Bradley's Tru-Life Paper Dolls: Presenting Modern and Artistic Dress Designing by Means of Fashion Plates and Actual Patterns

"A new and interesting means of industrial occupation embodied in the most pleasing pastime known to childhood. They teach the child how to make dresses in just the same manner as its own little dresses are made, and assist her to cultivate subconsciously a really educational discrimination in the selection of material, color schemes, and styles."

Includes: instruction booklet, top panel of the box (7.5 x 10 inches, no sides), 3 dolls, 18 sheets of patterned paper (8 with pieces cut out), 5 intact sheets of paper patterns, 3 cut out "background" patterns, envelope with blue tissue cutouts, 10 drawn-on dresses, and 10 collaged dresses from the supplied paper (including a few with little buttons!)The large doll has a few small areas of abrasion and is creased at the ankles, abrasion to the box lid and booklet, minor discoloration and wear. A nice example with patterns created using multiple methods at different skill levels.

During his lifetime, Milton Bradley published and manufactured educational items based on the Froebel gifts and occupations, particularly for use in kindergartens and primary schools. After his death in 1911, these products became increasingly mainstream. This is a good example of the Milton Bradley Company's use of the Froebel paper cutting gift marketed as a game that also served an educational purpose.