Dean’s Rag Book Company. Dean’s Rag Book Co was founded in 1903 by Mr Henry Samuel Dean as a subsidiary of the printing and publishing firm Dean & Son, which had been in business since the eighteenth century.
The Rag Book Co introduced a revolutionary concept in children’s books by making them out of cloth. The success of the cloth books led Mr Dean to producing rag dolls on sheets of cloth. They were patented in 1908 and carried Dean’s famous trade-mark, designed by Stanley Berkley, of an English terrier and an English bulldog having a tug-of-war with a rag book, along with the slogan ‘Wear Ever – Tear Never’. The patent was for a cloth cut-out doll made with six pieces, two for the front, two for the back and two for the feet, which could be painted or printed on calico,linen or other materials. The made-up doll, labelled ‘Dean’s Rag Knockabout Toy Sheet. Washable and Hygienic. Reference: The Collector’s Guide to British Dolls Since 1920.
A DEANS RAG BOOK CLOTH DOLL, ENGLISH CIRCA 1930
Sold for £176 at Bonham’s
A rare Dean’s Rag Book Co. George Robey doll
with pressed and printed cloth face, brown wool hair, stuffed stockinette body with wire armiture, white felt hands, original clothes, hat and cane and Dean’s ink stamp on body, circa 1923 –14in. (35.5cm.) high; a book ‘What Women Know About Men’ by H.E. Male with green cloth cover, George Robey Ex-Libris sticker and inscribed on first page to Michael Crane from George Robey’s widow Blanche, every page of the book is blank (spin faded); a hand drawn self-portrait and signiature of George Robey on a postcard; and a photograph of Blanche Robey presenting this doll to Michael Crane. Sold for GBP 660 at Christies
English Dean’s Rag Walt Disney Mickey Mouse Doll. Unusual moving eyes. Leather foot bottoms. Missing the tail, has moderate fading and wear. Dimensions: 8 -1/2″ x 5″. Condition: (Very Good). Sold For: $500 at Dan Morphy Auctions
1930’S DEANS’S RAG BOOK MICKEY MOUSE DOLL. Largest version measuring about 16 1/2″ tall, and has moving eyes. Very Good-Excellent May have some possible restoration. Sold For: $1,750 at Milestone Auctions
MINNIE MOUSE ENGLISH DOLL BY DEAN’S RAG BOOK CO. These early 1930s dolls came in a variety of styles/sizes. This is 9.25″ tall w/felt/velveteen-covered body w/wire armature for posing. Original satin dress, bloomers and bow plus original small string whiskers. Felt hands are replacements. Originally had metal eyes over black printed areas underneath. These black areas have had glue applied to the small holes left by the missing metal eyes. Still displays Fine overall. Sold For$182
ENGLISH CLOTH DOLL BY DEAN RAG DEPICTED IN SHIRLEY TEMPLE DOLL COLLECTION. 38″ (97 cm.) All-cloth doll with mask face having well-painted complexion and facial features, shaded blue eyes, curly upper lashes, closed mouth, blonde mohair marcelled curls, sateen body with sewn-on blue velvet costume with white fur trim, matching muff, and matching blue velvet cap with fur trim, carrying a little doll in matching costume. The doll has original paper label “Dean’s Hygienic Dolls”. English, Dean’s Rag, circa 1935. Included is a small snapshot of Shirley playing with “Jimmie” doll, with this doll seated nearby. The doll also appeared in a photograph of Shirley’s dolls which had been put on special display for the premiere of “Wee Willie Winkie” in 1937. Sold for $3,000 at Theriaults
Dean’s Rag Book A1 Toys Modern Doll, British, 1920s/30s, label to end of original card box Dean’s A1 Dolls & Toys Modern Doll 1 Only #1450, violet circular label affixed to box- denoting colour of dress, brushed cotton moulded cloth face, with printed features, blonde mohair wig, violet velveteen coat and matching bonnet, with mohair trim, cotton body, wearing cotton knickers, integral velveteen shoes, with white short socks, tiny violet three-button and lace trim; very slight fading to fabric, remains of shredded ribbon from hat, otherwise Excellent to Excellent Plus, 16″/41cm; box lid features original Stanley Berkley Dean’s Rag Book logo featuring Bulldog and Terrier, box is Fair Plus. Sold for £240 at Vectis Auctions Ltd
