You are viewing one of the very RAREST Lenci felt dolls from the earliest years, circa 1920s. 
SERIES 178 -- 17" (43 cm.) Felt swivel head with very plump rounded face, pressed and painted facial features, large brown googly side-glancing eyes, accented nostrils, closed mouth with prim lips, and jointed felt arms and legs. Condition noted below, Comments: Lenci, the 178 series was shown in early Lenci catalogs including the 1926 catalog which featured ten delightful examples. Value Points: among the rarest of the Lenci early dolls, the wide-eyed character has a well-detailed felt costume with applique bands, black felt hat, and with a wooden carved pistol. 
This is the character doll inspired and referred to as the TOM MIX cowboy doll. Hi is from the Lenci SERIES 178... very early. I have not found even one offered or sold in the past. He is highlighted on the cover of Antique Doll Collectors magazine from 2001 (3 photos included here). A copy of this magazine sold on an auction venue in August 2023... before I acquired this little guy). The photos presented here are what I was able to recover not having the magazine in hand. There is also reference to him on a site presenting and discussing Lenci dolls, and he is pictured at the end of the article stating he was one of the rarest dolls Lenci produced. 
With that introduction you will want to know he is in outstanding condition, with the following noted conditions. His right leg pant seam has separated (thread unraveled, not a tear) but does not show as displayed. His face has a patina to the felt which I liken to a light '5 o'clock shadow'; the tip of his nose and eyes show some wear. You should be able to see this is my photos. 
To the fun stuff... the design of this BIG cowboy is amazing as are all Lenci dolls. He stands 17" tall without his cowboy hat -- he is a BIG ONE by Lenci standards. His arms and legs are disk jointed to move, keeping in mind his heavy felt shirt and pants did not make this readily understood due to their bulk. Posing him with this in mind allows a more animated variety of display choice. 
His wonderful heavy wool felt outfit is complete, except for his boots that are conspicuously absent. They would have been brown  
'butter soft' leather from what I can tell from available literature, so perhaps a nice pair can be constructed for him. His blue bandana has some light fading at the front but otherwise his clothing, including his wide-brimmed hat, is in seemingly near mint condition, retaining their bright colors. He has the double-felt ears that only the earliest dolls had, along with the pieced felt back of his head. His hands have the early individual fingers as well, but do note that there is a patina acquired on the hands along with the aforementioned face condition. 
Perhaps BEST OF ALL he has his ORIGINAL wooden pistol neatly tucked in his gun belt, standing ready to protect you~ 
His cowboy hat is 'to die for'... beautifully pieced and unfaded. 
Tom Mix is not perfect, but for a collector of Lenci this is the one you don't want to get away... 
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There is a lot of information readily available on the internet about the Lenci dolls from Italy, and I imagine those that are interested in this fella' know his value and elusive nature. I myself, was not familiar with them other than honored to be a lucky neighbor and friend of Nancy Lazenby who wrote the definitive 'bible' on Lenci dolls in 2007 (available separately in another listing here). I was given a tour of Nancy's collection many times in her home before her passing in 2022. Tom Mix is not specifically discussed or shown in Nancy's book and I know she would have been absolutely thrilled to see this doll.
 
 
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