This rare 1920s Grace S. Putnam Bye-Lo Baby is marked on back of neck with only:

“GRACE STOREY PUTNAM”

I dont know if anything is marked below that as the material doesn't pull down.

I believe this was made prior to German manufacturing.

Information found online:

Designed by Grace S. Putnam and made by J. D. Kestner for George Borgfeldt & Company, New York City, New York.

California-born Grace Storey Putnam (1877-1947) was divorced and trying to earn some money when she started designing doll’s heads. In 1922, she copyrighted (“copr”) a plaster doll’s head designed to look like the head of a 3-day-old infant. Within a couple of years, the doll, called “Bye-Lo Baby,” went into production with a stock cloth body.

MORE INFO ON THIS DOLL BABY:

*I think the head is made of composition, but  it feels and sounds like plaster when tapped with my fingernail. I am not an expert in this area.

*Hazel painted sleep eyes, composition, not glass, still working

*Painted upper and lower eyelashes, rosy cheeks, chin and nose

*Closed painted mouth

*Painted hair

*Stuffed linen cloth body "frog leg" style

*Celluloid hands without any breaks or cracks

*The thin linen baby doll dress has one snap at the back, is mostly machine sewn, except for neckline, closure and trim which is all hand-stitched. Small holes in the dress were stitched up. See close-up photo.

*The slip looks like cotton/linen grain sack material, is machine sewn with little ties on the back, neckline is  hand sewn.

*12" long

*Crier voice box fitted into the back of the torso, which doesn't work anymore.

*Clothing is yellowed from age and includes a linen dress, slip, and bonnet.

This is in Very Good Overall Condition. These dolls are estate finds, so I dont know the history or if this has been repainted. No breakage to the hands, fingers, or head.  There is crackling on the head and a couple of small chips to the paint on the back of the neck. There is discoloration to the material, and/or spotting; and 4 small holes in the linen dress, which were  stitched up by hand.

I take lots of photos, so please check them all out.

Clothing will be folded and bagged separately for shipping.

Note: I have 4 different  dolls from the 1920 era that I am putting online. If interested please see my other items.

Shipping:

Buyer may choose USPS Priority Mail or USPS Ground Advantage.

Local pickup is available near Tucson, Arizona.