PRESENTED BY MDBUTTERFLY
In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, The Vogue Doll Company
was a subsidiary of the Lesney Corporation. A number of attractive and
interesting dolls were produced during this period; we are going to focus on
only one, the ever-popular Ginny, who was redesigned and given a fresh,
extensive wardrobe and numerous accessories.
There are several distinct variations on the Lesney, or “skinny”
Ginny theme. The most numerous, which all seem to bear a 1977 or 1978
marking, sometimes both, are slender little girls with long blonde or
brunette hair in varying styles, sleep eyes, and many well designed outfits. This
Ginny had the proportions of a young school-aged girl rather than the toddler
proportions of the “classic” Ginny. Square-cut hip joints permitted them to
sit with knees forward, and bendable knees contributed to their
poseability.
An African-American version was, for no discernible reason, marketed as
“Ginnette” resurrecting the name formerly used
for an infant doll “Ginny’s baby sister,” in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
A white plastic wardrobe, well outfitted with
drawers, hooks, mirror, and
even a jewelry chest, a headboard bed complete
with bedding, a vanity with
numerous tiny accessories, and a student desk
with chair and study materials
added to the playability of these dolls. For
travel, there was a moped,
which came with its own helmet, surely a
progressive idea in 1978! For the
athlete, there was gymnastics equipment, which
I have seen ONLY in the 1980
Vogue doll catalog, and in some of the inserts that came with the dolls,
showing fashions and accessories.
Around 1981, Ginny “went Sasson” with a
signature hairdo, long hair with a
thin braid around the crown. This doll came in sleep eye and painted eye
versions, with the painted eye much more
common. Sasson Ginny also had an
extensive wardrobe, with each outfit featuring
the Sasson name and/or logo.
These dolls came in blonde, brunette, and a strawberry blonde. Some had
much paler faces. They have the same body as the regular Lesney Ginny, and
the clothes fit interchangeably. It is not
unusual to see one type with the
other’s clothing represented as “all original”
on eBay, and it is an
understandable mistake, since the clothing may
be tagged “Ginny.”
Another thread in this tapestry is the
“International Brides” series, a
group of 12 dolls in wedding wear from all
around the world, including
Turkey, Israel, France, and the USA to name a
few. These dolls have the
same body as the other two types, and painted
eyes, but the hairdo and face paint have been individualized according to the country they represent.
These could be interesting to collect as they
make a limited set, and are
quite charming.
The 1980 Vogue doll catalog also shows a series
of 12 “Friends from Far-away
Lands” who have plumper faces and toddler
bodies. They include a Pioneer girl, and Austrian boy and girl, and girls from
England, Norway, Germany,
Ireland, Holland, Scotland, Poland, Italy, and
Jamaica. Each has an
individual appearance because of hairdo and
clothing. Not pictured in the
catalog is a Spanish version I have seen.
The “Friends” have hair that tends to become
stiff and greasy feeling, but
they are otherwise quite charming, and their
costumes are well designed.
Some of them are seen quite frequently, others
I have yet to encounter.
The “skinny Ginny” is also prone to age-related
problems. The hair is
subject to severe “frizzies” especially if
their little mommies did lots of
hairstyling work. The Sasson dolls had
instructions for numerous hairdo
variations printed on their boxes, which would
have encouraged
experimentation. The wire in their knee joints
tends to give them the
dreaded “green knees.” And a few are literally
falling apart...one at my
house loses her head over trifles. Some of
their faces have gone very pale,
too...anyone want to try her hand at a repaint ala Gene (no eye shadow,
please, these are LITTLE GIRLS)? I have several
for you to practice on...
I believe these are underrated dolls. They are
fairly readily available,
although certain outfits can be hard to find in
complete condition. They
are not outrageously priced, which makes a
collection attainable without a
bank loan. Their small size and poseability
lend them to creative displays,
and they are not so rare or fragile that
collectors who like to play with
their dolls, or allow their children,
grandchildren, or friends to play with
them should feel intimidated about doing so.
And they display well next to
everyone their size from 1930’s compos to
Robert Tonner’s Kripplebush Kids.
They share clothes with Penny Brite and
Madeline as well as the KBK’s.
Everyone who visits me finds them appealing,
and they are dolls it’s okay
for visitors to handle. Everybody ends up
happy.
My personal strategy has been to accumulate a
stock for play and display and
a limited amount of NRFB items as well. Those
who buy dolls as an
investment will probably do better with other
types for the short run.
Note: all metal furniture not otherwise identified in the accompanying
pictures is the work of noted Nebraska folk
artist, Charles Childers, who
also creates scale-model horse-drawn vehicles,
with complete and accurate
harness, to fit Breyer horses. This talented
gentleman is my beloved father
in law, who not only designs the pieces, but
the tools needed to create
them. However, that is another story.
Also, please understand this article is
intended as an introduction to these
dolls and not a definitive treatise. If I have
facts wrong, let me know.
The information in my Ginny books is sketchy at
best.
