to my Raggedy dolls corner!
Doll's are probably the oldest plaything on this world! They are often made of cloth, wood, fur or plastic and are modeled in human or animal form. I use to have several of them when I was a child and for sure I spent many happy hours of my childhood playing with them!
When I began surfing around country graphics' sites I realized that lots of artists had their own version of a raggedy doll called Ann... I felt quite curious about them and I decided to find out who was this famous Anne!! Down here in Brazil we do have raggedy dolls but they are not so common in big cities where all the industrial toys guide children's dreams and desires about toys!
Who created Ann and Andi characters?
Mr John B. Gruelle who was born on December 24, 1880 in Arcola, Illinois. He was a newspaper cartoonist and an illustrator of children's stories. He created and patented Raggedy Ann in 1915 and published "Raggedy Ann Stories" in 1918.
The origin of raggedy Ann and Andie
Well, it seems no one knows for sure but there is a legend that tells the following:
being inoculated twice with the smallpox vaccine. So, willing to cheer her up he created stories about Raggedy Ann. Unfortunatelly the girl died In 1915. Three years later, Gruelle began writing Raggedy Ann Stories in her memory. These stories were published and the books were sold along with a doll and soon they became very popular!
And there is one more detail that has definetely fascinated me! It is said that just like Mr Gruelle's original character some manufactured raggedy dolls had a real candy heart with the words "I love you" written on them!!! It seems Mr Gruelle's intention was showing the reason why Ann was such an invencible, sweet and kind character: her candy heart was responsible for all her nice qualities!
Many thanks, Mary! The world would be a better place if candy hearts were to be found inside our chests... Anyway, you give us plenty of candy virtual hearts and gifts! God bless you dear Mary!!
Page created on July, 20, 2001 |
