It is the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America and in celebration I will introduce an American doll in the newsletter every month as well as American toys from my collection. Each one special to me some valuable, some collectible, some from my childhood and you might like to add pictures of your Americana during the year in Plangon or the newsletter. I regret all my doll houses some of which were American were sold to pay for a new kitchen for one of my daughters. That’s what Mothers collections are for aren’t they!
JANUARY 2026 The Hallmark Company
The first dolls are from the Hallmark Company and were introduced to celebrate the Bicentennial in 1976. Hallmark is a private company still owned by the family with its headquarters in Kansas City Missouri (also home to UFDC) founded in 1910 by Joyce Hall and it is the oldest and largest greeting card business in the US. Just an aside some members of the club will remember my DCGB tour of Kansas City (too detailed to relate here) when we visited their doll and toy museum and the visitor center where we could design our own greeting card. Hallmark started introducing collectibles and ornaments in the mid 20th century and for the Bicentennial designed a charming set of 6 1/2inch or 16cm cloth portrait dolls in boxes in the shape of their homes or surroundings where they worked.
The dolls are all stuffed cotton with full colored printed details of the outfit they are dressed in front and back some with an outer removal coats as Ben Franklin and George Washington have. Seam joints at hip, elbow and knees. You open the door of the card house and find a historically correct description of the person. They sold for the princely sum of $2.50! The first series were Patriotic dolls Betsy Ross maker of the first flag, Martha and George Washington our first President and Ben Franklin. The facial portraits are excellent. Within two years Series Two was introduced representing Holiday Dolls in appropriate house boxes. 1979 Series 1 Famous Americans saw the release of six dolls of notables such as Babe Ruth, Amelia Earhart these sold for $4.00. Series 2 of Famous Americans appeared in 1980 but unboxed and not sold to the general public but through special offers. Their interest had lapsed sadly. In total 19 dolls were produced. I have them all especially loved are Molly Pitcher famous during the Revolutionary War at the Battle of Monmouth I lived near the battlefield and Chief Joseph of the Nez Perse tribe. I also have Kaya the American Girl doll of the Nez Perse.
If you are a history buff did you know Benjamin Franklin’s British house not a paper box! can be visited if you wander the side streets by Charing Cross.
Suzy