1812 – Little Henry becomes America’s first “Action Figure”

In 1810, the retail emporium of S&J Fuller at Rathbone Place in London, aptly called the “Temple of Fancy”, unveiled The History of Little Fanny, a morality tale told in a small book and an accompanying series of costumes accompanied by a movable head – the first commercially successful ‘paper doll’ sold as a plaything. This was followed in quick succession by The History & Adventures of Little Henry. In 1812 Little Henry became the first “action figure” produced in America. A specialty purchase only for the dedicated, Little Henry sold for the equivalent of $20, and despite the price tag, was wildly popular and highly coveted.