Originally manufactured by Bluebird Toys, the line of Polly Pocket dolls is now produced by Mattel. Although Mattel's line of Polly Pocket toys differs slightly from their original counterparts, they remain quite similar. Both are pocket-sized dolls--complete with their own pocket-sized cases--aimed at young females.

The history of Polly Pocket dolls can be traced back to Chris Wiggs. He designed the diminutive doll for his daughter, and crafted a home (a powder compact) to hold the doll. Bluebird Toys of England licensed the toy from Chris, and Polly Pocket appeared in stores in 1989. By 1998, sales diminished and Bluebird Toys was purchased by Mattel.

The following year, Mattel redesigned Polly Pocket and created a new line of accessories. The main differences between Bluebird's Polly and Mattel's is a larger scale and a more lifelike visage (rather than cartoonish appearance). Mattel also introduced the Fashion Polly! line of toys. This line features the same characters, but they were changed to stand nearly four inches tall. In addition, Fashion Polly! dolls feature rubber garments which can be added and removed.

Since the first Polly Pocket hit store shelves, hundreds of the dolls were released. The original ones manufactured by Bluebird Toys have since become quite collectible. Unfortunately, because they were aimed at children and featured accessories that were easily lost, it can be hard to find complete dolls unless you connect with other collectors. However, Polly Pocket enthusiasts from around the world use eBay to easily buy and sell Bluebird and Mattel Polly Pocket dolls with one another.