Paper Dolls

Some would argue that paper dolls have been just as popular as their 3-D counterparts throughout history. Today, children and adults alike enjoy their charm, and some adults even collect them.

Collectors and historians appreciate them for their cultural insight, while children simply enjoy experimenting with a variety of clothes for their flat dolls. A box full of paper dolls and clothes can give hours and hours of pleasure!

A company called S&J Fuller created the first paper doll in 1810 in London. Her name was “Little Fanny.” Not long after, America’s first manufactured paper doll was introduced in the book, The Adventures of Little Henry, published by Boston publisher J. Belcher in 1812. It didn’t take long for boxes of paper dolls to show up under fortunate children’s’ Christmas trees. Boxed sets included famous ballerinas and royalty.

They may have been manufactured in the early 1800’s, but paper dolls have been around for ages. We have indications that paper figures were used as early as A.D. 900 in Japanese ceremonies; these figures were wrapped in kimono-like folded paper. We also have evidence that the Balinese have been making figurines of leather and paper for use as shadow puppets since before the birth of Christ.

Since the kimono-laden dolls of early Japan, there has been no evidence of paper dolls with clothes until the mid 1700’s, although there have been many varieties of different solitary paper figurines. It was in the middle of the 18th century when paper dolls with outfits started appearing in fashionable European cities. These paper dolls from the 1700’s and early 1800’s have become quite valuable and collectors are generally willing to pay high amounts for them.

Whether you’re a collector or just looking for a beautiful and fun gift to present to your little girl, paper dolls are a lovely option.