Price guide to Effanbee dolls. The Effanbee Doll Company is a firm specializing in the manufacture of synthetic dolls, founded in 1913 in New York. Effanbee (F & B) has the initials of Bernard Fleischaker & Hugo Baum, the founders of the company.
Effanbee was the first to produce a child doll with realistic proportions named “Patsy”. The Patsy doll, designed in 1924 by Bernard Lipfert was originally called “Mimi”, his name was changed to “Patsy” in 1928, the original name having never been filed. Effanbee has created a large family around the doll “Patsy”: different sizes, an Asian, an African-American, mobile or fixed eyes, painted hair, hair caracul, natural or mohair, entirely in composition, cotton body stuffed with kapok, etc. In the big brotherhood we find “Patsy Lou,” Patsy Mae “,” Patsy Ruth “,” Patsy Joan “,” Patsy Ann “,” Patricia “,” Patsyette “,” Patsy Baby “,”. Reference: Wikipedia
A W.C. Fields doll gifted by Fields to a young fan Cloth doll by Effanbee with painted wooden head, hands and shoes, and movable mouth, 1940s. Gifted by W.C. Fields to Ginger Michaels, the daughter of Magda Michaels, Fields’ last assistant. With a picture of Ginger Michaels holding the doll. Provenance: descended through the family of Magda Michaels. 18 in
Sold for US$ 1,187 (£ 923) inc. premium at Bonhams in 2016
An Effanbee American Child with blue painted eyes, closed mouth, blonde wig and Anne Shirley body wearing white cotton frock, blue wool coat, grey wool stole, hat and muff –19½in. (49.5cm.) high
Sold for GBP 529 at Christies in 2002
CIRCA 1938 EFFANBEE ‘AVIATOR SKIPPY’ DOLL
Composition socket head, composition body, brown molded hair with a big curl on the forehead, painted blue side glancing eyes, closed mouth, dressed in an original suit, shirt and tie with a matching hat, marked ‘Effanbee Skippy, P. J. Crosby’ on the back of the head. Skippy is Patsy’s boyfriend and he’s modeled on the comic strip character by P. J. Crosby,. Measures 14 inches in height.
Sold for $120 at Soulis Auctions in 2018
ALL-ORIGINAL AMERICAN COMPOSITION DOLL, “AMERICAN CHILDREN”, DEWEES COCHRAN FOR EFFANBEE
20″ (51 cm.) Composition socket head with distinctive facial modeling, painted features, shaded blue eyes with all-around painted fringed lashes, fringed brows, closed mouth with wide center line between the lips, brunette human hair wig, jointing at shoulders and hips. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Effanbee American Children Anne Shirley (doll). Comments: Effanbee, circa 1938, from original design by artist Dewees Cochran, for the “American Children” series. Value Points: pristine unplayed with condition, beautiful complexion and painting, original coiffure, and wearing very fresh original costume comprising plaid flannel double-breasted jacket, blue woolen pleated skirt, pink rayon undergarments, socks, red leather shoes, burgundy leather gloves, and pressed flannel hat. The doll has original price tag from Marshall-Field department store of $13.
Sold for $1,200 at Theriaults
