Dionne Quins, USA; 1936-38

1. corrigated card box, damaged at the sides and underneath; held by aging cellotape. On the lid is a label printed in blue with the following:
FORM 1 15,000 MULT 7/36 0.6613 PTD. 8/36
PRINTING - - HALF RATE
FROM FOX FILM COMPANY LTD, 13 Berner Street, London, W 1
Telephone: Museum 5113 Telegram: Effoxfil, Roth, London

and hand written: Manager, Empire Cinema, Mexborough (S Yorks)
J?TS Leeds.
The Quins were used for advertising many products and it would appear that the set was sent as an advertising gimmick, possibly to be used as a prize. It may have been on behalf of the film company or one of the sponsors in connection with a film being shown at the time.
2. bed, large enough to house all five dolls; head and toe boards of solid wood, painted cream; sides are 4 bars; bottom is two slats covered with a sheet of cardboard. On the toe end of the bed are five transfers giving the name of each child in the colour to match thoses of the dresses - Marie, Emelie, Cecile, Annette, and Yvonne. (50 x 26 x 13cm)
3. cardboard base for bed.
4. long pillow, pink cotton with the front covered with picot ; three sides have a frill trim; kapok filling
5. mattress, pink cotton, filled with kapok.
6 to10. dolls
6. Marie, blue; 7. Emelie, purple; 8. Cecile, green; 9. Annette, yellow
10. Yvonne, pink.
*The clothing is the same for each doll, the only differences are the colours embroidered on to each dress and the names on the bibs. Each doll is wearing a dress, bib (except Yvonne), vest and diapers.
The dresses are made of cream sateen with high yokes, full skirts and back hook and eye fastenings. They are sleeveless. The skirts are lined with rayon fabric. Each is trimmed with lace on the sleeves and lining hem. Each dress is decorated in the appropriate colour with herring bone stitch at the neck, sleeve edge, yoke and both hem lines.
The vests are of cotton jersey.
The diapers are of rayon pinned with a brass safety pin.
The bibs are of fine cotton, embroidered in the appropriate colour with the name and edging; ties also match. BIB MISSING FROM YVONNE.
11-14. dress, bib, vest and diapers for Marie (6)
15-18. dress, bib, vest and diapers for Emelie (7)
19-22. dress, bib, vest and diapers for Cecile (8)
23-26. dress, bib, vest and diapers for Annette (9)
27-29. dress, vest and diapers for Yvonne (10)
30. blanket, under the mattress was found a baby's flannel blanket in pink and white designed to show chicks. Three sides are overlocked and the fourth machine sewn but rather crudely. This is probably not part of the original.

References: Directory of US Doll Trademarks, L Hart; Ultimate Doll Book - re maker
Ever since Eve, Personal Reflections on Childbirth, Nancy Caldwell Sorel, Oxford University Press, 1984, p.35+ - family history.

From the address on the box label, it suggests that the set were used as advertising material, possibly even a prize.

Price: £280 + 49.35 premium

Made by: Madame Alexander, Alexander Doll Co., New York City

The real Dionne Quituplets were born in Canada on 28 May 1934. When they were only four months old the government became their guardians. Their upbringing was turned into a public spectacle and they became a major tourist attraction. Their daily routine was viewed by nearly three million visitors between 1936 and 1943. A marketing machine grew up around the girls with endorsements, merchandising and souvenirs. The only doll company granted the right to register the quintuplets as a trade-mark was the Alexander Doll Co. based in New York. The company was well known for its character dolls, such as Shirley Temple, and the Dionne Quins formed part of its Madame Alexander range.

The dolls lie in a bed marked on the foot with transfers of the girl’s names in a colour that matches their dresses. As with the real girls, each doll has its own colour – Marie (blue), Emelie (lavender), Cecile (green), Annette (yellow), and Yvonne (pink). The clothing is the same for each doll, the only differences are the colours embroidered on to each dress and the names on the bibs. The set is not quite complete as Yvonne is missing her bib.

The real quintuplets featured in four Hollywood films, one of which was nominated for an Oscar. This particular set of dolls was sent to the manager of a cinema and was probably intended as a promotional item to be given away as a prize during the run of a film.

B.58:1-1996