Best Print Guides for Collecting Raggedy Ann and Andy

"Look in that large book on the mantel!" the puppydog suggested.
Raggedy Andy lifted the book from the shelf and he, Raggedy Ann, and the puppydog sat on the floor. Raggedy Ann opened the book, "Why, there is nothing in the book but blank pages!" "Ha, ha, ha!" the puppydog laughed, "Don't you fool yourself. It's a very magical book and you turned the pages too fast."
-Johnny Gruelle, Raggedy Ann in the Magic Book

Here are the best print guides I've found to aid me in my search for Raggedy Ann and Andy material at flea markets, antique shows, estate sales and auctions:

  1. Garrison, Susan Ann. The Raggedy Ann and Andy Album. 2nd edition. West Chester, PA: Schiffer Publishing Company, 1998.

    Beautiful color pictures of the dolls made by various manufacturers from 1920 - present. Also contains information about the books and other Raggedy Ann paraphenalia, and advice on keeping a collection. The price guide values all of these materials too low in my opinion (even in the second edition), but provides a collector with a reasonable base price.

  2. Patino, Estelle. American Rag Dolls: Straight From the Heart. Paducah, KY:Collector Books, 1988.

    Chapter 3 of this book is dedicated to Rageddy Ann and Andy. More color pictures of the charactors from the different manufacturers and time periods. This book contains a picture of a rare doll, Uncle Clem. Values are a little better than the Raggedy Ann and Andy Album, but still low. Information is about dolls only.

  3. Hall, Patricia. Johnny Gruelle: Creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy. Gretna, LA:Pelican Publishing Company, 1993.

    This is an extensive biography of the life of Gruelle and the creation and development of the dolls. This book contains the best information about this subject for serious collectors. Beautiful photographs and reprints of all Gruelle's books. The most useful part is the appendices, which include an annotated bibliography of the books and publishers. No collector of Raggedy Ann should be without this book. No price guides are included, but the information is invaluable.

  4. Lindenberger, Jan. Raggedy Ann & Andy Collectibles: A Handbook and Price Guide. Atglen, PA:Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 1995.

    This guide emphasizes the products more than the dolls, and this works because there is no definitive product guide. The values are a little high in this book for some of the products, in my opinion, but the doll values are right on. Good book for those with little knowledge of what's available for the collector.

  5. Hockenberry, Dee. Enchanting Friends: Collectible Poohs, Raggedies, Golliwogs, and Roosevelt Bears With Price Guide. Atglen, PA:Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., 1995.

    This guide has beautiful color pictures of the dolls and various products. Homemade dolls are better represented in this guide, and I believe that the prices in this book are the most accurate you can find for both dolls and products. I recommend this guide if you are a serious collector, since it features collections on unrelated collectibles (see title). If you are just starting out, I would go with the Avery title (see below) or Lindenberger.

  6. Avery, Kim. The World of Raggedy Ann Collectibles: Identification and Values. Paducah, KY:Collector Books, 1997. A nice book that updates the doll values well. Beautiful color pictures of dolls, books and collectibles. If you are a new collector, I'd start with this book.



This page was last updated December 29,1998.

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Patty Hatch
hatmaam@yahoo.com