Rare to find Sara Lee in mint condition. PRISTINE and FLAWLESS DOLL -- #2 of 2 beautiful Sara Lee dolls available.
This is the vintage HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER and RARELY FOUND 1952 Ideal 17" SARALEE Sara Lee African American doll in just the nicest condition. Designed by Saralee Creech for Ideal.
She is dressed in an original Ideal Co. dress, bonnet, slip, bloomers, socks and oilcloth shoes. Complete outfit in lightly played with condition.
This baby girl is immaculately clean and has PERFECT molded hair curls with NO RUBS, as well as a vibrant face with NO rubs and dark color and a little bit of blush to her cheeks -- she appears as an 'unplayed with' doll. All factory original with no touch-ups or restorations.
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 very 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 original oilcloth shoes tie securely around her little feet.
Her body is immaculately clean, and there is a WORKING crier in her body. She has a softly stuffed vinyl head, arms, and legs... just beautiful.
A replica of this famous doll has been issued more recently, but you can now have the original. Don't miss out on this fabulous doll and opportunity to add her to your collection today.
Will make a DREAM gift for someone!
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