Free Sample
The Complete Handbook of Paper & Magnetic Dolls
A practical reference for collectors, retailers, educators, and makers of paper and magnetic doll products
by Alumigogo Books
Chapter 1: Understanding Paper & Magnetic Dolls
The Core Product: Two Distinct Technologies, One Category
The category labeled "Paper & Magnetic Dolls" looks homogeneous on a retail shelf, but it actually contains two fundamentally different mechanical principles that share only a superficial resemblance. Understanding the distinction is not an academic exercise. It determines how you store the product, how you anticipate wear, what you can reasonably charge for it, and how you should repair it when it fails.
The first and older technology is the pure paper doll. This is a flat, printed figure, typically die-cut from card stock, that stands or is displayed on a separate backing piece. The classic configuration uses a small folded paper tab at the doll's feet that slots into a corresponding slit in a display stand. The activity is the dressing of the doll with interchangeable paper clothing that features small folded tabs, which are bent backward to hold the garment in place on the doll's body. The interaction is purely mechanical and relies on the rigidity of the paper and the friction of the folded tabs.
The second technology is the magnetic doll. In this configuration, the doll itself is typically a more rigid board, and the clothing is held to the doll's body using small, embedded magnets. The garment has a magnet sewn or embedded in the back, or it has a small magnet attached to its top edge that adheres to a corresponding magnet or a ferromagnetic metal strip