Today I offer a glimpse of Norma Lu Meehan's Victorian Paper Doll Wardrobe. I think this one is out of print, but you can find it on eBay and the like. Meehan's work is amazing on a lot of levels: she works from actual gowns from actual historical collections, which makes the amount of detail incredible. This particular set of dresses is from the Northern Indiana Historical Society.
In the book there are three dolls and 12 dresses ranging from the 1860s to the 1890s (with an emphasis on the 90s ~ but a nice range of styles of that decade). The one I've posted here is from 1887 and was worn to a wedding reception (click the picture to see more details).
Meehan has a number of books, all equally detailed (and just recently published a new book of 19th century wedding fashions ~ which I hope to acquire soon). I have several of her other books and will share reviews on them also.
And while I'm posting, I just want to say that I realize I am slow at posting new material of my own and hope to remedy that. On Halloween, I'll be launching a second blog with a project I have been working on (and which will be updating more quickly doll-wise that this one). Stay tuned!