at the age of 15, Wyeth had found subjects in its people, animals, buildings and landscapes for more than 1,000 works of art. Many of Wyeth's best-known works of art emerged from his long fascination with the farm, including Winter 1946 (1946), Groundhog Day (1959), Evening at Kuerners (1970), Young Bull (1960), Spring Fed (1967), and Overflow (1978). Reproductions of these works are viewed on the tour, along with parts of the house, barn and property to demonstrate how Wyeth altered the physical details of a site in order to communicate a particular idea. Educational tours departing from the museum are offered at timed intervals. Wednesday through Sunday. $5 per person in addition to museum admission. Due to uneven walking surfaces, the Kuerner Farm is not accessible to disabled individuals.   WINTERTHUR !   About 7 miles from the Brandywine River Museum is the world's finest collection of Americana and American Decorative Arts.   Winterthur, the former residence of Henry Francis Dupont, has nearly 200 period rooms, all purchased or salvaged from actual houses. The rooms, which range in date from 1640 to 1840, are completely furnished with paintings, silver, pewter, glassware, textiles, and ceramics. For example:   A room taken from a 1680s house in Massachusetts displays plain pine tables and chairs, along with a carved oak cupboard. The 1733 Readbourne Parlor from Maryland's Eastern Shore has a chest from Boston painted to resemble Chinese lacquerwork, a tea table and chairs from Philadelphia, and a painting by John Wollaston. There are rooms taken from homes in Maryland and Upstate New York. There is a breathtakingly beautiful 1822 Montmorenci staircase from North Carolina; a Charleston, South Carolina room with Chippendale furniture; and a room of Empire-style furniture by Duncan  Phyfe.   Every room is different, and there's a surprise around every corner.   Winterthur is a little pricier than other venues we describe, but well worth it. You will never see anything like it anywhere else - - because there is nothing like it anywhere else!!   The General Admission price is $18 US for Adults; $16 for Seniors (62 and over). The Admission includes access to the gardens, a garden tram tour, the Galleries and special exhibitions, and an Introductory Tour of the array of period rooms on the 5th and 6th floors. If, in addition to the Introductory Tour, you'd like a 1 or 2 hour guided tour, they are available at increased prices (make reservations at 1-800-448-3883).   All Tour packages include the Library (wait 'til you see what's there!) because the Library is free.     Winterthur admission tickets are honored for two consecutive days so if you prefer, you could visit the House on one day and return the next day for the Library and Gardens.   The Museum (the House) and Gardens are open Tuesday-Sunday, 10 AM - 5 PM. Last tour is at 3:30 PM.   The Library is open Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.   Winterthur is at 5105 Kennett Pike (Route 52), Winterthur DE 19735, (For in-car GPS or online maps, use 5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE  19807.)   Yes, Winterthur has two places where you may have lunch. The Pavilion, in the Visitor Center, has hot entrees, panini, and a salad   bar. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10-4. The Cafe is in the HF DuPont cottage, and has baked goods, salads,   sandwiches, soups, fruit, coffee. Tuesday - Sunday 10 - 4:30.     Did I mention the Paper Dolls ??   Winterthur has one of the truly great Paper Doll Collections - - the Maxine Waldron Collection. The collection is so extensive that the items do not have individual catalog records, but are arranged in categories - - Handmade Dolls,  Servicemen,  Advertising Dolls (including trade cards), Greeting cards, Miscellaneous (Movie Stars, Dolly Dingle, etc.),  3-D (including pantins),  Uncut Dolls,  Furniture and Buildings (but not Toy Theaters - - though see below), and Oversized.   So what specifically can you see?    How about an embroidered chenille and paper dress trimmed with gold, dating from about 1750? No doll, but, oh what a costume!   How about handmade paper booklets - - Overlays, including one called "Coiffures"?   How about La Petite Psyche, plus three other Psyches? Wait 'til you see them - - dolls, costumes, hats, boxes, little mirrors!   How about an 1840 piece - - doll, six costumes, hat - - believed to be of young Queen Victoria?   What would you think of the famed "National Costumes" - - the Anson Randolph family?   How about Jenny Lind, or Tom Thumb?   Perhaps some of the great European paper dolls - - Brave Boy, Boy and Girl, the Virtuous Girl, or the Greatest and Most Beautiful Doll ??   Those are just a few that I know are in there. I can't begin to describe all the treasures that will be revealed before your eyes.    Above, I noted that Toy Theaters were not in the Waldron Paper Doll Collection. However, the Paper Toys and Games collections are fascinating as well, and contain such rarities as:   Peep Shows depicting Garden Parties, Model Villages, a Farmyard, and exotic places,   Victorian Theater sets, complete with stages, props, and characters,   A Roll Panorama, made by Milton Bradley in the late 1800s   Board Games, such as The Circle of Knowledge, an 1818 copy of Newton's New Game of Virtue Rewarded and Vice Punished, and an 1840 German geography lottery game. All these are in the Archives in the Library, open M-F, 8:30-4:30 Note that the Museum (House) is open Tuesday-Sunday, so plan accordingly if you wish to see both. Again, the Winterthur tickets are valid for two consecutive days.   Now - - the Winterthur Librarian needs some advance notice if you're going to go to see this incredible collection. So, if you are planning a visit at Convention time, tell me, so I can tell them that people want to see it - - and on which days.     DINING OPTIONS   If you'd like to eat lunch other than at Winterthur, here are two options:   Hank's Place is a nice, casual restaurant at the intersection of US 1 and Route 100.  It serves soups ($2.95 - $3.75), Salads ($5 - $10), and has a wide variety of sandwiches ($5 - $8). It's open Monday 6 AM-4 PM, Tuesday - Saturday 6 AM - 7 PM, and Sunday 7 AM - 3 PM.   For a higher level of ambiance and excellent food, you might try The Gables of Chadds Ford.  The Gables is located in a converted 1800s dairy barn, and boasts a simple though elegant setting. The menu offers a contemporary twist on American cuisine, using French and Asian influences. For lunch, the Gables offers Soups and Salads ($7 - $9), Hot Entrees ranging from Jambalaya to crab cake sandwiches to Petit filet, as well as a Fish du Jour and a Quiche du Jour ($12). It's located on US 1 between Route 100 and Route 52. Open for Lunch Tuesday - Friday 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM.   A note of thanks to Marion Creamer for her valuable input on the Brandywine Museum and the Gables.  Marion has been to both and gives each an enthusiastic recommendation!   The Brandywine River Museum and Winterthur! Sound like a couple of venues that could make your day - - don't they?   I'll be back in two weeks with "The Sportin' Life!"   - - Garth             2011 INTERNATIONAL PAPER DOLL CONVENTION                                August 17 - 21, 2011                   Embassy Suites - Philadelphia Airport                                9000 Bartram Avenue                             Philadelphia,  PA  19153                                                     ******************************************************************************                           CONVENTION REGISTRATION   NAME__________________________________________________   ADDRESS_______________________________________________   CITY_______________________STATE_______ ZIP/PC__________   EMAIL_____________________________________   PHONE____________________________________   Registration:  $295.00 USD    Absentee Registration:  $155.00 USD   (Absentee Registrations are limited in number.)   Guest Registration (Meals, Reception Party) $150.00   GUEST NAME:__________________________________________   Make Checks payable to:  2011 Paper Doll Convention   ____ Check/money order enclosed   ____ Credit Card #____________________________Exp.Date______         (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx accepted)         (charge will appear on statement as "Paperdoll Review")   Mail to:   David Wolfe P.O. Box 2279 New Preston,  CT  06777 **********************************************************************************

H.H. Smith & Co., clothiers c. 1880s

New kitty in town, 1907

Charm magazine, March 1950