Alabama Baby Doll, Antique 22" Start Price USD 0.99 Current Price USD 1,800.00 Time Left - Bid Count 7 Buy It Now Price USD 2,400.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Tuesday, July 01, 2008 End Time Tuesday, July 08, 2008 Location Darien, GA See more about 'Alabama Baby Doll, Antique 22"' Description This doll was a childhood gift to my 81 year-old husband’s Mother, who was born in 1905.  We have kept the doll in our family for over a century hoping that a granddaughter or great-granddaughter would cherish it, but alas, that hasn’t happened!  In fact, our doll was rarely played with.  A friend of ours here in Coastal Georgia has been an antique “picker” in the South for over 30 years, and identified our doll as an Alabama Baby Doll made by Ella Gaunt Smith of Roanoke, Alabama, around the turn of the twentieth century.  Our friend told us he has never seen an Alabama Baby Doll in this near-mint condition, and that it is quite likely that our 22” doll was made before the dolls went into full-scale production.   The famed Alabama Baby Dolls were durable and very popular.  They were made of soft cloth bodies that were stuffed from the top of their stiffened fabric heads, making them easily distinguished as Ella Smith dolls by their stitched circular crowns. Their distinct, handmade features were molded and painted on.  The paint on our doll is original and has absolutely not been repainted or even retouched. Although we cannot guarantee its authenticity, our doll has all the markings of the earliest made dolls (see photos) – the freer style painting of the hair, the baby blue eyes; the round, stitched crown; and molded fingers and toes.  (Many of the original features seen on our doll changed in the later manufacturing process.)  Her molded nose and mouth are completely intact, which is highly unusual because the nose took the brunt of handling.  Please note, however, that the upper portion of her left little stitched-on ear is missing (see photo).     We will be happy to answer any questions about this item.  Payment is due within 7 days of the auction’s end.  Paypal is our preferred payment method.  We will ship within 2 business days of receiving payment.  The doll will be packed very carefully and insurance for the amount of purchase is included in the estimated shipping costs.  Good luck with your bidding! Place a Bid!