Dorothy Do Ragdoll

Dorothy Do Ragdoll Advertisement

Advertisement for a Dorothy Do doll, a ragdoll wearing a sailor outfit being held up by a fixture on a platform. Next to him is the box for the toy. The ad text reads “A darling for you, It’s Dorothy Do! The beloved little crewmate, hailing from The Deep Blue, from the television show children know and love. Dorothy’s hair is made of the softest yarn, his sweet little sailor regalia with its iconic hat of the finest cotton, little leather boots, all included in a special box, adorned with images of his adventures! Lovingly handmade of the finest materials, made to last and be a friend for life! Our price is special. Sold in other retail stores these dolls sell for $10,30. Our price $4,65 each.” Code also reads “SKUDORI194FELDO”. The doll’s height is 16 ½ inches and 1 lbs. The ad also says to find more Dorothy merch to head to page 10.

Collecting dolls as a hobby has become more and more popular over recent years, but that doesn’t mean it’s anything new! Standing at 16.5”, these special collectors edition Dorothy Do ragdolls were sold across the U.S. for $10.30 (roughly over $100 today) during the later half of the show’s run. This promotional flier advertises a store’s exclusive deal of only $4.65 (around $50.) What a bargain!

What made this line of Dorothy dolls different from their more affordable counterparts was the stunning attention to detail and the quality of materials used. His clothes were able to be removed, his shoes were made of real, genuine leather, and his face was delicately hand-embroidered, just to name a few! And as a cherry on top, it came with its own stand for collectors to proudly display.

In comparison, the cheaper, mass-produced playline Dorothy Dolls at the time were of much poorer quality. Their bodies were made from a cheap muslin, most of their clothes were sewn onto their body, their hair was thinner and rooted more sparsely, and their faces were machine-printed. Playline dolls of a similar size usually averaged at around $2.94 at the time (around $30 today.)

If you’d like to find your own plush sailor, the modern market of Dorothy Do collectibles has plenty to choose from. However, good luck on finding this particular item, let alone being able to afford it. These dolls are extremely sought after in the modern day, usually reselling for over $1000 at the cheapest!