(All Auctions Shown are Ebay Results)

Paper dolls have been inexpensive children’s toys for almost two hundred years. They are figures cut out of paper or cardboard, with separate clothes usually held onto the dolls by folding tabs. Paper dolls have appeared in magazines, and have been used for advertising. They have become highly sought-after collectibles, especially as vintage paper dolls become rarer due to the limited lifespan of paper objects. Paper dolls are still being created today, sometimes by artists and in art form.

Paper dolls have been around as long as there has been paper. In Europe, the first paper dolls were made during the mid 1700s. The paper was jointed and they were called pantins meaning dancing or jumping jack puppet. They were intended to entertain adults and spread throughout high society. They were drawn or painted like people with fashions for each doll. These were more similar to contemporary Western paper dolls. Rare hand-painted sets of paper figures dating to the late 1780s can be found in some museums today.

The biggest American producer of paper dolls, McLoughlin Brothers, was founded in early 1800 and was sold to Milton Bradley in 1920s. Around this time paper dolls became popular in the USA and then grew in popularity in the following decades. Movie and radio stars and celebrities became the focus in the early days of paper dolls in the U.S.A. Paper dolls are still produced today and Whitman and Golden Co. still publish paper dolls.

McLaughlin's Coffee Paper Doll
US $35.00
End Date: Thursday Jul-29-2010 21:46:50 PDT
Buy It Now for only: US $35.00
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1913 Antique Book w/10 Orig.Paper DOLL CLOTHES Patterns
US $9.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 12:58:35 PDT
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Vintage Framed Paper Doll Ribbon Lace Dress 1930's
US $12.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 14:00:58 PDT
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2 american girls collection mib kirsten paper dolls set
US $12.50 (0 Bid)
End Date: Sunday Aug-01-2010 19:32:18 PDT
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Vintage paper dolls with hand-painted artwork are becoming increasingly rare due to paper aging issues. They have become collectible, and the prices for mint uncut sets can be between $100 and up to over $500 for a sought after title. Kovels on Antiques and Collectibles recently reported that a Hopalong Cassidy book, unpunched and in original, complete condition, went at auction for $260, while a Betty Grable cut-out dolls book went for $226.