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Doll Collecting/Madame Alexander Doll-32 inch doll

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Expert: Anne Hoffmann - 12/12/2007


Question

32 inch madame alexand
Dear Anne,

I have a 32 inch tall Madame Alexander doll.  I believe she is vinyl.
 Back of her neck says ALEXANDER.  She wears a peach heavy satin/lace
 gown with a bonnet of silk peach blossoms, white satin roses and a
plume.


I can't seem to place her face.  Anna McGuffey? Maggie, Wendy,
Margaret? Definitly not Binnie or Cissie.  Her face is very unusual.  Its'
darling, looks kind've like Anna McGuffey.  She came  to me in the
bridesmaid dress, with hand made white embroidered under slip, no panties or
shoes.  She does have her original socks.  No markings on the gown.


She is most unusual. Her eyes are hand painted, almost at a side angle
corner, almost pupil-less. Mouth is closed rosebud, indentation over
top lip, nails on hands are painted, not chipped, flawless no damage what
so ever, hair is a little messed up, when you take her bonnet off.

She has a stuffed body (filling is dark grey matter) no smell, vinyl
head, arms, and straight legs (does not bend). Feet are flat.
 Blondish/brown hair is a wig with the rows of stitches going down middle.  It is
glued on her head (cap).

I bought her from an antique shop. Can you help me find out who she is,
and what is she worth?  If need be I can send you a picture of her.


Sincerely,
Mrs. M. Dick


Answer
The questioner in this case answered her own question, after an email exchange that included many photographs and an email query by me to the Madame Alexander Company customer service at ma@alexdoll.com. (Complete contact information is available at their interesting and informative website, madamealexander.com.)
I quote Mrs. Dick on her findings:

"After receiving your email in regards to this doll, I talked to the Antique Dealer that I had bought the doll from.
She is a 1952, Madame Alexander doll, "Penny", at 29 inches tall, soft body, vinyl arms and straight legs, large painted eyes.  Originally, she had curly blonde hair.  Regular short dress.
Same doll as Barbara Jane, 1951, hair in a page style, or waist long hair.
The description and photograph of my  doll is found in the book:
MADAME ALEXANDER DOLLS, by Patricia Smith, copyright 1978, page #165, bottom right hand-side.  
1978  Value:  $ 350.00
Thought you might want to know. This doll is not made up in pieces from other MD dolls. She is completely original, except for dress, and hair. The slip that she wears is original, and socks."

I was unable to find a reference for a cloth-bodied MA doll of that size with painted eyes among my resources and am very grateful to Mrs. Dick for sharing her findings and resource information with other collectors. I had initially suggested that the doll may have been made up of parts from an MA doll, which was a common repair by talented (and sometimes desperate!) parents and crafters.
MA customer service representative, Ms. Aisha Ayala, responded with the information that MA did make such a doll in 1952 and requested photographs. I forwarded Mrs. Dick's to her and am awaiting a reply, which will be posted as a follow-up here.
Delighted as I am with this resolution, it contains a caution for all collectors of vintage and antique dolls: make sure of what you are buying before actual purchase!
Mrs. Dick indicated to me that she would have been very disappointed had the doll not been of complete MA provenance. She was fortunate in making her purchase from a knowledgeable dealer. Too often dolls are priced-and bought!-on the basis of their "look" or a scant clue of identity. It is easy to be seduced by the charm of a particularly lovely face, but unless the doll is worth the price to you, no matter its actual historicity, such purchases should not be impulsive. There are too many documented good vintage dolls in excellent condition to waste money and space on a doll that has dubious origins or is in poor condition. Real "finds" are rare.
A reputable store dealer will usually hold an item while you confirm its identity or will provide immediate confirmation. Return policies should be stated in writing. The reason I recommend antique doll purchases be made from a known dealer in dolls, like Theriaults, is that an unknowledgeable seller may vastly overprice a doll, simply because it is old, or unwittingly misrepresent a doll on the basis of guesswork or scant information.
Age is not the primary factor in values. Rarity may well increase desirability, but values are largely based on secondary market interest. Interest, rarity and condition make up the total valuation. It is important to remember that "book" value is generally based on a doll in excellent or very good condition. It must be the best known example of its kind. Poor comparative condition, replacement parts and clothing and certain repairs diminish the value of a doll from its specified "book" value. Vintage dolls, if redressed, should have available an outfit, if not original, contemporary to its era of issue.
Likewise, an appraisal by a professional doll appraiser is instrumental in defining current value. Secondary market trends do not always appreciate values over time, so an arithmetical adjustment made simply for inflation is not a reliable indicator of current value.
Excellent sources for finding a doll appraiser are theriaults.com, nadda.org, and debrasdoll.com.
Unless you has an unlimited budget for a doll, it is good practice to know first what you are purchasing. If you love the doll and it is worth the price to YOU, whatever its provenance, you can certainly make the exception.  

Anne Hoffmann

Expertise

As a modest collector of appropriately vintage age, I'm good at identifying American vintage dolls (largely late 1940's-1970's) and have the interest and resources to research particularly challenging identifications. I would hesitate to make specific value estimates, however, as markets fluctuate and I am not a professional appraiser. I can recommend at-home repair methods and resources for particular repair instructions and supplies. I can differentiate repairs that will enhance or devalue the historical significance of your doll.

Experience

For one, I am 58 and a life-long doll lover. I played with many of these dolls! I am an adult collector, hampered only by my inability to afford the high-end and rare collectibles. I do some doll identification for sellers on eBay and am in demand for local yard sale and church pricing of doll "finds". I like folks to be able to realize a good return for their offerings by correctly identifying their dolls for collectors. I am highly literate and like people as well as dolls! I was briefy a customer service associate for JC Penney (one of those "filler" jobs) and enjoyed resolving issues to customer satisfaction. I am retired and spend a lot of time studying dolls. On the down side, while having an excellent command of the English language, I am a poor typist.

Education/Credentials
None for doll collecting. I was a draftsman and machine programmer for an architectural metal firm.

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