Paper Doll Review Issue 42

This is my third post today, but I just couldn't wait to share with you the news of the latest Paper Doll Review. It came in the mail today, and it is a knockout. David Wolfe's Andrews Sisters grace the cover (with outfits on the back, in a clever collage with a 78 of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy).

(By the way, David is the MC of our convention and the sponsor of the FIT Fashion Museum tour that has everyone buzzing. He'll also give a PowerPoint presentation on "New York Fashion: Then and Now" during our Friday dinner banquet.)

Inside this issue: David on Fashion during WWII, with many wonderful photos of models, stars and paper dolls of the era; one of Marilyn Henry's excellent celebrity profiles, this time on Alice Faye; eBay tips by Gina Clarke; an overview of rabbit paper dolls, also by Marilyn.

But my favorite feature in this issue, hands down: the personal essays by Tom Tierney, Norma Lu Meehan, David and Marilyn about their years as fashion illustrators. Great photos from their own family albums--Tom in a lovely self portrait, seated at his drawing board; Norma Lu as a young woman in NYC, on her way to a matinee with friends; David in a highly stylized, half-lit photo, sunglasses notched in his lapel; and Marilyn striking a glamorous pose worthy of a fashion spread, seated in a chair in the Tuileries Gardens, Paris, 1960. What a stylish bunch! And the stories they have to share...you'll have to get your own issue to find out more.

All this, and a look inside their portfolios, from the days when they illustrated for boutiques, specialty shops and department stores. Outstanding.

Congratulations to managing editors Jenny Taliadoros and Marilyn Henry on a terrific issue!

Subscription information: Paper Doll Review, P.O. Box 14, Kingfield, ME 04947, U.S./$26 (4 issues a year); Canada/$32; Overseas/$38. Single issue: $7.

Registration Packet

y now most of you should have received your packets, especially those of you who registered between Sept. 2007 and March 2008. If not, do let me know!

Now that the initial bulk mailing has been done, I'll be able to send out packets as new registrations come in.

There is still room on the tours and workshops, but they are filling up fast, so don't delay.

McLoughlin Mystery (Solved!)

McLoughlin paper dolls from the mid to late-19th century (as I believe this one is) feature children or young women with adult faces (not the cute look we associate with modern toys), serious expressions, and evocative or alliterative names (Josie Fox, Ruby Rose, Nellie Nailor, Ester Fine). If anyone knows the name of this particular doll, let me know. You can see a large stain where she was likely affixed to a scrapbook.

UPDATE (courtesy of Garth Lax): "Your doll's name is Carrie Grant. Honest. 4 costumes, 4 hats, envelope. The set is from McLoughlin Series #3. The period would be 1858/1859. See Howard, p.121."

Sure enough, there it is in Marian B. Howard's "Those Fascinating Paper Dolls." Thanks, Garth!

Mopsy Modes 1949

Here's a page from a Mopsy comic book, Vol. 1, No. 5 dated March 1949.

Another batch of registration packets is being mailed out today.

Convention Workshop Times

Folks, read your registration packet carefully! Especially the workshop schedule.

There are workshops going on simultaneously, and some of you are signing up for two going on at the same time.

Louise Leek will be contacting some of you, so be ready to choose the one you prefer--unless you are able to clone yourself by August!

Larry Bassin

Larry Bassin is one of my favorite contemporary pd artists. He's not online, but he does have a "Paper Doll of the Month" club. $40 for a six month subscription. Larry Bassin, 5385 S. Piccadilly, West Bloomfield, MI 48322.

Cornerstones Spring 2008 issue

The latest issue of Cornerstones provides an excellent overview of black paper dolls through history. Deanna Williams has amassed a trove of images (many I've never seen before) and did her research, as usual. There is a beautiful color centerfold paper doll of the journey of a black man through history by Bruce Patrick Jones, a b/w doll of Diana Ross by Ralph Hodgdon and a b/w Barack Obama paper doll by Tom Tierney.

By the way, this issue has the latest installment of the Fruitland Chronicles by Felicita Hummingway. (Tom Tierney and Gene Maiden, welcome back!)

Single issue: $6. Subscription: $24 per year (four issues). Make check out to Cornerstones and send to Deanna Williams, 733 de la Fuente, Monterey Park, CA 91754.

Ginger, A Tekwood Doll

Here's one from my collection, and decidedly very much of the mid-20th century. Ginger was produced by Whitman as part of a Tekwood series, and the Mary Young guide notes that the set is listed in Whitman's 1947 catalog.

I've never seen a paper doll outfit that includes a newspaper, especially in the hands of a young girl. But it's not surprising. The post-WWII era was a heyday of sorts for news in print; TV was a growing presence, but not ubiquitous yet, so newspapers were still the primary source for news. Do children fight over the Sunday comics anymore? Let's hope so!

Good news: the first batch of registration packets were mailed out on Friday.

Tina Fair

Tina Fair is a circa 1860s paper doll made by Degan, Estes & Co., Boston. This 4 ½-inch cut paper doll has five dresses and hats. Both the paper folder and costumes are hand-finished with watercolor.

Piscataway Embassy Suites Link

otel link to reserve your room at the Piscataway Embassy Suites can now be found to your right.

Our thanks to Adriana Garzon for helping us make a smooth transition to our new location.

If you have any questions about your reservation, you can contact Adriana at Adriana_Garzon@hilton.com

The Masquerade

The Masquerade or Le Bal masque is a circa 1850 German-made boxed set with four paper and seventeen double-sided masquerade costumes, with accompanying heads with variations on coiffure and head-dress. The vibrant lithography is enhanced with egg-wash luster. Applied paper litho on box cover depicts characters adorned in nine of the costumes found in the set. The title is printed in three languages. Marked “Bei F. Fechner in Guben.”

Thanks to Sheryl Jaeger for allowing us to share these photos and notes from her archive.

One-Cent Books & Dolls

More from the photo archive and notes of Sheryl Jaeger:

These are early chromolithograph “penny paper dolls” made by Chromatic Printing Co, Philadelphia, circa 1875 and are both quite hard to come by. The four-fold booklet is “My Dear Papa.” The second includes the covers only for “Our Little Peggie.” Both have advertising for the other dolls in the series. Chromatic was short lived, but was believed to be in existence from 1874-1879.

Dolly Dear

Dolly Dear was produced by the British company Spears around 1910 and has six interchangeable heads for one body. Each of the heads has a different printed name on reverse: Agnes, Edith, Fanny, Irene, Emmy and Alice. The heads slip on a tab at the top of the body, similar in design to those of Raphael Tuck. Dolly Dear is 10” tall and in its original box. The doll is embossed with a high-gloss varnish finish. In addition to costumes, the set includes large hats and accessories such as a feather boa, a teddy bear, a banjo and a handbag—all representative of Edwardian to Art Nouveau fashion.


This is the first of many items from the photo archive of Sheryl Jaeger, a dealer and collector of paper dolls and other ephemera. Most of you know Sheryl from conventions and eBay, where she sells as eclectible. (By the way, these items aren't for sale, and the photos are for public sharing, not private use.) Sheryl also appraises estate collections, and will be giving a workshop at the convention on managing your collection.

Room Transfers Complete

The Boston Herald Lady (1895) and I are happy to announce that the room transfers are complete, with new confirmation numbers.

Those of you who want to record your new confirmation number or amend your existing reservation in any way -- to extend your stay, upgrade to a double room from a king/single, change the name on the reservation -- now is the time to call the Piscataway Embassy Suites at 732-980-0500.

Adriana Garzon, sales manager, is our contact, and she will be happy to answer any of your questions. You can reach Adriana at adriana_garzon(at)hilton.com. Her direct line is (732) 885-0338. We hope to have our online reservations link by Monday.

The Artists' Sweatshop

The goal of this 3-hour workshop conceived by artist Bruce Patrick Jones is to bring together a large number of convention attendees to observe artists working under pressure and to participate in the creative process.

Here's how it will work: A group of artists agree to host the sweatshops. Each host has a table of six "guests" -- that's the limit of people who can sign up for each artist's table.

But in reality, we all get to participate: All convention attendees will be invited to submit a "theme." As Bruce describes it, "It could be a phrase, a word, a song title, a specific idea, an abstract notion ...whatever." These suggestions are written on a piece of paper, placed in a box and kept secret. That box for your submission will be available in the days leading up to the workshop, displayed prominently at the registration table in the lobby and during the dinner banquet the night before.

At the start of the sweatshop, each artist picks a theme from the box and he or she must then create one or more paper dolls, interpreting the theme. The doll/dolls must be completed within the first hour and the guests get to see the artist create --- under pressure. Artists can invite guests to make suggestions and comments.

Although there is a limit of six who can sit at each artist's table, the rest of us can wander in and quietly observe the process.

The artists who have agreed to participate are: David Wolfe, Sylvia Kleindinst, Ralph Hodgdon, Kwei-lin Lum, Marilyn Henry and of course, Bruce.

And here's the latest from Bruce on this exciting workshop:
"They should put their names on their submissions---one per person---and the six chosen ones will be awarded a prize. ( I'm sure I can come up with six little prizes). I hope they will all be as excited about this as I am."

You bet we are, Bruce!

Artists' Sweatshop with Bruce Patrick Jones and others. MATERIALS: Participants will be requested to bring WHATEVER they think might help to create a bunch of paper dolls within three hours. Paper, pens, pencils, scissors, glue, stickers, decorative paper, etc. Limit: 6 per Artist Table. Free.