Nancy Ann Abbott started the Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls in the 1940’s. The 5 in. and 7.5 in. dolls had a one-piece body of bisque with jointed arms and a glued on mohair wig. They could stand alone!
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Mask Face Dolls
This collection of 10 in. cloth mask face dolls were given to me in the 1940’s. They are unmarked but I think Africa, Scotland, USA, and Romania are the lands represented.
1960s Wendy Doll
In the early 1950’s, to compete with the popular Ginny by Vogue, Madame Alexander produced an 8 in. Wendy doll. This is a 1960’s Wendy in Sewing Basket, an F.A.O. Schwarz special. It came with a 7 in. hard plastic Wendy doll, sewing supplies, and pre-cut clothing with instructions.
Toddles Dolls
In 1937 the 8 in. composition Vogue dolls, later to be known as Ginnys, were called Toddles. They were grouped into several different series. For instance, the Nursery Rhyme Series in the early 1940’s had a Bo-Peep. Little Red Riding Hood shown here is from the Fairy Tale Series. In 1951 when Toddles were made from plastic with sleep eyes, she had a tag on her arm reading, “Hi, I’m Ginny.”
1940s Pinocchio Walt Disney Doll
Pinocchio, dating from the 1940’s, is 7 in. tall. He has a composition swivel head with wooden jointed body. He is marked “Pinocchio, DES. © BY WALT DISNEY, made by Ideal Novelty & Toy Co.” He was the star of the first movie I saw, a 1940 animated musical fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Productions and based on the story, The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Carlo Collodi. Before taking his photo I had to re-string him and find a feather for his cap.
Canadian 1940s Nurse Doll
This 8 in. nurse doll from the 1940’s has a one-piece torso, movable arms, mohair wig, and painted face, marked on back, “Reliable – Made in Canada”. Her clothes are original and she is in excellent condition. It resembles the Chubby Kids dolls popular in the 1920’s.
1940s Campbell Kid
This is a 1948 composition 12 in. Campbell Kid by Horsman. It was designed by Grace Drayton, known for her magazine drawings of Dolly Dingle. It was a gift from my mother following her trip to Canada. The smaller 5 in. Campbell Kids shown are by Fibre-Craft Materials Corp., 1995.
Ginny
The Ginny dolls of Jennie Graves continued to be popular from the 1940’s into the 1950’s when hard plastic and later vinyl was preferred. This was the first hard plastic Ginny I got and it was a walker. They seemed to become cute and cuter over the years.
1940s Ginny Doll
These two 7.5 in. Ginny dolls are exactly the same, except one has painted hair and the other a mohair wig. Both are composition dolls with painted side-glancing eyes and identical faces. The undressed one is marked R. & B. Doll Co. while the other Bo Peep, is marked Vogue on her back. Jennie Graves started the Vogue Doll Co. in the 1930’s and commissioned sculptor Bernard Lipfert to design this doll. Jennie Graves was the dolls’ dress maker. The undressed doll sculpted by Bernard Lippert was also used by the Alexander Doll Co. for their 1930’s Dionne Quintuplets dolls.
1940s Mystery Dolls
Here are three unmarked 1940’s composition dolls that were given to me. The 13 in. doll on the right is wearing one of the popular pinafore dresses and has mohair braids and straw hat. The 13 in. doll on the left carries a bag with laced-edged hanky, mirror, powder box, and powder puff marked Vogue. The 11 in. doll in the center with sleep eyes is, dressed as a skater, resembling the famous Olympian and film star, Sonja Heine. Can anyone identify these three?
