Paper Dolls

Since their invention, paper dolls have been similar to regular dolls as beloved toys of children. The main difference between dolls that are made of paper and dolls that are shaped like real babies, is they are two-dimensional. In other words, they are flat.

Paper dolls are enjoyable because children can change their clothes, add accessories, and play with them as they would play with any other types of dolls. These dolls can be purchased, but they are often available for free as cut-outs from magazines, newspapers, books, or as print-outs from the Internet.

Paper dolls have been popular for a few hundred years. In Europe, some of the earliest forms of this type of doll depicted famous people or actors, and most had permanent costumes. However, in America, paper was not as readily available during this era. So, paper dolls were not commonly found.

Once paper was more easily attainable in the United States, paper dolls became more common and began to be mass-produced. In their early stages, the dolls were donned in hand-colored and handmade clothing. However, it gradually became customary that the dolls were sold with additional outfits.

Over time, these dolls have evolved into a frequently seen toy that almost every girl (and many boys) has owned at one time or another. Today's dolls are more sturdy, and many accessories can be added to them.

In the early 1900s, paper dolls were often found in advertisements for large department stores. Businesses realized that paper dolls were the perfect medium for showing the latest fashions and styles. Plus, girls employed the dolls as toys. Since the dolls were kept around the house for an extended period of time, they became advertisements with a very long shelf life.

Over the past century, magazines such as Good Housekeeping and Ladies Home Journal were common places to find cut-out dolls. Children's magazines such as Jack and Jill Magazine also featured paper dolls.

In the past, newspapers were also a common place to find doll cut-outs. They were extremely popular during the Great Depression because parents only had to pay five cents for a newspaper. Then, once it was read, children could cut out the dolls and keep them.

In modern times, paper dolls can still be found in certain kids' magazines and also as sets in most every toy store. Of course, they can also easily be hand made with a pair of scissors and an old cardboard box.

As a doll collector, keep in mind that dolls lose their value if they are cut out of their original packaging. In fact, dolls that are uncut and in their original condition can be worth up to twice (or more) the value of a cut doll.

Other tips for collectors:

• Always keep every accessory that came with the original doll in perfect condition.

• Protect the dolls from exposure to air. Cover them with plastic or glass (as long as no moisture is trapped inside).

• Do not try to fix or mend any dolls. Altering the dolls, even if the purpose is to fix them, will actually lessen the value.

People collect this type of doll for various reasons. Some of which include that dolls made of paper are usually relatively inexpensive (however, rare dolls can be quite pricey), the collector may be interested in the clothing made for the dolls, or the dolls remind them of good times they had during their own childhood.

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