Christmas Greetings paper doll card, ca. 1920s

No markings on this delightful card -- bought from Patti Fertel's sales table at Morgantown (I think). 

Love that the rhyming couplets continue on the back of the dolls, dresses and hats!

Jane Arden's Wardrobe, 1936

Merry Christmas

GQ paper doll, Nov. 2016

Thanks to Jenny for the heads-up about this paper doll in the Nov. issue of GQ. You'll find this magazine on the raffle table in August!

Peter Pig by Bette Wells, 1983

The late Bette Wells was one of my favorite artists. This is her Fern Bisel Peat-inspired "Peter Pig."

Chic Young's Blondie, Nov. 1959

No paper doll inside, but the cover is priceless! Found at my local comic book store for $6.

Happy Thanksgiving

Pictorial Review, November 1934

Remembering Garth Lax

Garth Lax passed away Oct. 3, a tremendous loss to the paper doll community. Our thoughts are with his beloved Diana.

I loved getting Garth's email blasts about the convention host city each year -- his enthusiasm shone through every missive. And the competition! Not only did he organize it most years, he and Diana always had the most marvelous antique paper dolls on display; they won many blue ribbons over the years. I learned so much from their collections. Mostly, I will miss his friendship, his smiling face and that wonderfully resonant voice of his.

Joe paper doll by Elaine Ends

Here's one of the paper dolls in the Nov. 1945 issue of Children's PlayMate. His twin sister was torn out, unfortunately!

Children's PlayMate, Nov. 1945

There was a lot going on in November 1945. 

World War II had come to an end, and veterans were returning home. 

People were concerned about  jobs, and there was a housing shortage, too. What would the future bring? No one knew. 

And yet, it all worked out in the end.

Ginger and Beauregard paper doll by Margaret Menamin

This 1989 paper doll by Margaret Menamin was a birthday gift for Carol Carey. The doll appears to be an illustration for an advertisement, or perhaps a short story in a magazine. Menamin's imagination took off from there to create her wardrobe.

Miss Paper Doll and her New Winter Clothes, 1909

McCall's Magazine, October 1909

Janet paper doll, ca. 1930

This lovely little doll was in at least three different Platt and Munk sets: Modern Dolls to Cut Out and Dress, Betty Ann and Her Friends, and Up-to-Date Dollies (see Mary Young's "20th Century Paper Doll Identification and Values," page 250).

Rally Day paper doll, 1924

This has to be one of the cleverest paper dolls I've ever come across. 

It's an invitation to Rally Day, October 6, 1924. And it was its own mailer, with the outfit forming the back of the envelope.

New York Herald paper house, 1905

It took me awhile to figure out what I was looking at. At first all I could see were frayed newspaper rectangles with illustrations of a house. But the reverse held some clues. This is copyright 1905, New York Herald. And all the furniture you see here has been glued on to an empty room, based on a floor plan provided by the newspaper. 

All the pots and pans, the tin of salt, the rolling pin and even the cat has been glued into place!

Love the taut sheet on the bed and the window seat...

Two Little Girls of 1910, by Jayne C. Keller

Another goodie from Unshredded Nostalgia in Barnegat, N.J.

More from Simplicity, 1955

What great style! As far as I'm concerned everything--from hairstyle and glasses to outfit and handbag-- still works today.

Beautiful!

When New York City really had a Garment District...

Sweet mother-daughter dresses...how many paper doll books from this era also had mother and daughter matching outfits?

Sweet ballerinas

And of course... a paper doll!

Remembrance

Simplicity's Children, 1955

Another treasure found at Unshredded Nostalgia in Barnegat, N.J.

Hallmark gift wrap, ca. 1961

One of my finds this summer at Unshredded Nostalgia in Barnegat, NJ. The owner bought a huge trove from a paper doll collector. I'm not sure who that was, other than someone who lived in South Jersey. 

There was a note, dated 1988, inscribed on the cardboard behind the gift wrap:

"Gift wrap -- given by Suzanne Jaggers. This paper was the gift wrap on a birthday gift to Donna Jaggers, Suzanne's daughter. It was approximately 27 years ago (1961)."

The note was signed by Pat Batchelder.

Illustration Magazine

Issue #53 includes articles about artist Mel Odom and Ellen Clapsaddle, the legendary artist of the postcard's golden age. 

Richly illustrated throughout.

You can order a copy here.

Tini Mods, 1965

Little did I know when I first posted Terri from the 1965 Tini Mods set by Whitman seven years ago that I would be co-hosting another convention -- with a 1960s theme! This time next year we'll be in Philadelphia, greeting old friends and meeting new ones. I hope you'll join us! 

This set has fuzzy flocking, which is really neat, and the colors are quite vibrant. Remember LPs? 

Columbia Bicycles for Woman's Use, 1895

This advertising paper doll not only gives you the price of the bicycle, it advises women on the appropriate outfit to wear when riding, even naming the designer. The little hat evoking the helmet of the Greek god Hermes is a nice touch!

Anne Donze's Phoenix Convention Blog

Anne Donze's blog is a must read for those who missed this year's convention -- and even for those of us who were there, she caught things you might have missed. 

(Next time I visit my sister in Phoenix, I'll be sure to check out the dollhouse rooms at the museum.) 

Thank you, Anne!

Click here:  The Phoenix Paper Doll Convention Blog.

Male Plumage, '68

Renton's Butter-Nut Bread Paper Doll

ca. 1890s