Author Archives: DeeBeeGee

Betty and Billy Paper Dolls

Name: Betty and Billy Paper Doll Book Published by and When: Whitman Publishing Company, 1955 Sizes: Betty is 9 inches; Billy is 9-1/2 inches. The paper doll book measures 10 x 12 inches (width x length). Description: Betty and Billy cut-out paper dolls illustrated on the cover of paper doll book #2129 by Whitman representContinue reading “Betty and Billy Paper Dolls”

Torchy’s Togs Paper Doll

Name: Torchy’s Togs Paper Doll Illustrated By: Jackie Ormes Published By and When: Pittsburgh Courier, March 3, 1951 Sizes: The paper doll, Torchy, is 4 inches. The panel measures 5-1/4 x 8 inches. Description: Torchy and four high-end fashions with a description for each are included on this panel. Torchy’s caption reads, “Here we go,Continue reading “Torchy’s Togs Paper Doll”

Articulated Black or African Baby Paper Doll

Name: Articulated Black or African Baby Paper Doll Published By and When: Printed for New England-based, Dennison Manufacturing Company by Littauer and Bauer of Germany, ca. 1885 Size: 9-1/2 inches Description: Die cut doll with limbs secured with brass brads; dolls were printed smiling with closed or open mouths that expose their teeth. These dollsContinue reading “Articulated Black or African Baby Paper Doll”

Calypso Bill and Calypso Jill

Name: Calypso Bill and Calypso Jill Made by and When: Dee an Cee Company, circa 1960 Material: Soft vinyl heads, rigid vinyl bodies Marks: DEE CEE (on the heads) Height: 15 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Calypso Bill has texturized, sculpted, and painted black hair. Calypso Jill’s texturized, painted black sculpted hair is styled in twoContinue reading “Calypso Bill and Calypso Jill”

Rubber Doll with Topknot

Name: 1930s Rubber Doll with Topknot Made by and When: Allied Grand Doll Manufacturing Company, Inc., 1938 Material: Rubber with jointed arms and legs; legs are slightly bent at the knees Marks: Allied Grand Doll / MFG. CO. INC. 1938 Height: 6-1/2 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Sculpted and painted black hair with a sculpted topknotContinue reading “Rubber Doll with Topknot”

Two Early 1900s Composition Character Dolls

Name: Two Early 1900s Composition Dolls Made by and When: Unknown manufacturer, early 1900s Material: Ceramic-like composition Marks: Unmarked Height: 20 and 13 inches Larger Doll’s Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Black Astrakhan bangs. The rest of the bald head is covered with a faded red headscarf; stationary, side-glancing blue eyes accented with a red dot inContinue reading “Two Early 1900s Composition Character Dolls”

Olympia

Name: Olympia Made by and When: Leasa “Tutu” Souza, 2021 Material: Papier-mâché head with painted composition arms and legs, and a cloth body Marks: Tutu (on the back) Height: 21 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Texturized papier-mâché black hair with curls in the front, brown glass eyes from Germany, pouty down-turned mouth with three tears streamingContinue reading “Olympia”

Pansy by Leo Moss

Name: Pansy Made by and When: Leo Moss, 1888 Material: Papier-mâché shoulder head with painted composition arms and legs, and a brown cloth rag-stuffed body Marks: 1888 (incised in the back of the head) Height: 23 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Textured black hair with molded pigtails to accommodate ribbons, inset brown glass eyes, smiling mouthContinue reading “Pansy by Leo Moss”

Mina by Leo Moss

Name: Mina Made by and When: Leo Moss, 1903 Material: Papier-mâché shoulder head with composition arms and legs, and a brown cloth body Marks: MINA (incised into the front of the shoulder plate), LEO MOSS / 1903 (incised into the back of the head) Height: 22 inches Hair, Eyes, Mouth: Molded, texturized hair; medium brownContinue reading “Mina by Leo Moss”