Elsie Dinsmore

 

I didn't win this lovely trio of Elsie Dinsmore paper dolls that were on offer at the auction of the Cynthia Musser collection in January, but they were sure nice to see. I think these dolls are ca. 1915.

Harry & Meghan by Rudy Miller

What in blazes am I doing up so early? I do have to work a conference at 8 a.m., so thought I'd peek into the festivities "across the pond" as they say...

You can order this fabulous paper doll set here.

The Political Circus, 2012

I know, we should all be watching the debate, but jeez, paper dolls are so much more fun. Tim Foley has two books out, "2012 Political Circus Inaction Figures" and the "2012 Political Circus Super Sticker Book," from which these pictures are taken. Both published by our good friends at Dover Publications. I love this kind of witty political caricature. Everyone is skewered.

What's Timothy Geithner doing on the Republican page? Hmmm, something to think about...Ann Romney was not in the spotlight when these books were produced, so she's not here. Too bad. Her Oscar de la Renta dress at the convention was a standout. The sticker book actually comes with a circus ring to stick the pols in. Why not? Send in the clowns!

Girls paper dolls

I'm a big fan of Lena Dunham's "Girls" on HBO.

You can find these on the New York Magazine blog,  Vulture.

Children's Playmate, August 1941

Four Famous Dandies by Jim Howard

Beau Brummell, Oscar Wilde, the Duke of Windsor and Patrick McDonald are the four famous dandies featured in Jim Howard's new paper doll book published by Paper Studio Press.

The book had a wonderful write-up in Sunday's New York Times Styles section. Way to go Jim and Jenny!

Robert Pattinson Paper Doll

This is part of Tom Tierney's Vampire Paper Dolls book, which you can purchase here.

Betty and Veronica, 1961

These copies were part of the Margaret Menamin collection.

Good Housekeeping, c. 1940

 
Life goes on. And lucky for us that it does. I'm grateful for this virtual community of paper collectors. It's a pleasure to share items from my collection, and alert you to interesting links along the way.

This wonderful magazine cover was posted by Lone Nunnally on her excellent web site, Origami Bears. I'm taking a guess on the date. Be sure to visit all the links on her site for a great variety of paper dolls from around the world.

Zasu Pitts

Someone posted a whole bunch of these on Flickr, I think. Can't find the link (thought I had bookmarked the page). I did find the Flickr set through a blog link somewhere. If anyone recognizes the Flickr set (or was it Picasa?) let me know and I'll link to it here.

The Teri Pettit web site

Teri Pettit has scanned in many rare paper doll books and cards on her web site, with different options for ease in copying and printing out-- for your personal enjoyment, of course. I've had Teri on my list of Lovely Links for a long time. In recent months she added this card and some delightful paper doll gift wrap called Dancing Debbie.

Thank you Teri!

Junior Fashion Editors Magazine, 1941

I didn't realize this page was constructed so that you could create your own little magazine. Notice the three holes on the side of the four small square boxes--place the sheets in a binder, or bind them yourself with ribbon or brads. Very cool for anyone who loves zines and miniatures. And who couldn't use some play money? I just re-posted with an image that can be enlarged when you click on it.

Fairy silhouette and found paper dolls

Artist: Margaret Menamin Eshbaugh, 2008.

Margaret had an extraordinary eye and was exceptional with scissors. The 2010 Morgantown luncheon featured many items from her enormous collection of paper dolls, including hand-mades, as well as bridge tallies, greeting cards and books.

Margaret also had a knack for fitting pieces together, to create what she called "found" paper dolls: she'd find an illustration of a figure in a pattern book or catalog, then outfit the "found" paper doll with clothes from the same or a similar publication. Margaret sometimes also cut out pieces of furniture that would be just the right scale for the figure. All of her cut pieces, whether "found," newspaper, or hand-made, were tucked into small envelopes and labeled with as much information as she had. 

Below, front and back of a "found" paper doll, cut from a 1931 pattern book. Notice how she slipped a doll into the outfit.

Tracy's Toys

Tracy has a wonderful find on her blog. Click on the link below to see what it's all about:
Tracy's Toys (and Some Other Stuff): (Another) Victorian Doll Trunk Full of Toys

Benny Bunny

Children's Playmate, March 1953.

More Dainty Dolls for Tiny Tots

Jimmy

Mary

 Debbie and Bobby

Love finding scraps and remnants of other sets. These were in the same box as Dainty Dolls. I recognize  Queen Holden artwork, and the tiny dresses were part of a Children's Playmate paper doll. The Scottie and watering can are from the child star Carolyn Lee's set, I believe.

And this was folded inside, too: Blondie's Comic Figures. Wonderfully surreal!

Names and grades were written on the back. A record of a little girl's friends? Or her made up world of paper dolls? Some of the names coincide with the ones scrawled on the back of the dolls.

Dainty Dolls for Tiny Tots, 1946

Inside that box of small treasures found in Red Bank:  A well-played with set by Saalfield (page 41 of Mary Young's Saalfield and Merrill guide--it's the Tomart book with the green cover). No doubt incomplete. The little girl who owned this set wrote names in crayon on the back. Above, Elizabeth. 

Nancy

Barbara

Susan

Linda

more tomorrow

Teen Time, c. 1956

Whitman. One of the first sets I bought on eBay, about 8 years ago. Sweet.

The clothing reminds me of what Peggy wears in "Mad Men," at least in the early episodes.

A box of small treasures

A good day in Red Bank's antiques district yesterday. Found this box on a table...

...filled with small paper treasures. It will take me awhile to sort and scan, but hope to post later this week.

Molly Malone

Children's Playmate, March 1955.