Royal paper dolls, c. 1830

Princess Victoria's paper dolls, c. 1830. The doll in white, second from right, was painted by the princess.

From the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee Online Scrapbook.

Tom Tierney Memorial, Oct. 18, 2014

From the Tom Tierney Memorial Page on Facebook:

A memorial for Tom Tierney is being planned for October 18, 2014, 3 p.m. A reception will follow with the opening of Tom Tierney gallery at Shangri-la Emporium in Smithville. More details will follow as the date approaches. Please feel free to share this event. Thank you Tom Tierney fans for your dedication! Kathleen O'Tierney

Tom Tierney at the 2008 Paper Doll Convention in Piscataway, NJ. That's Jane Powell and Dickie Moore to his right; Sandy Vanderpool just over his shoulder, and in the foreground, Deanna Williams.

Marv Albert paper doll by Tom Tierney

Tom Tierney gave the Marv Albert scandal his special touch for TV Guide in the issue dated Dec. 13-19, 1997. 

In case you forgot the sordid details, you can refresh your memory here. 

As always, Tom Tierney hit the mark on the news of the day with his own witty take. 

I found this on the freebie table at the Richmond convention last month. 

Letty Schwarz and Tom Tierney

Letty Schwarz and Tom Tierney, 2006 

We also lost Letty Schwarz this year, just a week or two before this year's convention in her home state of Virginia. Letty collected antique and handmade paper dolls and generously shared her expertise with us newbies. She also was supportive of contemporary artists, bidding on original artwork at convention silent auctions. I enjoyed our conversations about her family's historic roots in New York City (Heard of Broome Street in Manhattan? That's Letty's family).

Tom Tierney and Friends

Here's Tom at the 2006 convention in Indianapolis.

Sondra Leeds organized the convention around a Fairy Tale theme, and dress up night saw Tom as Tinkerbelle to Kathy O'Tierney's Peter Pan. That's Jenny Taliadoros and Jane Rasor as Alice in Wonderland -- I'll need help identifying the others. 

Sam McKay, Tom and Kathy.

Jenny, Tom and Jane.

Tom Tierney Entering a New Millennium, 2000

Doll World, Feb. 2000

NYTimes: Tom Tierney, Who Made Paper Dolls an Art Form, Dies at 85

http://nyti.ms/WjuI9Z

A spate of diminutive two-dimensional figures sprang to life on Mr. Tierney's drawing board, including American presidents, monarchs and silver-screen stars.


Sent from my iPhone

The King of the Paper Dolls

I'll miss the twinkling smile, joie de vivre and overall good humor of the great paper doll artist Tom Tierney, who died Saturday. 

More Family Cut Outs

Sister Ruth

Dorothy

Baby Ann

Buddy

Aunt Mary

Uncle Charlie

Cousin Jack

Cousin Bessie

The Family Cut Outs, ca. 1930s

Marion Creamer brought this outstanding set of tablet covers to the competition. I'd seen the covers of movie stars on writing tablets, but not this colorful paper doll series. More tomorrow.

Mother

Daddy

Junior

Brother Jimmy

Paper doll books in Canada

Jan Belcher displayed paper dolls published in Canada, many of which were versions of American books by Milton Bradley, Lowe, Merrill and Saalfield, and all in mint condition.

Anne K. Donze's 2014 Convention Blog

Anne K. Donze has a blog loaded with pictures from the convention and you can see it by clicking here:

Anne K. Donze's 2014 Convention Blog.

Pictured above: Anne came as Betsy McCall for one of the evening banquets, and she looked adorable!

Yankee Doodle, c. 1880s

One of my convention sales room finds: a Lion Coffee paper doll of "Yankee Doodle," with lyrics on the reverse. 

 "The Great Temperance Drink" -- a reminder of the Temperance movement of the 19th century that led to Prohibition in the early 20th century.

Costume illustrations

Sylvia Kleindinst found these wonderful theatrical designs on eBay, and had them on display at the convention.

More Fern Bisel Peat tin ware

Fern Bisel Peat tin ware

A longtime paper doll collector has a collection of Fern Bisel Peat tin sets. So glad to see this on display at the convention.