Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Coleco Cabbage Patch Dolls Body Tags

One of the most read items in Doll College is on identifying Old Cabbage
 Patch Dolls.  Most readers want the original name of their dolls.  That is 
almost impossible to do as so many were made.  There are other ways to
get information about the dolls.

An important identifier of The Coleco Cabbage Patch Kids is the body 
tag. The body tag is a single or double cloth tag sewn into the 
left seam of the cloth bodied dolls. Some of the early Coleco tags 
were embroidered, but most were printed. Some of the tags by 
Tsukada were bilingual often in both Japanese and English. The 
Coleco tag has 1978, 1982, O.A.A., Inc., and has manufacturer and 
the country in which manufactured. Most Coleco tags read "Made In 
China", but the early 1983 tags read `Made In Hong Kong".

The Cabbage Patch Kids were made at a rate of 100,000 dolls a week 
at Hong Kong's Kader Industries. Most of the cloth bodies and 
clothes were made across the border in Mainland China.

Knowledgeable collectors of the Cabbage Patch Kids know the circled 
initials on the Coleco tags are factory codes.

For the 1983 to 1986 Kids the initials on the tags give information 
on the quality of the doll. The earliest Coleco Cabbage Patch Kids 
were KT's with "Made In Hong Kong" on their heads and or body tags. 
The Hong Kong KT's have thick hair and pretty facial coloring, but 
some KT's have pale complexions and less detailed eyes, lighter 
freckles and thinner hair.

The quality of the OK's is more consistent with distinct freckles, 
pink cheeks, and hair; especially the 1986 nylon or popcorn styles 
are considered high quality. Tags on Coleco kids with UT (1984 – 
1985} and ICC (1985 – 1986) tags are less common and some of the 
prettier dolls were made by these Taiwan factories.

9 comments:

  1. Hello,

    I have searched a long time about the 1st issue dolls with embroidered tags and black signatures with no dates, but I cannot find any recent online auction, or for that matter, where to purchase one. Any ideas or help?

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  2. I have a looped blond yarn boy with no tag on the body. I looked to were the tag should be but there's nothing, it has not been removed by anybody. Because if they had removed the tag wouldn't you be able to see "cutting off" or cutting of the thread? Could you please send me back any info on this problem.. Really interested in finding out if I've got something or just waisting my time.. Thank-You teri

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    Replies
    1. If he’s a genuine CPK be should have the head stamp on the back of his head showing copyright info etc and also the coloured signature on his bum. If he has these that means the tag has been cut off. All CPK dolls came with tags. If he doesn’t have those other things he is fake.

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    2. If he’s a genuine CPK be should have the head stamp on the back of his head showing copyright info etc and also the coloured signature on his bum. If he has these that means the tag has been cut off. All CPK dolls came with tags. If he doesn’t have those other things he is fake.

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  3. I have a 1983 soft CPK with an embroidered tag. She is in amazing condition! It does not have a factory code, nor does it say where it was made. Just says "The Little People and Cabbage Patch Kids are trademarks of Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. Cleveland, GA 30528 c.1978, 1980,1981,1983 All Rights Reserved" I would love some more info on her. Where might I find it?

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    Replies
    1. Hi! Did you ever find any more information? I was recently given a CPK with this tag.

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    2. The little people tag on your doll means you have a soft sculpture cabbage patch, not a mass market cabbage patch. The signature on its bottom may have a date next to it that will tell you when it was made. They are also identified by their birth certificate and adoption papers. If you do not have the papers it’s impossible to know the dolls name or exact birthdate. The newer cabbage patch little people have an additional tag that has a registration number on it. You may be able to find out more information by contacting Babyland General Hospital in Georgia where these dolls are made or check out the website at cabbage patch kids.com.

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  4. Hi There, are you willing to sell your embroidered tag cabbage patch kid?

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  5. I was interested in a CP doll short blonde srig if hair and the most beautiful green eyes, had the signature on the left side of her bottom, but the side tag looked new and it was a yellow one, can anyone help?

    ReplyDelete