Vintage Doll Collector

Barbie’s Best Friend, Midge by Mattel (1963-66)

Zendelle — Mon, 20 May 2013 01:14:39 +0000

Once Barbie had a boyfriend (Ken), the next logical step was for her to acquire a best friend to share her secrets with (not to mention her clothes!). Midge debuted in 1963.

Redheaded Midge dolls wear a chartreuse & orange swimsuit. Blondes get two shades of blue; brunettes wear a hot pink top and red bottom.
Photo courtesy of Withington Auction, Inc.

The first version of Midge had the same straight leg body as Barbie, with a new head mold. She was available as a blonde, brunette or redhead, in a short flip hairdo with bangs, and blue eyes. Most dolls have a closed mouth smile and freckles; but some have no freckles, or a small white area painted between her lips to indicate teeth. Midge was sold in a two piece swimsuit with white open toe shoes. The color of the swimsuit varied according to the doll’s hair color. This first version of Midge was available from 1963 through ’66.

In 1964, Wig Wardrobe Midge was introduced. This set included a Midge head with a short, molded hairstyle, and three wigs for her to wear.

Photo courtesy of eBay seller your-favorite-doll.

In 1965, Barbie and Midge got a new bendable leg body. Bendable Leg Midge had a new, short pageboy hairstyle with an aqua ribbon headband, a one piece multicolor striped swimsuit, and aqua open toe shoes. She was again available in three different hair colors.

Mattel stopped using the Midge name for many years until re-introducing her with a new head mold in the late ’80s. The original Midge head mold continued to be used throughout the mod era for Barbie’s friend PJ. Mattel made a reproduction of the original Midge in 1997.

Learn More:
Collector’s Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls and Collectibles by Sibyl DeWein & Joan Ashabraner More info from Amazon or Find it on eBay.	Barbie Fashion Vol. 1, 1959-67 by Sarah Sink Eames More info from Amazon or Find it on eBay.	Ultimate Barbie Doll Book by Marcie Melillo More info from Amazon or Find it on eBay.

Little Ladies Sewing Set by Rosebud Art Co.

Zendelle — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:48:02 +0000

This unusual Little Ladies Sewing Set combines two paper dolls with clothing to sew for them.

The two dolls, printed one side on heavy cardboard, measure 8.25″ tall including their stands. The separate cardboard stand pieces enable the dolls to stand by themselves.

There are three pieces of cotton fabric which can be stitched up to make very simple dresses. Besides the rose printed piece on top, there is also a piece of pale pink seersucker, and a piece of pale pink and navy blue striped seersucker. A card wrapped with five colors of cotton thread is included.

The box is marked “No. 60, Made in U.S.A., Rosebud Art Co., Ind. N.Y.” There is no date.

American Toy Works made a similar but more elaborate set. The dolls in that set have jointed elbows.

Grannykins / Grandma dolls by Royal & Jolly

Zendelle — Tue, 07 May 2013 00:18:48 +0000

Grannykins sold by Royal Doll Co. and Grandma sold by Jolly Toys are the same doll. They have the face and hair of an older woman, with a regular high heeled glamour doll body, and date to the late fifties/early sixties. Because dolls have been found with a variety of markings, it is not certain which company actually made them. A rare Grandpa doll was made as well.

Body Construction
The Grandma doll pictured is 19″ tall, all vinyl, jointed at the neck, shoulders and hips. She has salt-and-pepper hair pulled back in a bun, with curly bangs. She has gray-green sleep eyes with brush lashes, and pale pink lips and fingernails. Her ears are pierced. Other dolls were made with all white hair, or styled in a widow’s peak without the bangs. Some dolls are jointed at the waist.

Markings
The doll pictured is marked 20-5-SG on her upper back, with nothing on her head. Some dolls are marked “A ROYAL DOLL” with a copyright symbol on the back of their heads. Other dolls are completely unmarked.

Clothing
This Grandma wears an evening gown with a black velvet bodice and black nylon skirt flocked with white stripes and glitter. She carries a black velvet stole lined in silver lame, accented with a rose. Underneath she wears a plain, stiff petticoat and nylon panty. She has nylons and plastic heels as well. Her jewelry consists of a pearl necklace and drop pearl earrings. The Granny dolls were either sold in long prairie style dresses, or more modern evening gowns like this one. Some Granny dolls were sold wearing glasses.

Packaging
Granny dolls were sold in boxes with a large cello window in the front to display them.

See more Granny dolls at the Deluxe Doll House website.

Circle F Bridegroom Doll (circa 1961)

Zendelle — Wed, 01 May 2013 01:04:05 +0000

This boy doll is very similar to Pullan’s Bobby and Little Mister Bad Boy, which were made in the early 1960s. His original outfit suggests he was made as a companion for a bride doll.

Body Construction
He is all vinyl, 20″ tall, jointed at the neck, shoulders and hips. He has detailed molded hair, painted light brown, and blue/green sleep eyes with brush lashes. Here’s a closeup of his face.

Markings
His only marking is a letter F in a circle on his lower back. He is the first doll I have ever seen with this marking.

Clothing
He wears a one piece outfit of white cotton sleeveless shirt, black cotton pants with stitched front crease and braid trim accenting the side seams, and black satin cummerbund. The outfit closes in the back with small factory snaps. See a back view. He would have had a jacket to match the pants originally. The shoes and socks he is wearing are probably similar to his original ones.

IMCO Doll with Jointed Knees (circa 1956)

Zendelle — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:12:35 +0000

This little girl doll by IMCO is very similar to the second version of Ideal’s Posie doll, who was made from 1955-56.

Body Construction
She is 22″ tall with a stuffed vinyl head and hard plastic body. She is a pin-jointed, head turning walker, jointed at the neck, shoulders, hips and knees. She has curly, dark blonde rooted hair with bangs, and sleep eyes. Perhaps her most unusual feature is her soft vinyl molded eyelashes. She has holes in her belly for her crying mechanism.

Clothing
The dress she wears is pink and white checked taffeta, with an embossed white cotton collar trimmed in cotton lace, accented with a black satin ribbon bow. It closes in the back with factory donut snaps. It is likely her original one.