Nancy Ann retailer Story Book Doll Bride #86 Bisque FL Painted Slippers

Bride # 86
5-1/2" Bisque Doll, frozen legs Legs, Painted Slippers
Very Good Original Box with cardboard insert, Original Wrist Tag, and Original Brochure, are included.

Page of 94 NASB Encyclopedia Vol. #1

This doll is in extremely excellent, barely used condition, crisp, clean, a collector's delight!
Minor age spots are two tiny yellow spots on the dress and a little streak of yellowing on the underside of the petticoat.

Please review photos for all details as retailer these are an important part of the description.

I obtained this doll in a collection, from its original owner, as she was downsizing.



Please ask any questions before buying. All sales are final. All items are from a smoke free home.

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The history of Nancy Ann Dolls began in 1936 when Nancy Ann Abbott started her doll-making venture. She is said to have started her company with $125, working from her apartment 16-18 hours per day. In 1937, she took a partner named Allan "Les" Rowland to handle the promotion and financial matters. Nancy Ann Dressed Dolls was incorporated on February 23, 1937 in San Francisco, California. By 1942, the company claimed a million dollar gross yearly income, and, in the 1950s, top production of dolls reached 12,000 per day. In late 1945, the company's name was changed to Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls Inc.

One of Nancy Ann's main line of dolls was "storybook dolls" which were named after nursery rhymes and jingles. The dolls were marketed to little girls, but, it is obvious that they had appeal to the mothers as well! The bisque Storybook dolls were produced from 1936 to 1948. By 1943, Nancy Ann had created 125 different characters, but the number was reduced to 77 when certain costume materials became unavailable or too costly. Nancy Ann changed her characters' outfits from year to year, and often used different materials so that identifying a Storybook doll that does not have her original wrist tag and labeled box with her name can be a challenge. Also, many times dolls are found in the incorrect boxes.

By the late 1940s, the company was producing the largest doll volume in the nation. However, in the 1950s and 1960s, as Nancy Ann's health began to fail, the company's production also slowed. Nancy Ann Abbott, who had become known as

"The Doll Lady" passed away in 1964. Les Rowland's health was also declining at that time, and a sale of the company was attempted, but never consummated. In 1965, the company filed for bankruptcy.