c.1940s Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls – Little Boy Blue and Bride – USA

A charming pair of original c.1940s Nancy Ann Storybook bisque dolls representing Little Boy Blue and a Bride, retaining their period costumes, mohair wigs and distinctive Storybook Doll USA markings.

This attractive pair of miniature Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls was produced in the United States during the 1940s by the company founded by Nancy Ann Abbott in San Francisco, California.

The smaller doll is believed to represent Little Boy Blue, catalogue number 115, a character documented within the company's Storybook Series.

He measures approximately 130 mm high × 90 mm wide × 40 mm deep (approximately 5 inches). He has a blonde mohair wig, painted side-glancing eyes and a small painted red mouth. His costume consists of pale pink satin trousers and shirt, a pink neckbow and short blue felt jacket, with painted black shoes.

The second doll represents a Bride, approximately 140 mm high × 170 mm wide × 30mm deep (approximately 5½ inches). Nancy Ann's Bride, catalogue number 86, is documented as part of the company's Bridal series and was produced in a number of costume variations between approximately 1936 and 1947.

She wears an elaborate ivory bridal ensemble with a full layered net and lace skirt, longribbons, floral trimming and matching veil. Her dark brown mohair wig is arranged around her face, which features characteristic painted side-glancing eyes, fine eyelashes and a small red mouth.

The photographs of the Bride's back reveal an important manufacturer's mark. STORY, BOOK, DOLL, U.S.A., REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

This type of impressed Storybook Doll USA marking is associated with Nancy Ann Storybook dolls and confirms her American manufacture. Nancy Ann dolls are found with several variations of the Story Book Doll USA mark as moulds and production methods changed.

Both dolls appear to be painted bisque, rather than composition. Nancy Ann's early dolls were predominantly small bisque dolls with painted facial features and glued mohair wigs. The company's later production shifted towards hard plastic.

An interesting feature of Nancy Ann Storybook dolls is the extraordinary variety of their costumes. Clothing could change between production years as fabrics became available or unavailable, particularly during the Second World War. Consequently, identifying a precise production year solely from a costume can be difficult unless the original box, wrist tag or contemporary catalogue reference survives.

The pair survives with considerable original character. Their period fabrics, tiny trimmings, mohair wigs and hand-painted faces are particularly important elements of their historical value. The Bride's voluminous costume also illustrates why these inexpensive little dolls became so appealing to collectors: although only around five inches tall, considerable attention was devoted to their clothing.

Features

Measurements: Bride - 140 mm high × 170 mm wide × 30mm deep, Little Boy Blue - 130 mm high × 90 mm wide × 40 mm deep

Condition: Excellent

Markings: STORY, BOOK, DOLL, U.S.A., REG. U.S. PAT. OFF.

Date Note: Date is an estimate based on available research and stylistic features. If you have additional information, please contact us to helpupdate our records.

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Made from the following materials

Country:

United States

The history of American toys spans Indigenous cornhusk dolls, the creativity of enslaved communities, and the rise of industrial giants like Mattel and Hasbro. Iconic toys like the teddy bear, Barbie, and GI Joe reflect the country’s diversity and cultural impact on the global stage.

Produced by:

Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls, Inc.

Produced by:

Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls, Inc.

Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls were created in the United States by **Nancy Ann Abbott**, who began producing her small storybook-inspired dolls in California during the 1930s. The dolls became especially popular during the 1940s and were typically dressed as characters drawn from nursery rhymes, fairy tales, literature, historical themes and everyday life, with familiar names including *Little Bo Peep*, *Little Boy Blue* and *Little Miss Muffet*. Early examples were made from bisque, while later production increasingly used composition and hard plastic as manufacturing methods changed. Often sold in distinctive presentation boxes, Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls were designed as affordable collectables rather than simply children's playthings, encouraging owners to build entire collections of miniature characters. Their colourful costumes, enormous variety and connection with familiar childhood stories helped make Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls one of the best-known American small-doll series of the mid-twentieth century.

Produced by:

Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls, Inc.

Product Code:

D0047

Dimenions:

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