Extremely Rare to find Sara Lee SISTER DOLL in minty condition. Nearly FLAWLESS DOLL
This is the vintage HIGHLY ELUSIVE and SOUGHT AFTER and VERY RARELY FOUND 1952 Ideal 17" SARALEE SISTER DOLL -- purportedly big sister doll to the classic baby doll Sara Lee -- Sara Lee African American doll in just the nicest condition. Designed by Saralee Creech for Ideal.
I will include some literature about this most unusual and rare Sara Lee doll with your purchase.
She is dressed in an original Ideal Co. dress, bonnet, slip, with replaced unders, socks and shoes. Complete outfit in lightly played with condition.
ADDITIONAL TWO OUTFITS included -- total of THREE... dress her in style!
This baby girl is immaculately clean and has nearly PERFECT molded hair curls with NO RUBS, as well as a vibrant face with a little bit of blush to her cheeks -- she appears as an 'unplayed with' doll. Factory original with the short handful of small light rubs restored and a light layer of color added to her cheeks to give her 'life'. These two restorations can be cleaned off with a damp cloth if one desires.
She has the RARE all-vinyl stuffed body that is different than the classic and more familiar Sara Lee doll that has vinyl limbs and a softly stuffed cloth body with a crier inside.
She is marked as shown in my photo.
Her molded curls are quite prominent and a completely different style than the classic more smooth headed Sara Lee.
Just a dream for one seeking this SUPER RARE doll. She was manufactured with the young, negro (common nomenclature of the 1950s) girl in mind -- it was time a doll was designed to look 'anthropologically correct'.
Saralee was historic in the fact that she was one of the first to be sculpted with African-American features. Designed by Sheila Burlingam it was hailed as a true ethnic doll rather than simply a white doll painted back. Not surprisingly it earned the endorsement in 1951 of former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Nobel Prize winner Dr. Ralph Bunche, and NAACP president Walter White. Advertisements from Ideal proclaimed during the early 1950s that Saralee's "fine facial features are true to life." They were sculpted "with the help of colored educators, designed for youngsters who have always wanted to own a truly beautiful colored baby doll..." In 1951, when the Saralee "colored" or "Negro" doll hit the market, this historical doll, created by Sara Lee Creech, would be the first play doll of its kind. It was designed specifically to be a "quality doll" with true-to-life Black features. Unfortunately, as the article on states (not included), this doll was a financial failure for Ideal and her production was stopped after a single year -- making her a prize for collectors today. Her 'story' is fascinating and a wonderful piece of both Black and doll history today.
Saralee's clothing is in gently played with condition. The organdy is a pale pink cotton organdy print with ribbon accents, and French Val lace trim. She wears a matching wide-brimmed sun-style bonnet; there are the smallest bit of marks at the edge of the brim that may launder out with some care but I did not try and barely shows.. Her rayon socks and rubber shoes with a floral toebox complete her outfit.
I added two more outfits in the style and color that seemed appropriate given the limited research on this doll.
Her body is immaculately clean, She has a softly stuffed vinyl BODY, head, arms, and legs... just beautiful.
Don't miss out on this fabulous doll and opportunity to add her to your collection today.
Will make a DREAM gift for someone!
Note: reference photos are from blackdollcollecting.blogspot.com
FREE Shipping * Tax Included * Payment Options Available