American Character Doll

Q:         My mother bought a beautiful American Character doll for my 9th birthday in 1932. The doll’s eyes open and close and her mouth is open in a smile that shows her teeth. She can’t say “Mama” anymore, but other than that she is in fine shape. Can you tell me her present value?

A:         The American Character Doll Co. was founded in New York City in 1919. The company made baby dolls, toddler dolls, mama dolls and other dolls in several sizes. The dolls were made of composition, rubber or hard plastic. American Character dolls were high-end dolls with well-made clothes. Although they sold for only a few dollars in the 1920s and ’30s, they were expensive at the time. The company’s best years were in the 1950s and early ’60s when its Betsy McCall and Tiny Tears dolls were so popular. American Character Doll Co. went out of business in 1968 and its molds were sold to Ideal. It’s impossible to suggest a value for your doll without knowing exactly which American Character doll you have. But the loss of its voice lowers the value. American Character dolls sell for prices from under $100 to a high of a few hundred dollars.