The Holly Hobby Doll is a stuffed ragged doll in a giant bonnet based on the character created by Holly Hobbie, a much-loved American writer, who sold her works to the greeting card company, American Greetings. The company is based in Cleveland, Ohio. Besides Holly Hobby (sometimes spelt as Holly Hobbie), other popular characters used in the company’s product line include Strawberry Shortcake, The Get-Along Gang, and the Care Bears. It also possesses an exclusive license for Nickelodeon characters.
The Holly Hobby Doll was introduced in the early seventies by The Knickerbocker Toy Co., a renowned manufacturer of children’s toys. The stuffed rag doll was available in a peasant style work dress with blue underwear. The old-fashioned dress had a bonnet, giving the doll a prairie look. Soon, the cloth dolls were replaced by those having plastic bodies and vinyl clothing. Toward the end of the seventies, Holly Hobby became a highly sought-after licensed female character, worldwide.
Many other companies, such as Tomy and Ashton Drake, also started making Holly Hobby Dolls. The American Greetings Corp. made a strange one that had a round head, small eyes, and straggly hair. Knickerbocker designed a wide range of Holly Hobby rag dolls in many sizes. They also marketed dolls that were supposedly Holly’s friends such as Amy and Heather. Doll houses with furniture and accessories were also sold. Holly Hobbie got a facelift in the nineties and was available in a soft body with a snub nose and curly hair. Her dress was a flowing patchwork frock with a bonnet. The doll was available in many different colors. Miniature Holly Hobby Dolls are also sold. |
