Dolls, Teddy Bears & Tinplate - Tuesday 19 February 2013 | 10:30

Bild Lilli Doll, German, 1950's, black side-glancing eyes with prominent white eye dots, moulded upper eye liner with lashes painted to side, smoky eye shadow, curved high brows, rosebud shaped mouth, cheek blush, blonde hair in pony tail with split curl to forehead, jointed body, arms designed to move forward and backward or up and down, red fingernails, painted black stiletto shoes, wearing white short-sleeved ribbed polo neck sweater (sealed with poppers inscribed PRYM), yellow shorts with light blue plastic belt, complete with black hair tie, body has stress cracks to shoulder, otherwise Near Mint, 11.5"/29cm, together with original stand stating Bild Zeitung Bild-Lilli and a miniature copy of the Bild-Lilli Zeitung newspaper, the stand and paper are Good Plus to Excellent. Also complete with original plastic tube and lid, top of plastic tube is torn and is Fair. NB This doll was produced by 3M Doll Company from 1952 to 1964. Originally sold to gentleman in tobacconist shops in Germany. The Bild-Lilli doll was taken from a cartoon character in the German newspaper Bild-Zeitung. Intended for gentleman as a party gift, the doll was produced in 7.5" to 8" and 11", and it was thought she was modelled upon the actress Marlene Dietrich. Bild-Lilli was the inspiration for the No.1 Mattel Barbie doll after Ruth Handler visited Hamburg in 1956. She purchased 3 dolls: giving one to her daughter Barbie and the other two were shown to designers at Mattel, who then produced the first Barbie doll in 1959. This doll is exceedingly rare in any condition and is the first that Vectis have offered complete with original stand and packaging.