Raggedy Ann and Andy Dolls

Gruelle's U.S. Patent design for what
became known as the Raggedy Ann doll.

       Although the female members of Gruelle's family may have made a small number of initial versions of the Raggedy Ann doll in Norwalk, Connecticut, to help market the related books, Gruelle soon established a merchandising agreement with P. F. Volland Company, his primary publisher, to begin commercially manufacturing, selling, and promoting a mass-produced version of the doll.

       In addition to his patent application U.S. Patent D47,789 in 1915 for the design of what became the Raggedy Ann doll, Gruelle patented his design U.S. Patent D56,149 for a generic male doll in 1920. A short time after its literary debut in 1920, Raggedy Andy appeared as a commercially-made doll, marketed by Volland.

       Raggedy Ann doll sales were also growing. The P. F. Volland Company's initial order of 24 dozen dolls from the Non-Breakable Toy Company, the doll's early manufacturer, increased to about 3,200 dolls within the first eight months of production. With its growing popularity, Gruelle gave Volland the exclusive rights to manufacture and sell the dolls as long as it remained the exclusive publisher of his books.

Handmade Raggedy Ann and Andy. These classic rag dolls come with
their own stories by Johnny Gruelle and are featured in movies for tele-
vision and the theater. They come with distinctive characteristics
 such as red yarn hair, candy hearts and mitt glove hands.

       In 1935 Gruelle brought suit against Mollye Goldman (Gruelle vs Goldman) after her company, Molly-'Es Doll Outfitters, continued to manufacture unauthorized version of the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls. Goldman's attorney argued that Gruelle's design patent for Raggedy Ann had expired in 1929, and Gruelle did not apply for a design patent or a trademark for a doll specifically named Raggedy Andy. The U.S. Patent office registered Goldman's application for a trademark for her Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls in 1935. Her patent application U.S. Patent D96,382 for her Raggedy Andy design was granted on May 7, 1935. Goldman's versions of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy closely resembled the Gruelle-designed rag dolls, which he had authorized the Exposition Doll and Toy Manufacturing Company to manufacture. Gruelle brought suit against Goldman for trademark infringement in October 1936, but the case was dismissed. He won the lawsuit on appeal in 1937. In the appellate court's option handed down on December 23, 1937, Goldman's company, Molly-'Es Doll Outfitters, could not legally manufacture dolls named Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy. Goldman was ordered to provide restitution to Gruelle.
       The Raggedy Ann doll was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, on March 27, 2002. Raggedy Andy was inducted 5 years later on November 8, 2007.

• Read edited versions of the original story collection about Raggedy Ann by Johnny Gruelle and download free coloring pages of the doll here.
• How to make a mini 6" Raggedy doll from a free pattern here
• Make Raggedy Ann and Andy clothespin dolls

Video About Raggedy Ann and Andy: Old Cartoons:

• Raggedy Ann and Andy Cartoon from 1941: Ragland Love Story - "A toyshop owner tells a little girl the story behind the two dolls she's fallen in love with . . ." 
• The Enchanted Square - a blind child plays with Raggedy Ann and Andy in her incredible imagination from Retro Toons
• More adventures in Ragland when Raggedy Andy falls for another doll and Raggedy Ann becomes hopelessly sick in her tiny candy heart!

Full length view of two handmade
Raggedy Ann Dolls with book.

Collectors and Fan Videos:

• Raggedy Ann doll history - slide show
• Raggedy Ann and Andy Doll Program with Jonathan Green
• David Norris room tour of Raggedy dolls collection
• Collecting Cloth Dolls by Deanna Moyers
• Web Appraisal: Raggedy Ann & Andy Dolls from Cleveland, OH
• How to collect Raggedy Ann and Andy Dolls
• A two thousand piece Raggedy collection!
• How one person restored Raggedy Ann and Andy - slide show

 

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