Edison Phonograph Doll (Simon Halbig 719)

Description

Absolutely gorgeous and rare. A magnificent example, important historical doll. Circa 1890. Head marked proper S12H 719 DEP. She has huge brown stationary glass eyes, open mouth with 6 upper teeth, perfectly painted features including lush upper and lower lashes. Her distinctive body has the Edison heavy weight tin torso, void of mechanism, along with wood and composition limbs. She retains her original wig, shoes (French Alart) and wonderful heavy black cotton socks. She wears a light blue silk and antique lace party dress with antique undies. Her head band of flowers completes the picture of this sweet girl. She has provenance that will go with her. An article 'The Edison Talking Doll- an Idea That Failed' written by her former owner, Yolanda M Simonelli, in Doll Reader June 1988. She was so intrigued with this doll that she visited the Edison National Historic Site & Archives in Orange, NJ, in 1984. In this fascinating article you will see this exact doll along with many photos and pictures from the museum itself. As a side note: two German companies produced the heads for the dolls, Simon Halbig and Bahr Proschild. This edition of Doll Reader will go along with the doll and also her permit to the Edison National Historic site.