My Dolls - History of Madame Alexander (90th Anniversary)

I love dolls! 

I love Madame Alexander! 

I was looking through the current 90th anniversary edition of the Madame Alexander catalog. (sigh)

Every doll is beautiful. Not a hair out of place, no lipstick smudges and the clothing - impeccable!

When I was in elementary school, I was the lead in a musical production of Alice in Wonderland. My parents bought me a Madame Alexander 13" Alice doll. 

 

My second Mme. Alexander doll was Scarlett O'Hara.

*MY MME. ALEXANDER DOLLS VIDEO*

Inside the anniversary catalog- the special 75th anniversary Scarlett is stunning at 21". Fully articulated Cissy with green eyes and wavy, center-parted, shoulder length brunette hair pulled up on the sides and held with a red bow. 

21" Madame Beatrice Alexander-1923 is a fully articulated Cissy dressed as she would've been in 1923 when she began the company. Limited Edition of 125 dolls.
 
Something magical happens when you hold the classic blue box in your hands and open the lid to your Madame Alexander doll. You feel special because these dolls are a part of our history. With the Alexander Co. celebrating their 90th year this year, I felt I had to share two of my very first dolls, that happen to be made by Madame Alexander.

Here is a little bit about Madame Alexander's special history:

Madame Alexander is a brand of American collectible dolls introduced in 1923.

 

Madame Alexander was an American entrepreneur who created the first "collectible" dolls based on a licensed character – Scarlett O'Hara from the book and movie Gone with the Wind. She was also one of the early creators of mass-produced dolls in honor of living people, with dolls of the famous Dionne quintuplets in 1936 and a set of 36 Queen Elizabeth II dolls to commemorate the 1953 coronation celebrations in Britain. In 2002 two Judy Garland portrait dolls were introduced. 

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Little Women (pictured), and a series international dolls in native costumes. She has created many topical doll series. "The First Ladies of the United States" depicting each in her inaugural gown as well as "The Opera Series", "Fairy Tale Series" and many more. 

Her 8" Wendy doll, introduced in 1953 which is still being made today, is considered collectible. -(wikipedia)

As of 2009, Madame Alexander began creating dolls for Dollie & Me, which specializes in matching clothing for girls and dolls. Favorite Friends Collection 18" soft bodied vinyl dolls.

In 2010 Madame Alexander partnered with designer Jason Wu to create a newly reinvented Alex Collection. Alexandra Fairchild Ford 16" collectible fashion doll for adult collectors. Limited edition 150 dolls. This doll is not a part of the anniversary catalog, but included here to show the vast market Madame Alexander reaches.

The Madame Alexander Doll Club is separate from The Alexander Doll Company, but the company supports club efforts by creating new limited edition dolls for club events.  

The club holds events and conventions all over the US. The club also publishes a quarterly magazine for members called The Review.

 

And of course the Alexander Company has their own Doll Hospital for dolly emergencies.

In June of 2012, the Madame Alexander Doll Company was sold to Kahn Lucas, owners of Dollie & Me.  

Own a piece of history and purchase a Madame Alexander doll. These dolls will hold a special place inside your heart. Happy 90th Anniversary Madame Alexander! Thank you for my special childhood memories and here's to making more!

"What a doll does for a little girl is to develop her capacity to love others and herself."

- Madame Beatrice Alexander 

Start With a Focus, But Follow Your Heart

There are as many dolls out there as there are ways of collecting. How do you know where to draw the line?
Maybe you want to concentrate on a single manufacturer, like Madame Alexander, or even a single collection by that manufacturer. Maybe you like baby dolls, or Native American dolls, or Mardi Gras dolls. Maybe you like dolls with purple dresses, or dolls made in the 1950s, or porcelain dolls.
Having a focus helps you sift through the multitude of dolls in the marketplace, and gives your collection a distinctive character. That said, if something else really catches your eye, don't be afraid to give it a try.
It's your collection. The only rules are… well, you make the rules!

Join the Doll Collecting Community

Doll collectors are a passionate lot – and sometimes they can be surprisingly boisterous! But they're also friendly people who love sharing the hobby with newcomers.
Joining a doll club in your area, or an online community of fellow doll enthusiasts, is a fantastic way to learn more about the hobby. And doll clubs put on regular events that attract dealers and collectors from all over to buy, sell, and trade dolls.
Attending a show is a fun crash course in doll collecting. Beware: you might just get hooked!

Make It a Family Affair

What better hobby to bring a mom and child together, or an aunt and a niece, or a grandparent and grandchild?
“Start the love of doll collecting early,” recommends Maureen. “Giving a newborn baby a Madame Alexander doll may not put a smile on the baby's face right away, but mother and daughter will look back fondly on that doll as the very first in their collection.”
As countless doll collectors know, a love of dolls is the kind of family tradition that passes down from one generation to the next.
-Madame Alexander Doll Company