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May 14, 2005
By: Tammy Gray-Searles
Website: http://www.a1-in-toys.com
African American Dolls - The Highly Collectible Doll
For children fortunate enough to be born in recent times, dolls
representative of all cultures and races have always been available. But
that hasn’t always been the case. In the early 1970's it was difficult,
if not impossible, to find African American dolls. Few were made,
and were mostly made for Caucasian children. Finally, in the late 1970's the Alabama Baby Doll
came on the scene and became the first commercially manufactured African American Doll.
Because of its late entrance into the commercial arena, vintage African American Dolls have
become highly sought after by collectors. Even the original Alabama Babies are difficult to find
and they command high prices. The U.S. Postal Service even issued a stamp featuring the Alabama
Baby Dolls. Unfortunately, the dolls depicted in the postage stamp have faces with Caucasian
features.
Prior to the Alabama Babies beginning, the few African America dolls created were
typically ceramic, and most have been broken or damaged throughout the years. Alabama Babies
fared a little better because they were originally created to be
indestructible, with soft
bodies and stiffened fabric heads.
Nowadays it is finally possible to find African American dolls of all types. There
are precious newborns with lifelike skin, brightly adorned dolls featuring traditional
costumes, professional dolls, Barbie dolls, cloth dolls and fine porcelain dolls. No
longer do collectors and children have to settle for dolls that fail to reflect their
heritage. From playmate to high-end collectible, it’s not hard to find an adorable doll
that’s perfect for everyone.
For the collector, African American dolls are well worth investigating. The hunt
for a rare, highly collectible vintage doll can be quite a thrill. Dolls created
throughout the years tend to be a reflection of society at that time, and are
a piece of history, both good and bad.
Many resources exist for those interested in collecting African American dolls. The
local library is a great place to start, or look for doll collecting clubs, which can be a
great source of information as well as camaraderie. Webrings dedicated to the dolls are also
easy to find by doing a simple search.
Newer African American dolls in limited edition collections are also available, but slightly
harder to find. The major manufacturers, as well as independent makers, have seen fit to include
a few of the dolls in their collections, and demand from buyers would surely cause them to increase
their inclusion.
For more information on
African American Dolls or to choose from a variety of related products
and services, select from the following:
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