Q:I have a paper dress with a label inside that states "Hallmark, Island Paradise." It says it's made of 80% cellulose and 20% cotton and is fire-resistant. I'm not the original owner, but the dress has never been worn. I'm told it's from the 1950s. I would like to know if the dress has any value or if it's just a collector's item.

A:Your paper dress is not as old as you think. The first paper dresses were made in 1966 and were offered by Scott Paper Co. as premiums for $1 plus 52 cents worth of coupons from Scott paper products. The company sold about 500,000 of the dresses in two different styles. By 1967 several other companies offered paper dresses as premiums for their products. Hallmark sold paper "hostess" dresses that matched their party napkins and tablecloths. Some department stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue, Bonwit Teller, Gimbels and Lord & Taylor, sold paper dresses. "Paper" dresses were not actually made of paper but of a mixture of cellulose and nylon or cellulose and rayon. They could be shortened by cutting off the bottom and usually lasted for several wearings. But there was a risk they could catch fire if worn too close to a cigarette or open flame, so they lost popularity. Value: about $50 if the graphics are interesting.