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© Strong National Museum of Play.

Little Gretel, with a bit of love!

figure | spring toy
1972

Comic strip artist and graphic illustrator Johnny B. Gruelle created "Raggedy Ann Stories" for P. F. Volland in 1918. Tradition holds that Gruelle developed the stories from tales he made up to entertain his young daughter, Marcella. Two years after the Ann stories first appeared, Gruelle produced tales of the character's brother, Andy. Gruelle wrote and illustrated 25 books in all of Ann and Andy along with other characters including Beloved Belindy, Camel with the Wrinkled Knees, Quacky Doodles, and Danny Doodles. The Raggedy Ann and Andy stories have remained popular with successive generations of American children, The cloth dolls of the characters have remained in continual production since Volland issued its first dolls in 1918. After Volland, Raggedy dolls were produced by Molly'es, Georgene, Knickbocke, Applause, Hasbro, and others. rIn addition to the dolls, thousands of other toys and products for children bear the image of the lovable duo.

Material	molded plastic | spring | nylon
Origin	USA
Object ID	109.15766
Credit Line	Gift of Tom and Joni Gruelle Wannamaker and the Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum