The first xilographies to cut out which are thematically linked to the army came into being around the 1750's thanks to the German Steudner and the French Papillon, when picture-carols for kids' amusement were printed.
To reach the last aim such publishing works needed cutting out, glueing on a rigid support, generally made of cardboard, painting and lastly positioning in parade order held up by small wooden supports.
The press tecniques, from the originary xilography to the subsequent litography, cromolitography and fotolitography up the recent fotolito, contributed to develope and spread such particular form of soldiers.
Among the greatest producers of the 19^th century there is Jean C. Pellerin from Epinal. He promoted a remarkable variety of the printed subjects. He also contributed to their distribution through a widespread sale.
Among the Italians we cite the brand Stella, operating between 1915 to 1925.
The decline of the paper soldier, as for many other alternative forms of toy soldiers, was due to the discovery of the plastics and to a radical change of the teenagers' interests who by now look at the too simple forms of toys distantly.
Nowadays there are few collectors who devote themselves to protect such historical and traditional heritage, because its intrinsic brittleness puts such works in to grave jeopardy.
However, some collections are increased by unique works of considerable artistic level that share with the original model only the type of support.

Text by Andrea Masotti - Translation by Sibilla Pedron

Notes (pictures):
1. M. Alberini, Collezionare i soldatini in "Modellini da collezione", Novara 1979, p.286.
2. French Carabineers, Felissent collection, Museo Civico  L. Balio di Treviso (Italy).

See also:
Le armate di carta (di Alfio Moratti)