Very Rare 1952 American Character I Love Lucy Baby Doll
 
This is the infamous and hard to find LUCY'S BABY.
 
I have recently highlighted her in my latest BLOG, which you will have fun reading in "When Tiny Tears Isn't Tiny Tears".
 
Here is a Super Rare I Love Lucy Baby produced by American Character in 1952 — only in production for a few months. All of them are unmarked, so unless you are a collector and know how to identify her, she’s largely lost in the world of doll collecting.
 
She is 16″ high and was produced while Lucy was pregnant and was also used on the television show in place of the real infant.
 
In 1953 when her baby, Little Ricky was born, American Character came out with the Ricky, Jr. doll and production of this baby doll was discontinued. An ad stated: “You will see Lucy and Desi play Poppy and Mommy with this wonderfully lifelike doll on the “I Love Lucy” TV Show – you will see Lucy feed it, diaper it, watch it cry real tears and pacify it…your little girl can do all these things with the “I Love Lucy Baby.” And this baby does indeed do all these things! This Lucy Baby has a hard plastic head and red molded hair (came in a caracul wig version as well); and an identical hands down rubber body – just like the Tiny Tears doll that was in production then too.
 
 
This lovely doll is in vintage played with condition. That is, her still soft and supple body has darkened somewhat as is common with the early American Character rubber bodies. The right leg had softened enough to prompt me to stuff it, and while I was at it, stuffed the body as well so her chin no longer tended to fall into her chest. For this reason, she will no longer cry... well, who loves a crying baby anyway?!
 
Her beautifully sculpted hard plastic head is in great condition, with some age-related soft rubs to the reddish molded curls. Her sleepy eyes open and close fully as they should, with a full and even complement of lashes. She has pretty blue eyes that sparkle.
 
I think this baby's face does indeed capture a similarity to Lucille Ball's own features ... a nice reminder of her good nature and humor.
 
Lucy's Baby comes dressed in her ALL ORIGINAL factory layette:
 
Pink Silk Taffeta Kimono
Pink Silk Taffeta Romper
Matching Bonnet
Pink-and-White Knit Booties
 
The clothes, like Baby, are in played with condition. The romper's blue felt giraffe applique was glued on by the factory, and someone in a more recent past has machine stitched it on more securely; there are a couple of small spots on the back of the romper. The bonnet and kimono are in excellent condition with no problems at all. I did replace the old, worn ribbons on the bonnet with new ones.
 
What a great baby to add to your nursery at a great price. She displays beautifully!
 
View my LAST photo to see how this little girl was inadvertently and mistakenly pictured on the Tiny Tears retail box (no box included). I have also included a photo of Lucy's Baby in her own retail box from a previous sale years ago.
 
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