SPECIAL FEATURES
The Auction of the Raggedy Ann
Doll and Toy Museum.......3
A Vacant Place................22
A Glimpse at Special Production
Effanbee Dolls, 1980-1983 ....32
A Honey of a Hoyer............40
Fringe Benefits...............44
McCurdy Doll Museum...........49
Yessir, That’s My Baby........64
REGULAR FEATURES
Girls and Dolls of Yesterday....6
Pattern Patter................14
Highlighting History..........14
Doll Pattern Review...........18
Identifying Your Dolls........30
Advertising Dolls.............36
Around the World with Dolls . . . .36
Fashioned for The Victorian Era. .38
Dressing Period Costume Dolls . . .46
PAPER DOLLS
Lydia........................16
SHOW ’n CHAT
Here’s How...................20
Display Case..............37,72
Doll Shows...................68
DOLL MAKING AND COSTUME
Yoked Dress for Adopted Kid. . . .26
Materials Used in Doll Making. . . .51
The Tinhead Nobody Wanted . . . .56
READERS ASK
Pattern Exchange.............69
Information Wanted...........70
Doll Exchange................70
Pen Pals.....................70
ON OUR COVER: Ethnic costume
designed by Ruth Gwartney
Photo No. 1
cA Glimpse At
Special Production
Effanbee Dollg
1980 - 1983
by Barbara Comienski
32
The Effanbee Doll Company
has achieved a fine reputation
since its establishment in 1910.
Since the mid-1970’s, Effanbee
has again appealed to the collector
in its original designs and lovely
costumes. Many of us are aware
of special dolls which Effanbee
has manufactured. There is an
Effanbee Limited Edition Doll
Club with unique selections. Effan-
bee has manufactured black edi-
tions of certain dolls exclusively
for Treasure Trove. Disney World
has featured Effanbee dolls of
fairy tale movie favorites. How-
ever, there are other special Effan-
bee dolls which are perhaps less
well known.
Amway is one company which
has released limited edition Effan-
bee dolls. Photo No. 1 shows the
1981, 1982, and 1983 editions
in a series which will culminate in
five eleven inch dolls. The 1981
doll, Miss Amanda (left), is dressed
in a gown of apricot with a cream
lawn overskirt. The cream-colored
long sleeved bodice is highlighted
with a large ecru lace bib, while
a cream-colored plume gives a
crowning effect. Miss Bethany, the
National Doll World
1982 doll (center), wears a lovely
double-skirted gown of deep sky
blue taffeta. An embroidered belt,
white lace ruffles at the neckline
and cuffs, and a large, white
straw hat set off her ensemble.
The 1983 Amway doll, Miss Cas-
sandra (right), also wears a large
white picture hat, but of an open
weave. Her dress is made of medi-
um pink taffeta, trimmed with
white lace. A bouquet of flowers,
and three tiers of white lace near
the bottom of the skirt are parti-
cularly elegant details of this
gown. Miss Cassandra’s elegance is
further reflected by her seed pearl
necklace. Each Amway doll comes
with a certificate bearing her name,
and the fact that this is an Effan-
bee doll, manufactured exclusively
for Amway distribution.
Several doll shops have featured
Effanbee dolls. One doll shop has
had special Effanbee dolls for the
past three years. Bea Skydell’s
“Li’l Kitten” has been designed in
cooperation with Bea Skydell and
sold only through her shop. The
1981 “Li’l Kitten” (Photo 2, left)
January/February, 1985
is portrayed as a child in a white
organdy, long sleeved dress with
lace trim. A pink kitten applique
and a beautiful rose, satin ribbon
sash highlight the doll’s long,
golden blonde hair. The 1982
“Li’l Kitten”, called “Teacher’s
Pet,” appears as a school girl,
complete with long golden braids
(center). Her ensemble consists of
a red plaid dress, white leotards,
and a bright red bowler style hat.
She even carries an apple for the
teacher! This year “Li’l Kitten”
has become “La Ballerine” (right).
The lilac bodice of her tutu is
draped with two gatherings of
white tulle held with lilac ribbons.
Her white tulle skirt of several
layers is raised by a bouquet of
flowers. Flowers in her pale blonde
hair complete this enchanting
vision. Each of these dolls, which
are eleven inches tall, comes with
a signed and numbered tag. The
dolls from Skydell’s are truly li-
mited editions; the 1981 doll
numbered 1000, while the 1982
and 1983 dolls numbered 1200
each.
Photo No. 3
Another shop featured a special
Effanbee doll in 1983. To cele-
brate the seventieth anniversary
of Meyer’s, “Dolly Shopper” has
been produced in a limited edition
of 1200 (Photo 3). Dressed as a
shopper on the Boardwalk in
1914, this eleven inch, blonde doll
wears a blue linen skirt, crisp,
white pleated organdy blouse, a
rose at her neck, and a straw...