Nineteenth-century baseball doll that also served as a candy container. These dolls are exceedingly rare and this is just the fourth example we have offered in the past twenty-five years. They are also highly prized in both the doll and confectionary collecting fields. The figure, which is ten inches in height, is made of hard composition and all the exposed areas are hand painted, including the hat. The doll is dressed in a cloth baseball uniform of the day, featuring both a tie and belt. The doll disengages into two separate pieces at the waist, with a cardboard cylinder in the center the home to the candy (long since eaten). This doll is notable both for its condition and provenance. All the paint is original and it displays no chips or cracks, which are common for these dolls. The cloth uniform displays normal wear commensurate with its age and former use. Excellent to Mint condition overall. Accompanied by a wooden bat, which we believe is original based upon its history.

This doll was one of many that our consignor's grandfather received from his father during the late 1800s. Our consignor's great-grandfather ran a grocery store, and he most likely sold them at his store. Years later, our consignor's grandfather featured the dolls he had collected as a child in a window display at his hardware store. The offered doll is one of the surviving examples from that display and has been passed down to the current generation. As such it is new to the hobby and represents one of the finest examples we have ever handled.