Deluxe Reading Dolls 1951-1962 USA

A brief company history: Deluxe Reading was founded by Henry Orenstein in 1951 in Elizabeth, New Jersey USA. Deluxe Reading sold their dolls, toys and other children’s products under a number of different company names; Deluxe, Deluxe Reading, Deluxe Premium Corporation, Deluxe Topper, Deluxe Toy Creations, Topper Toys and Topper Corporation.

Deluxe Reading began selling dolls around 1955 sold in supermarket’s, so they are often referred to as Grocery Store Dolls. This meant Deluxe Reading products were easily accessible to purchase and an inexpensive alternative to department store dolls of similar quality.

Operations ceased in 1973 when the Deluxe Reading / Topper Toys company filed for bankruptcy.

Deluxe Reading Dolls Identified

1955 Deluxe Reading Little Red Riding Hood doll 24″

1955+ Deluxe Reading Little Red Riding Hood doll, 24″ tall, hard plastic head, rooted blonde hair in braids, blue sleep eyes with real lashes, open mouth with teeth, jointed at the neck, magic skin kapok stuffed bending body, dressed in polka dot dress with red cape with hood, white socks and black mary jane shoes, came with a book and basket, doll mark 20 or unmarked.

1957 Deluxe Reading Betty the Bride doll 30″

1957+ Deluxe Reading Betty the Beautiful Bride doll, 30″ tall, soft miracle vinyl, bending arms and legs, washable saran hair, came with white bride gown, veil, lace gloves, complete with simulated pearl jewelry (tiara and pearl necklace), high heel shoes, descriptive plaque, blue wrist tag, stain glass plaque and a 45 LP single record of Bing Crosby’s song “Because”. The doll shown is marked on her neck 108. Another marking is 31 with Arrow Rubber & Plastics symbol of an arrow inside a diamond.

1957 Deluxe Reading Nancy the Nurse doll 24″

1957+ Deluxe Reading Nancy the Nurse doll, 24″ tall, stuffed soft miracle one piece vinyl body, bending arms and legs, flat feet, short washable saran rooted hair, sleep eyes, came dressed in a white nurse uniform with red heart buttons down the front, navy cape, white stockings and white vinyl shoes and some nurse’s accessories, doll mark PTN 64, PTN 70, PTN 72.

1957 Deluxe Reading Sweet Gail doll 30″

1957+ Deluxe Reading Sweet Gail doll, 30″ tall, soft miracle vinyl, bending arms and legs, washable saran hair, came wearing a a royal blue and white gown now faded to purple or magenta color, pearl necklace and earrings, white high heel shoes, doll mark SG.

ca. 1957+ Deluxe Reading Cinderella doll, 30″ tall, came in a gold and pink ballgown, Darling Debbie doll 24″, Sweet Ann doll 30″, Sweet Judy doll, 24″, Sweet Rosemary doll 30″–  the big 30″ tall Deluxe Reading dolls were dressed as bridesmaids in blue, pink or lavender ruffled dress’s similar to Betty’s white bride gown, some have pierce ears with pearl earrings, these dolls are all very similar and if out of costume and without a box or wrist tag may be indistinguishable as to which doll it originally was. Many of these girls have a doll marking of AE plus a number, another doll mark is K-10.

1957 Deluxe Reading Sweet Janie the Rags to Riches doll 24″

1957+ Deluxe Reading Sweet Janie Rags to Riches doll, 24″ tall, vinyl head with rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth, fully jointed at the neck, shoulders, and hips plastic body, high heel feet, came dressed in a short sleeve dress with patch work print, white plastic high heel shoes, doll mark unknown.

1958-1965 Deluxe Reading Candy Fashion doll, 20 & 24″

1958-1965 Deluxe Reading Candy Fashion doll, 20 or 24″ tall, all vinyl fashion doll, sleep eyes, rooted blonde bubblecut hair, fully jointed body including elbows and knees with high heel feet, doll was sold in grocery stores, made by Deluxe Premium, had an extra outfits and dress forms, doll mark 21HH. An 18″ articulated Candy Fashion doll was reproduced in 2006 by Charisma, along with her famous wardrobe. The 1962 Pam Fashion doll, is the same doll as Candy with brunette rooted hair and same doll mark.

1959-1970s Deluxe Reading 14R High Heel Fashion doll 20″

ca. 1959+ Deluxe Reading 14R High Heel Fashion doll, 20″ tall, vinyl head with rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth, fully jointed at the neck, shoulders, waist and hips plastic body, high heel feet, doll mark 14R on back of neck, doll came dressed in several different fancy day dresses. See the other doll makers that sold the generic 14R doll marked dolls on the Hard Plastic Doll Marks page.  

1960 Deluxe Reading Little Miss Fashion doll 20″

ca. 1959+ Deluxe Reading Little Miss Fashion doll 20″ or Fashion Parade Doll, 24″ tall,  vinyl head with short curly rooted hair, sleep eyes, jointed hard plastic body with flat feet, came with four outfits; cowgirl outfit with hat and boots, pajamas, party dress and snowsuit, unsure how marked. Deluxe Reading Gail of the Golden West, a high heel fashion doll wears a similar brown cowgirl outfit.

1958 Deluxe Reading Lovable Louise doll 24″

1958 Deluxe Reading Lovable Louise doll, 24″ tall, all vinyl, sleep eyes, rooted saran bubble cut hair style, jointed hard plastic body; at the neck, shoulders and hips, high heel feet, lovely pink satin gown with big picture hat.

1958 Deluxe Reading Lovable Linda doll, 24″ tall, came in a beige satin dress similar to the Lovable Louise doll’s.

1958 Deluxe Reading Sweet Amy doll 18″

ca. 1958 Deluxe Reading Sweet Amy doll, 18″ tall, vinyl head with rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth, hard plastic walker jointed toddler body with voice box and grill, came dressed in a short sleeve turquoise and white print day dress, socks and white plastic shoes, doll mark A-1 or unmarked.

1960s Deluxe Reading Miss Canada doll 24″

ca. 1960 Deluxe Reading Miss Canada Doll, 20″ or 24″ tall, (same doll as Sweet Janie doll sold in the USA) vinyl head with short rooted hair, sleep eyes, closed mouth and jointed body with high heel feet.  The Miss Canada doll mark a small bump on the lower back. 

1962 Deluxe Reading Connie doll 30″

1962 Deluxe Reading Pam Fashion doll, 21″ high heel fashion model doll, part of the Candy dolls series, doll marked on neck 21HH and marked on lower back  AE.

1962 Deluxe Reading Suzy Smart doll 24″

1962 Deluxe Reading Suzy Smart doll, 20 or 24″ tall, vinyl head, sleep eyes, rooted blonde hair, hard plastic body, jointed at the neck, shoulders, hips and knees, battery operated talker, came with a plastic red, yellow and black desk chair and easel, she wears a schoolgirl plaid jumper with white short sleeve shirt and black ribbon tie, and a matching plaid beret with black shoes, doll mark D3-422, D3-450 and possibly others.

Deluxe Reading Doll Marks Identified

A, A-1, AE, AHH, AHHH, AHHK, K-10, PTN, SG, VH and 14R. Note: A, AE and 14R are doll marks used by other doll makers.

Deluxe Reading dolls not shown

1959 Deluxe Reading Paula Marie doll, 24″ tall, one piece stuffed body and limbs, vinyl head with short curly rooted hair, sleep eyes, real upper eyelashes, painted lower lashes, closed mouth, doll marked VH-25 on upper back A on lower back.

Next; Deluxe Reading / Topper Toys dolls 1963-1973