Story Book Doll by Nancy Ann 1930's, 1940's Story Book Doll
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FOUND IN STORAGE ATTIC
Story Book Doll by Nancy Ann 1930's, 1940's "Story Book Doll"
Name: Story Book Doll
Condition: Fair, in original box (some chipping on the shoes)
Nancy Ann Storybook dolls were tiny and popular children's dolls made in the late 1930's-1950's. The dolls were high-quality collectibles with hand-painted faces, charming use of fabrics and trim on the costumes, and realistic looking hair. Collectors refer to them as Nancy Anns or even NASB dolls.
Today, many people have become interested in Nancy Anns as they seek to buy dolls that remind them of their childhoods, or simply to enjoy their beauty. Meanwhile, others are now seeking to sell Nancy Ann dolls. The children who owned them in the 1930's and '40's have now reached retirement age and are looking to downsize. Sometimes Nancy Anns are sold by the heir of the original owner. This guide seeks to help people who wish to gain more information about their doll's age, history, and value.
Many, many people incorrectly refer to any small dressed doll as a Storybook doll. This causes great confusion. Only dolls from the Nancy Ann company are correctly called Storybook dolls. All small dolls being called Storybooks is like all copiers being called Xerox. Some are, some aren't. Dolls that are not Nancy Anns are more correctly called storybook-like or storybook-size.
Currently Nancy Ann Storybook dolls can sell for up to $7,000.00 Nancy Anns are a very appealing collectible, as it is possible to collect at any level. Whether you want to spend $40, $400, or $4,000 per doll, you can have an attractive collection. In addition, Nancy Anns were produced in series to encourage collecting. For example, a little girl receiving a doll called "Spring" might easily desire the dolls "Summer," "Autumn," and "Winter."
The dolls were termed "Storybook Dolls" because they often borrowed the names of characters from children's books and fairy tales. Popular dolls include characters like Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and Goldilocks. One popular series featured a doll for every month of the year, while another series of dolls was based on a poem referencing the days of the week. (Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full of grace, etc.)
The creator of Nancy Ann Story book dolls, Ms. Nancy Ann Abbott, grew her company from a tiny cottage industry into a large corporation and was one of the most successful female CEOs in the 1940's. She simply knew what appealed to little girls. Many ladies now in their 60's, 70's, and 80's remember Nancy Ann dolls as cherished birthday or Christmas gifts. The sweet memories of the doll are often intertwined with memories of a beloved parent, or other special relative who was the doll giver.
Nancy Ann Dolls from 1937-1947 were bisque (ceramic fired in a kiln.) They are fragile, which is reflected in their value if they remain unbroken. After 1948, the dolls were changed to plastic to keep up with the times and to produce a less breakable toy.
The earliest dolls are so valuable today because early in her career, Ms. Abbott had only three or four employees and could not produce many dolls. But as her success grew, her factories and production yield grew exponentially. Initally, the NASB bodies were imported from Japan. The build up to World War II led Ms. Abbott to open a ceramic factory in California so her dolls would be completely American made
Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls gain their value from the following factors.
1. Age. Earlier is much more scarce and valuable.
2. Condition of the bisque body. Collectors prefer unbroken dolls and limbs without chips. Crazed or peeling paint takes away value.
3. Condition of the hair and clothing. Many dolls were loved to death by their little owners. Collectors today prize dolls with undisturbed hair and clean, complete costumes.
4. Original Packaging. Nancy Ann dolls were sold in high-quality boxes, usually covered with polka dots. Polka dots became an unofficial trademark of the dolls. Also, Nancy Ann dolls had either a gold sticker affixed to the clothing or a gold wrist tag that identified them as Nancy Anns. Many tags, stickers, and boxes have been lost over time, but those that still have them will bring higher prices.
5. Scarcity. Some dolls were produced only for a few months before being discontinued.
The early Nancy Ann dolls are stamped with one of the following marks impressed into the bisque on their backs. Made In Japan, Japan, America, Storybook Doll, Judy Ann, Story Book Doll II (this is intended to represent the number eleven.)
All dolls from the 1930's through 1942 had jointed (moving) arms and legs. A few of the month dolls also had moving heads. The dolls were strung with a simple piece of elastic passed through holes in the limbs and tied together. Over time, this elastic tends to dry out and break. If the pieces of the doll are all present, the doll can easily be restrung. After 1942, Nancy Ann dolls were made with straight, rigid legs that did not allow the doll to sit down. Collectors call these frozen-legged or stiff-legged dolls. The stiff-legged dolls are much more common as well as being more recently produced, and therefore not as valuable today as the earlier dolls with jointed legs. At this writing (summer, 2006) the value for a complete stiff-legged doll in excellent condition is $20-$60. An early Nancy Ann doll with jointed legs is about $50-$400. A very early doll like a Made In Japan, America or Judy Ann can be valued at $200-$4,000 or more, depending on the condition.
Most girl Nancy Ann dolls have mohair wigs arranged in a shoulder-length culy cut, although a few of the early dolls had painted hair only. The female dolls always have something on their heads: hats, bonnets, hair ribbons or bouquets of flowers. There were a few boy dolls produced also, for example Little Boy Blue, Hansel from the Hansel and Gretal story. Some small baby dolls were also made, with babies always having painted hair instead of wigs.
Until 1948, the dolls' clothing wa usually fastened in the back with a small safety pin. Less common but still correct are dolls whose clothing fastens with a silk ribbon. The doll designers changed the costumes of the dolls often; for example the Mistress Mary costume is found in over 40 different of fabrics. The feet of NASBs are painted, usually black but sometimes white or silver, to represent shoes.
The smashing success of the Nancy Ann Storybook dolls inspired many imitators--including Hollywood dolls, Mayfair dolls, Princess dolls and K& H dolls to name a few. The key to spotting a Nancy Ann is the sweet expression on the carefully handpainted faces, and the high-quality construction of the clothing. Nancy Ann costumes feature velvet, silk, satin, polished cotton, and felt. She finished her dolls with lots of flourishes like elaborate lace, trim, silk ribbon, and cloth flowers. The costumes were labor intensive with hemmed edges, stright seams, and tiny gathers. Nancy Ann dolls are almost always marked on their backs.However, a few are not marked or have very faint markings as a result of the molds they were created in being worn down over time.
The following are signs a doll is NOT a Nancy Ann Storybook doll. Clothing stapled to the doll, unhemmed edges on dresses, arms or legs that attach to the body with metal hooks, or hair made of any material except mohair (or paint.) K & H are the hardest to distinguish from Nancy Anns by appearance. K & H usually mark their dolls, and their dolls have much bigger and clunkier feet than Nancy Ann dolls.
An excellent reference for further information is: The Encyclopedia of Bisque Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls by Elaine Pardee and Jackie Robertson. It is considered by NASB collectors to be the most complete resource available, although the prices listed in the encyclopedia as well as the prices in this article are subject to large market variations and should be used only as a guide.
