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If You're Serious About Small Vintage Dolls, This book is a Must-Have:

Ginger was introduced by The Cosmopolitan Doll & Toy Company of New York in 1954.

Cosmopolitan was founded by Kathryn Kay, a former sales rep for the Vogue Doll Company. Seeing Ginny's success, Ms. Kay decided to break away and create her own Ginny-type. She named the doll Ginger, and had her produced by Commonwealth Plastics, the same factory that was making Ginny for Vogue. 

Over the decade, Ginger appeared in many variations:


Left to right: Painted-foot Ginger-Spinoff Painted Lash, Cha-Cha Ginger (large eye,
molded lash, high-heel feet), Small-eye molded lash, Small-eye molded lash,
Big-Eye Molded lash

1954 The first Ginger had Painted-On Eyelashess 

 
The 1954 Ginger had "sleep" eyes with Painted Lashes


1955-56: Small-eyed Ginger 

(Eyes are not really Small - just not as hugely out-of-proportion as the Big-Eyed doll.)


1957 Big-Eyed Ginger


Photos: Ebay listings
1955 - 60  Vinyl-Head Ginger

Photo: Ebay listing
Very Rare Hawaiian Ginger


Photos: Ebay listings
The Terri Lee Company used Ginger for their Girl & Brownie Scout doll
Mouseketeer  & Ballerina with bendable elbows and knees!


"ChaCha" Ginger has "high-heel" feet


Compare Fortune Pam to Ginger. Note differences in torso, feet detail, and stance, as well as face. 

Ginger's arms have more muscular definition, and use a different attachment hook. Ginger's hands, too, have the unmistakable "mold circle" at the inside wrist

SEE ALSO:

Thanks to Carol Stover and her article "A Search For An Affordable, Adorable 1950's Toddler" (November 1998 issue of DOLLS- The Collector's Magazine), as well as her book (co-authored with Judith Izen) Collector's Encyclopedia of Vogue Dolls - for her help in learning about Ginger! 

Another good source for basic Ginger information is Hard Plastic Dolls: Identification & Price Guide  by Polly & Pam Judd