This is an extremely rare 1930s Effanbee Dy-Dee Kin baby doll. She is the 13" size and a Mold 1 series baby from the earliest years of Dy-Dee production with a beautiful TOSCA (reddish brown) caracul wig -- one of the short handful of these dolls known to exist.
Includes the original retail display box with doll hair, eyes, stock number, and dress color ALL stamped on the side of the box. I have never, in the more than 50 boxes for Dy-Dee dolls that have passed through my doll room portals, seen these called out on the box; only the eye color on other boxes, along with perhaps the stock number. This very conclusively proves that the 'Mystery Doll' Peggy discusses in her book was 'real' and produced by Effanbee. I did already know that, as I had collected and collaborated with Peggy over this 'mystery' several times over the decades. .. but here is the proof!
This adorable tiny baby came years ago and years after Peggy and I had an inital conversaion about the existence and autheticity of this particular issue Dy-Dee in the Effanbee line. Barbara Hilliker's quintessential 'bible' regarding all things Dy-Dee, represents Peggy's (and my own) thoughts regarding this issue doll. Peggy and I were delighted to collaborate and definitively confirm it through observation and sharing what we had in our own exhaustive collections. I was able to share with her a mold 1 20" Dy-Dee I had in my collection at the time (sold years ago), and she had the one shown in the Dy-Dee book in the 13" size.
This RARE WIGGED mold 1 Dy-Dee Kin has no paint under the wig, validating it came from the factory as you see her here 80+ years later.
And SO, I present to you this adorable 13" RARE wigged baby who is original as I received her from Peggy in her retail box with ALL HER ORIGINAL LAYETTE clothing. Her only restoration is a replaced rubber body. I have never, ever seen a soft, usable body on a Dy-Dee Kin doll. I know some might prefer to have had her in her original state, but the beautiful clothing Dy-Dee Kin has would only be displayed and not worn... would be a shame I feel; now you can dress your baby and play with her without worry of limbs falling off or breaking. The replacement body is soft and supple without crazing... very nice. Her face is incredible! All original paint, original brown eyes that open and close perfectly with a full complement of brush lashes... even and full. Doesn't get better than this!
This is an EARLY DY-DEE KIN baby evidenced by outside paper on the box, the Esmond eiderdown blue blanket (early graphic), the white sleeper, and the RARE RARE RARE blue gingham dress and matching sunsuit (onesie). As Peggy discussed, she wondered that perhaps the earlier dolls were issued with primary color layettes. Although I did not see this as a trend myself over the 25+ years I have been collecting, the dress DOES match the style of the red-and-white striped seersucker sunsuit that has been seen often enough (in all Dy-Dee sizes) in layettes, where the white collar and placket in the front are the same, except in blue.
The dress looks to have been tagged at the back at one time. The sunsuit / onesie has a darling 'drop seat' that buttons across her little bottom, and accommodates her fluffy white diaper. There is a bonnet, but not sure it was part of the original layette. There is a beautiful wool sweater and bonnet to keep her warm this winter, a lovely floral flannel robe, a pair if drop seat white footed flannel pajamas, undershirt (vest), diaper, socks (she lost her shoes!), blanket, teething ring, and rattle -- all included with her layette.
Her rubber body is soft and supple and the joints are firm and move freely to pose baby and really bring out her personality.
Her reddish caracul wig is full and thick and even with opulant curls. The color varies in my photographic light but it is a beautiful shade of tosca/red. YOU WILL LOVE HER!
If you collect Dy-Dee this is the ULTIMATE addition to your collection.
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