Paper dressing dolls were developed by the firm of Raphael Tuck in the late 19th century, and were probably based on the paper doll books of S & J Fuller from the early 19th century: The history of Little Henry and his counterpart Little Fanny. Shown are examples from series 4 and 8.

The dolls could be stood upright with a built-in support. Their many interchangeable costumes provided hours of pleasure. They enjoyed huge popularity and are believed to have been played with by the grandchildren of Queen Victoria.

Paper dolls continued to be played with throughout the 20th century, sometimes requiring mounting on thin card to increase their durability.