It started at the huge 1939 New York World’s Fair. All the major doll and toy makers were there – displaying their products for the world to see. But one of Effanbee’s displays stood out among all the others.

Effanbee unveiled it’s set of Historical Dolls called The Romance of Fashion – thirty dolls in all depicting American history through clothing styles. The set of

20-inch composition dolls – each elaborately dressed and wigged – was said to be valued at $10,000. In today’s money – that would be just over $213,000!

The display heralded the debut of Effanbee’s 14-inch replica dolls, which sold for $4.98 each and would go on to be one of the company’s biggest successes.