Pepe and Pepita from Mexico

 This is PEPE and his twin sister, PEPITA. They live in Mexico, and are going to show you different kinds of clothes worn there. 

Pepe's shirt and trousers are white cotton, and he wears a bright sash or 'faja' to keep them together. The gay blanket is a wool 'sarape'. It has a hole in the middle for Pepe to put his head through. When he isn't wearing it like that, he carries it folded over one shoulder, and when he isn't wearing it that way he is probably wrapped up in it fast asleep. His sandals are woven of leather thongs.

Pepita embroidered the flowers and birds on her blouse  herself. She never leaves the house without her shawl, called a 'rebozo'. The basket and doll are both made of straw. If the pig bank looks wise it is because he has a secret - he is guarding all Pepe and Pepita's pennies.

These are the costumes worn in Tehuantepec, which is the tropical country in the south of Mexico. There is an interesting story about Pepita's headdress. When the Spaniards first came to Mexico they gave an Indian woman a baby dress with lace frills on the skirt. She didn't know what it was for, so she just put it on her head and folded the lace frills back the way you see it now. All the other women copied her headdress, and it has been worn in that region ever since. Pepe tries to scare all the other little children with his fierce looking mask.

When there is a big fiesta or holiday, Pepe and Pepita dance the 'Jarabe Tapatio' in these costumes. Pepita wears a rebozo again, but in a different way, so that it will not slip off as she dances. Pepita's skirt is bright red flannel and is so heavily embroidered with sequins and spangles that she has to hold it up when she dances around Pepe's big sombrero.

Now Pepita pretends she is a Spanish senorita, and hides her eyes behind her fan. She puts a high comb and flowers in her black hair. Pepe puts out his chest and says he is a brave 'matador' - but if he is a bullfighter, where is the bull?

This is the envelope this wonderful set of paper dolls arrived in.  I did not find information when this set was produced, but I am guessing it was in the 1930-40s era. The artist is Leonie Pennock Lowell, lifespan 1916-2006. The envelope indicates if was printed in Mexico. 

Pepe and Pepita are 10" paper dolls printed on heavy weight paper. 

Do you know dapper Mr. Mouse....or is he Mr. Rat?

This is Mr. Mouse....or maybe Mr. Rat.

Looking a bit spiffy here even though 

he has patches on his knickers.

He is a paper doll standing 8 inches tall that

was published in The New York Tribune in 1931.

When he wants to dress for fun, you will find him

in his white slacks, striped blazer and sweater vest

 while sporting a flower in his lapel. 

He considers himself a real "dandy" on the town.

When he wants to impress his lady, how does he dress? 

Fancy overcoat, plaid slacks, spats, 

leather gloves, a cane for good measure 

and a box of candy under his arm!

 Say good-by and good luck to Mr. Mouse!

 

Dolls of Many Lands

Dolls of many lands  is a boxed set of paper dolls

 published by Whitman Publishing Company in 1932, 

catalogued as  W3046. Ten countries are represented. Each paper doll is printed on individual heavy paper stock in lovely pastel colors and drawn in the wonderful style of the 1930s era. 

Gretel of Holland in her little wooden shoes, 

braids down her back and holding tulips....of course!

Little Flower of Japan, in her patterned kimono 

secured with an obi, is holding a Japanese lantern, 

and carrying a lovely parasol.

Jock of Scotland in his tartan kilts, 

playing a bagpipe, tapping a drum,

 or performing a Highland dance!

Marie of Italy, with a band of flowers to wear in her dark tresses, 

a tambourine to play while she dances, 

and fresh fruit picked from the orchard.

Fritz of Germany, his pet Dachshund in his arms, 

lederhosen to wear with his alpine hat, 

and a miltary uniform to be just like dad.

Colleen of Ireland, a "wearing of the green" 

in traditional dress, and a bouquet of clover tucked close. 

Olga of Russia, with lovely embroidered dresses 

and both a babushka scarf and kokoshnik to wear on her head.

Bill of the USA, our All-American boy, with uniforms for scouting

 and baseball, and a football for sandlot games.

Dolores of Spain, with a flower tucked behind her ear, 

a guitar for singing, a swinging skirt for dancing, 

and a mantilla with peineta.

 Hildur of Sweden, with colorful aprons adorning each dress 

and traditional hats/scarfs of Sweden. 

Bob and Nan Cut Out Dolls....circa 1913

 

Mary Young, in her publication of 20th Century Paper Dolls Identification and Values (2006), indicates that Bob and Nan Cut Out Dolls was published by M.A. Donohue & Co., but no date is given. Other paper dolls Donohue produced indicate they were published around 1913, and the clothes included in this book reflect the fashions of the 1910-1920 era. 

                                                                                     

      Bob has four outfits, all with short pants and long sleeves shirts.

      

     Nan has four dresses, all with short sleeves, five hats and a doll.  

 Nan even has a large dolly with clothes and toys made especially for him!

This is a large format book of paper dolls, measuring 18" by 10". The company that produced them, M.A. Donohue & Co., was a publisher of children's books in the late 1800s and the first half of the 20th century. With offices in Chicago and New York, the company was known for inexpensive editions of popular works of fiction. 

Dresses Worn by the "First Ladies" of the White House....1937

This paper doll book was published in 1937 by The Saalfield Publishing Co. as #2164 , with illustrations drawn by Maybelle Mercer. 

Four dolls were provided to use as models for the dresses worn by First Ladies and other daughters or friends who filled the hostess position for the presiding presidents. Most of the dresses were worn at the Presidential Inauguration Ball.

This book is unique in that not only does it show a detailed picture of the dress, on most of the dresses it also gives a description as to fabric, cut of the dress design and other embellishments. 

Published in 1937, the parade of dresses ends at that year with a dress worn by Eleanor Roosevelt at her husband's first inauguration. 

Descriptions of some of the dresses are provided here. Dresses are shown in no particular order.

LEFT: Edith Roosevelt, wife of Theodore Roosevelt, 1901-1909

RIGHT: Abigail Adams, wife of John Adams, 1797-1801,

in a gown of heavy Canton crepe with a deep row 

of heavy Chinese embroidery.

LEFT: Elizabeth Monroe, wife of James Monroe, 1817-1825

RIGHT: Martha Washington, wife of George Washington, 1789-1797, 

in a hand-painted gown of salmon colored silk with wild 

flowers and insects in the design along with green jewels.

LEFT: Mary Harrison McKee, daughter of Benjamin Harrison, 1892-1893

RIGHT: Martha Johnson Patterson, daughter of Andrew Johnson, 1865-1869

in an evening wrap called a "burnoose" made of 

white camel hair cloth trimmed with gold braid and tassels. 

LEFT: Julia Tyler, wife of John Tyler 1844-1845

RIGHT: Abigail Fillmore, wife of Millard Fillmore, 1850-1853,

in a dress of lavender silk trimmed with a flowered flounce 

of the same color, the basque draped with a white fichu.

LEFT:  Ida McKinley, wife of William McKinley, 1897-1901

in a gown of heavy cream satin trimmed with point lace 

with the skirt open over a panel beaded with pearls.

RIGHT:  Sarah Van Buren, daughter in law of Martin Van Buren, 1939-1841

LEFT:  Jane Findlay, foster mother of Willam Henry Harrison's daughter in law, 1841

RIGHT:  Julia Grant, wife of Ulysses Grant, 1869-1877,

in a gown of silver white brocade with a cape of point lace.

LEFT:  Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of Franklin Roosevelt, 1933-1945

RIGHT:  Ellen Wilson, first wife of Woodrow Wilson, 1913-1914,

in a gown of chenille brocade draped over a lace skirt 

ending in a swallow tail train, the waist adorned 

with rhinestones and strings of pearls. 

LEFT:   Grace Coolidge, wife of Calvin Coolidge, 1923-1929, 

in a gown of American Beauty velvet typical of the short skirt period.

RIGHT:  Helen Taft, wife of William Howard Taft, 1909-1913

LEFT:  Harriet Johnston, niece of James Buchanan, 1857-1861,

this gown of white moire silk with a tabbed hem 

was actually her wedding gown.

RIGHT: Lou Hoover, wife of Herbert Hoover, 1929-1933

LEFT:  Mary McElroy, sister of Chester A. Arthur, 1881-1885

RIGHT:  Lucretia Garfield, wife of James Garfield, 1881, 

 in a lavender satin gown.

LEFT:  Florence Harding, wife of Warren G Harding, 1921-1923,

in white satin heavily embroidered with pearls, crystals and rhinestones.

RIGHT:  Caroline Harrison, wife of Benjamin Harrison, 1889-1892

LEFT:  Edith Wilson, 2nd wife of Woodrow Wilson, 1915-1921, 

in a black velvet gown trimmed with jet beads.

RIGHT:  Sarah Jackson, daughter in law of Andrew Jackson, 1836-1837

LEFT:  Louise Adams, wife of John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829

RIGHT:  Betty Bliss-Dandridge, daughter of  Zachary Taylor, 1849-1850,

in a gown of green silk grenadine trimmed with Scotch plaid.

LEFT:  Mary Lincoln, wife of Abraham Lincoln, 1861-1865,

in a gown of royal purple velvet, with the basque 

and gored skirt piped in white. 

RIGHT:  Martha Randolph, daughter of Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809

LEFT:  Frances Cleveland, wife of Grover Cleveland, 1886-1889 & 1893-1897.

in a gown of heavy Nile green silk brocaded in pink roses 

with bodice and girdle of rose velvet.

RIGHT:  Dorothy Madison, wife of James Madison, 1809-1817

LEFT:  Emily Donelson, wife of Andrew Jackson's nephew, 1829-1836, 

in a lacy white gown, the basque of gold cloth embroidered 

with pink flowers, and clusters of artificial flowers on tiered skirt 

and at the neck softly draped in white tulle.

RIGHT:  Maria Gouverneur, daughter of James Monroe, 1817-1825

LEFT:  Jane Pierce, wife of Franklin Pierce, 1853-1857, 

in a gown of black tulle embroidered in silver dots.

RIGHT:  Sara Polk, wife of James Polk, 1845-1849

Lucy Hayes, wife of Rutherford Hayes, 1877-1881,

in a gown of gold brocade and cream colored satin.

My Little Dears to Dress...1917

Trying to date these adorable early 20th century paper dolls was no easy task. The Bookseller, Newsdealer and Stationer, Vol.53 from Excelsior Publishing House, 1920, attributes them to The Norse Company as part of their "Something to Do" set published "to ward off mischief of the little hands". It goes on to describe the paper dolls as "four fascinating paper doll books included...Pretty Dolls to Dress, My Little Dears to Dress, Dorothy and Ruth Dolls to Dress, and Betty and Jack Dolls to Dress by Mary Nye Marshall. Each stiff front and back cover provides an adorable doll  while pages between are given over to wardrobes that are up to date in every particular."

[the above pictures and values are from 
20th Century Paper Dolls Identification and Values, (2006)]

Mary Young, in her publication of 20th Century Paper Dolls Identification and Values (2006), indicates that the Dorthy, Ruth, Betty and Jack paper dolls originally appeared in the paper doll book 'Beautiful Dolls for Children to Dress' published by Platt and Peck in 1915. 

In 1917 The Platt and Nourse Company emerged from the Platt and Peck Company and published a paper doll book titled 'Dollies to Dress Like Father and Mother' which included my two dolls found in 'My Little Dears to Dress'. 

In 1920 Mr. Platt left the company and joined with Arnold Munk to form the Platt and Munk Publishing company which eventually bought The Norse Company.  In the late 1960s  Platt and Munk Company Inc. became a division of Questor Education Products; some of their original paper dolls have been reprinted as part of the Child Guidance Division of Questor. 

Ok, enough delving into the history of this particular set of paper dolls. Time to have a look at the lovely fashions of the early 19th century! 

This is Jane.

This is Tommy.

My set includes only 3 items of clothing for Tommy...

perhaps there were more originally. 

Jane has three lovely dresses and one evening coat.

And each item of clothing is marked on the tabs 
when it was meant to be worn.  

I've enlarged the next two items to show you the difference in printing from later paper dolls. Although the quality of the paper is good, the actual color printing is the same as  used in newspaper comics. 

"My Little Dears to Dress" on parade!

Several other articles of clothing were included 
with this set that do not fit the doll provided, 
but seem to be from the same era of fashion design.

And all the tabs are marked PAT. APPD FOR. (patent applied for)