Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Free Toy Giveaways for Christmas! UPDATED: We Have Winners!

It's time for another Free Toy Giveaway!

This time the giveaway features Girls Toys & Boys Toys for Christmas. Growing up in the 1970s, that's how the big Sears Wish Book and JC Penney catalogs divided up their offerings (not that we paid any attention to such distinctions) and so it is with a sense of nostalgia, not misogyny, that I offer these two lots. (Click on the pictures for more detail.)

First up is a set of 1960s Skediddle Kiddle Magic Stay-On Dolls. Included in the original box are all 3 glossy hardboard dolls, tons of paper clothes (some cut out, but many not), 2 doll stands, and the original pink plastic scissors. These dolls are so cool: the paper clothes just stick to them like magic (hence the name). Also in this lot is a Shirley Skediddle Kiddle doll, with her original clothes, molded shoes, hair bow, and pusher!




The next set is a lot of vintage James Bond action figures made by Gilbert Toys in the 1960s. Includes M, Miss Moneypenny, Dr. No, Bond in "casual wear", and Oddjob with his deadly hat. These are unplayed-with old store stock, but they do have the many imperfections common in these crudely made old toys. Still fantastic vintage items for the Bond aficionado or spy toy collector.


The fine print: Free Toy Giveaways are open to adults in the United States, and are intended for people who want the toys for themselves, not for dealers intending to resell. I pay the shipping, so they are totally, incontrovertibly free. I just like sharing toys and making people happy. No hidden agenda other than that! To enter, just leave a comment telling me which lot you'd like and why. It's probably best not to put your address in the post: we'll get that info. later if you win. I'll take entries from December 1 -11, choose 2 winners at random, and send the items out in time for Christmas!

UPDATED: 12-11-09: We Have Winners! Yay!
The winner of the Kiddles is Mary Ann from California! Congrats! I'll get these out to you as soon as I can.
And Barty is the winner of the Gilbert Bond toys! Barty, send me another comment with your address (I won't post it) and I'll get these in the mail to you. Hope you like them!

Friday, November 27, 2009

Antique Doll Chamber Set

Just found this wonderful doll-sized chamber set, dating from the late 1800s - early 1900s. Includes a pitcher (4 inches tall), chamber pot, soap dish, and toothbrush holder. The porcelain appears to be handpainted, and the set was probably made in Germany.

Looking at the chamber pot makes me really grateful for modern plumbing...

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Victorian Dolls Tea Set


Along with the larger doll-sized dinner dishes shown in the post below, I found this wonderful miniature tea set, still in its original box.
Made in Germany around 1880, these sets were churned out rapidly and are consequently rather crude, but still quite charming.
Sized for small dolls or children's play, the set includes 6 cups and saucers along with a teapot and creamer. Each teacup is 1 inch tall.
The box lid, though faded with age, still bears its original lithographed label portraying little girls at a tea party.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

German Matchbox Kitchen


This tiny carved wooden kitchen in a matchbox measures just 2 1/4 inches wide. It was made in Germany circa the 1920s, and features a lithographed label and interior background. It was part of a series of similar matchbox dioramas including butcher shops, apothecaries, butcher shops, sewing rooms, and more. It's so tiny and delicate, it's amazing to see how well it has survived these many years.

Antique Dollhouse Food

















































These two sets of French or German-made dolly food date from the late 1800s - early 1900s.
They're made of hand-painted plaster, and the largest pieces measure about 2 1/2 inches across. They're a bit large for most dollhouses; perhaps they were meant for toy kitchens or doll play.

These pieces are wonderful on their own, but what makes them even more special is that most are still tied down with twine in their original packages. The boxes themselves are quite beautifully lithographed with scenes of children cooking and eating.

It's always especially exciting to discover such a fragile old toy that has survived in this condition: these were one of my greatest finds ever!