Paper dolls: A Classic Vintage toy

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Paper Dolls: a heart warming retro toy

Paper dolls are a retro classic vintage toy with a heart warming appeal to them. Styled after movie stars, famous individuals, or sweet and sassy fictional characters paper dolls were a toy that transfixed young children worldwide. Paper dolls usually came equipped with their own wardrobe of tabbed clothing and accessories.

Able to create a magical world of imagination these delightful dolls quickly melted the hearts of those who owned them. The dolls would occupy a child for hours, and when play time was done, the dolls and their accessories would be stored away in cardboard boxes till the next time that they could be taken out once again for play.
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Shirley Temple: One of the most famous paper dolls

Authentic Shirley Temple Paper Dolls and Dresses (Dover Celebrity Paper Dolls)

Amazon Price: $2.22 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

Shirley Temple was a very popular vintage theme paper doll set and would be found very often on the gift list of little girls at Christmas time or on their birthday wish lists.

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Shirley Temple Paper Doll books...

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Christmas Paper Doll

Collectible paper dolls...

Paper dolls have become a highly collectible item. Played with by young girls for virtually as long as paper has existed, the dolls and their outfits experienced a lot of wear, and tear throughout their existence. This makes finding intact books or even pages of retro or vintage paper dolls highly collectible.

So if you happen to stumble upon some paper dolls while digging through the attic, or cleaning out the garage, treat them with tender loving care. They are probably very rare.

The Disney Princess's paper doll

Disney Princess Paper Doll Kit

Amazon Price: $8.57 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

A Disney Princess paper doll set is popular with modern girls. These delightful princesses have captured the hearts of young girls world wide.

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Disney Princess paper doll books...

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The history of paper dolls

The very first paper dolls may have been those created through the Japanese art of Origami. This traditional art of paper folding has been around since about 800 AD and it is known that puppet and animal characters were fashioned from it. These would of course been played with thus making them the first paper dolls.

The largest US producer of paper dolls McLoughlin Brothers was opened in the early 1800's and remains in existence today.

Traditional vintage paper dolls as old as the 1780's can still be found in museums.

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Barbie paper dolls

Fabulous Fashion (Paper Doll Book): Barbie

Amazon Price: $4.85 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

Barbie and her friends are a delightful paper doll set coming complete with their own unique wardrobe fashions.

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Barbie paper doll books....

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Fairy paper dolls....

Disney Fairies Storybook and Paper Doll Kit

Amazon Price: $10.93 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

Disney's fairies are a delightful and novel paper doll set. Ideal for young girls who still believe in the wonder of magic and fairy tales.

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Fairy paper doll books...

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Collectible paper dolls on sale at eBay right now

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FREE Paper Doll Patterns

Just right click and save to your computer :)

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Other classic toys that are sure to be someone's collectibles

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What are your thoughts on retro paperdolls?

  • TheLifestyleChanger Apr 9, 2012 @ 12:44 am | delete
    I loved paper dolls as a little girl. So lovely to be reacquainted with them. Blessings.
  • Jolene_Belmain May 22, 2012 @ 1:26 pm | delete
    Yes, I too remember playing with those fragile, yet beautiful, paper dolls. So much great imagination goes into playing with them.
  • TheLifestyleChanger Apr 9, 2012 @ 12:44 am | delete
    I loved paper dolls as a little girl. So lovely to be reacquainted with them. Blessings.
  • Thrinsdream Mar 19, 2012 @ 3:01 pm | delete
    These remind me of being tiny! Loved them. With thanks and appreciation. Cathi x
  • Jolene_Belmain Mar 28, 2012 @ 12:12 pm | delete
    I loved mine when I was a child too... paper dolls are great imagination toys.
  • KimGiancaterino Mar 14, 2012 @ 5:07 pm | delete
    I think I've still got a few of my paper dolls in storage. I just enjoy looking at the sheets, especially the vintage designs.
  • Jolene_Belmain Mar 28, 2012 @ 12:11 pm | delete
    It's amazing how long something can stay in style for... and paper dolls never did leave (although they did slow down a bit).
  • CherylK Feb 11, 2012 @ 10:48 pm | delete
    I loved paper dolls when I was a child. I would design clothes for them and played with them for hours. I enjoyed this lens a lot!
  • Jolene_Belmain Feb 12, 2012 @ 4:05 pm | delete
    I think kids were a lot better with mind play years ago compared to now... a lot of the toys just don't allow for any imagination anymore.
  • tvyps Feb 7, 2012 @ 9:17 pm | delete
    I actually found some very old ones once when I was out "picking." I made some good cash on them! The very old ones are more valuable than I thought! Blessed!
  • Jolene_Belmain Feb 12, 2012 @ 4:04 pm | delete
    And since they've been around for so many years, if you can find them in good shape, yes people will spend quite a bit on these vintage toys.
  • alpacafarm Feb 7, 2012 @ 5:24 pm | delete
    Hello Jolene,

    Just wanted to thank you for commenting on my Organic Eggs Lens. I also wanted to comment on your lens. I am really into vintage toys, board games and basically any vintage toy related niche. Very Cool Lens!!!

    Scott
  • Jolene_Belmain Feb 12, 2012 @ 4:03 pm | delete
    Well thanks so much for the return ;) it was my pleasure visiting your eggs lens.
  • blackspanielgallery Feb 3, 2012 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    Nice lens
  • blackspanielgallery Feb 3, 2012 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    Nice lens
  • dc64 Jan 15, 2012 @ 10:17 am | delete
    I remember these as a little girl. They didn't last long and tore so easily, but they were an inexpensive option for the adults.
  • Jolene_Belmain Jan 15, 2012 @ 12:20 pm | delete
    The ones made more out of cardboard lasted a bit longer... now a days with lamination, they would last a ton longer ;)
  • SandyPeaks Jan 3, 2012 @ 5:47 pm | delete
    My grandparents bought me many Paper Dolls when I was young. They enjoyed playing with them as much as I did! Blessed by a SquidAngel.
  • Jolene_Belmain Jan 5, 2012 @ 1:07 pm | delete
    They seem like a thing of the past, but there are still some out there who play with them. Such a great imagination toy :)
  • Evelyn_Saenz Nov 21, 2011 @ 5:53 am | delete
    I have always loved paper dolls. Vintage paper dolls are by far the most beautiful. Did you play with paper dolls as a child? Did you make them with your mom?
  • Jolene_Belmain Nov 21, 2011 @ 10:51 am | delete
    I don't remember making them, but I remember playing with them... so much fun! Love imagination toys :)
  • DesignZeal Oct 18, 2011 @ 1:14 pm | delete
    Lovely paper dolls, and characters from some of the best fairy-tales and stories. Cinderella and Alice are my favorite :) and the piggies!
  • fugeecat Oct 8, 2011 @ 1:32 pm | delete
    I really like the alice in wonderland dolls and I didn't realize that paperdolls were originally from Japan.
  • Jolene_Belmain Oct 8, 2011 @ 7:47 pm | delete
    Puts more meaning to the word vintage for sure.
  • KAngelArt May 27, 2011 @ 5:48 pm | delete
    I still find time to spend time designing paperdoll fashions. I find it very relaxing. I just recently put up my own lens about "Paper Doll Trends" but it's more of an interactive story rather than a collection like yours.

    What you put together was interesting. I like to look at all the different kinds of paperdolls that have been made. You covered a lot of them, and your tidbits were interesting too. Thanks for sharing. :)
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So long as there are children to play with them paper dolls will never go out of vogue.

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Google search on paper dolls

Playing with Diablo 3's paper dolls - and loving it
My favorite collection of "little things" in Diablo 3 are the "paper doll" effects. When your character equips new armor or weapons, they clearly show up on your avatar. New helm? Ooo, it's got a plume! New two-handed sword? Man, that sucker is big.
MomsRising: Giant paper dolls headed to Raleigh
By Beth Messersmith of MomsRising While it may sound like the title of a bad movie, it's exactly what's going to happen this Thursday as moms and kids bring more than 400 life-size paper doll cut outs of North Carolina children to the General Assembly ...
All dolled up and on display
Most notably the display will feature a selection of artifacts from resident Daphne Clowes, from ceramic dolls to toy wicker furniture to a large collection of paper dolls from the 1930s. Our paper doll collection is in very good condition, ...
Printable Paper Dolls to Color
The popular website PrintablePaperDolls.net has added a new category of fun: free paper dolls to download, print and color. "When I launched PrintablePaperDolls.net last year, it was with full-color paper dolls and their clothing in mind," said Kevin ...

Sources:

Thank you Wikipedia.com and Amazon.com for your amazing wealth of information.

by

Jolene_Belmain

I'm an extremely happy person that loves my family. I've always loved to write poetry, I also love to cook. I've been having so much fun here on Squid... more »

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Paper dolls princess castle: 

Peaceable Kingdom / Princess Castle In-A-Box Paper Doll Playset

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

Why just have the paper doll, when you can have her paper castle too.

A classic toy... 

All Dressed Up (Disney Princess) (Paper Doll Book)

Amazon Price: $4.85 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

An old retro toy, in a new style.

Paperdolls in a box... 

Peaceable Kingdom / Ballerinas In-A-Box Paper Doll Playset

Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 06/04/2012)Buy Now

Every girl loves so play princess, whether it's dressing up as one, or dressing them up in pretty dresses.