Military, Civilian Figures, Equipment, Accessories & General Toys - Thursday 28 January 2016 | 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, jointed body, arms designed to move forward and backward or up and down, red fingernails, painted black stiletto shoes, wearing yellow rayon tunic with funnel neck, yellow and black belt, black cotton trousers, (all three are sealed with poppers inscribed PRYM), hair tied into position with a black cord, crack running approximately 6mm down from neck joint, lacks split curl- small lock of hair to rear of head is shorter (it is 1.5"/3.5cm long), slight paint rubs to eyelids and to ankles (where paint has transferred from the shoes), otherwise Good Plus to Excellent, 11.5"/29cm. 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.