Shirley Temple Composition Doll, C. 1935

You are bidding on a an original  Shirley Temple doll, made by the Ideal Toy Company. Shirley Temple dolls were first produced by Ideal, in time for Christmas 1934. The earliest Shirley Temple dolls, although marked Ideal, were not copyrighted. This little madam has Shirley Temple stamped behind her neck, as well as her body, so she  postdates 1934. She has the chubbier facial features of the earlier Shirleys and the tighter curls, so I would date her as an earlier Shirley Temple, rather than a later one. On her back, underneath  SHIRLEY TEMPLE, she has 18 embossed. This refers to her being an18inch doll - the medium size range. Ideal produced Shirley Temple dolls in a great many sizes, ranging from one-third smaller, to as big as half her size again. 

As often is the case with composition dolls, there is some crazing to Shirley’s face, but not too obvious when viewed from a safe distance. I have photographed this. Please study the pictures carefully. You’ll be able to zoom-in on these much closer than with a magnifying glass.  There is no evidence that she was  ever played with. To the best of my knowledge, these dolls were always accompanied by a Shirley Temple pin badge. This little madam is minus hers. Please add R55 for postage.