Paper doll

[2] Paper dolls have been used for advertising, appeared in magazines and newspapers, and covered a variety of subjects and time periods.

Faces or other objects were applied to the paper and they were used during religious rituals and ceremonies in the Asian cultures many centuries ago.

The oldest known paper doll card is hosted by Germanisches Nationalmuseum and was printed around 1650 in Southern Germany, showing two female figures with a number of dresses, pieces of headgear, hairstyles and accessories.

Published in 1812, this book prompted children to act out various scenes with the paper dolls that were included.

[3] The biggest American producer of paper dolls, McLoughlin Brothers, was founded in early 1800 and was sold to Milton Bradley in 1920s.

[3] Book publishing companies that followed in the production of paper dolls or cut-outs were Lowe, Whitman, Saalfield and Merrill among others.