A record of the revealed story and many of the products made by the Gloucester (England) company that brought entertainment to millions across the world during more than six decades. Malcolm J Watkins, former Strategic Cultural Manager for Gloucester City Council, has spent more than a decade studying and researching the company of Roberts Brothers of Gloucester, England. The company was at one period considered to be the largest maker of pastimes and games in the United Kingdom, yet its memory has faded from most people's awareness. The firm, founded by the brothers Harry Owen Roberts and John Owen Roberts, developed from a simple (some would say silly) party game devised by one or both brothers for a Sunday chool class. The game received a patent in 1890, and a publisher was found to market it, soon causing a craze for the game of Piladex. In 1894 the brothers decided to concentrate on the growing business as they added more and more games to their repertoire. The game was played by members of the royal family, and this in turn led to further success, with expansion leading to the brothers building a state-of-the art factory in the city. They adopted the trade name of Glevum, based on the Roman name for Gloucester, and soon began to use a stylised head of a Roman soldier as the trade mark. The company continued to grow, despite the First World War and the Depression. Agencies and offices were found across the world, and at the height of its success more than 750 were employed. World War II was to provide a halt to their growth. The factory was commandeered for war work, and all but a handful of staff went into the forces or other areas supporting the war effort. After the war the company's fortunes were slow to recover, and as a result of a number of factors the directors were forced to seek a friendly take-over by rivals Chad Valley, resulting in the effective end of the company in 1956 with the factory finally closing in 1957. This book examines the small amount of evidence for the company and its history that has survived, and provides the most complete assessment of the products yet published. Thousands of pictures in both black and white and colour illustrating the breadth of the imagination and products of the company are shown in a way that will prove of lasting value to many readers, whether historians or collectors.

Dolly Bureau is a pattern and fashion book for collectible fashion and ball-jointed dolls such as Misaki, Poppy Parker, Chip, Momoko, and 1:4 and 1:12 scale ball-jointed dolls. The book offers full color page photos of pattern designs, followed by to-scale patterns with instructions. Along with patterns for specific doll types, comparison photos of other dolls in these designs are offered, such as Betsy McCall, Pullip, and Limhwa To You Mari. Dolly Bureau also features a thorough photographic tutorial of one of the patterns.

This catalog presents high quality photographs of all LEGO Minifigures released in 2012. The 550 plus Minifigures are organized by an innovative nomenclature that makes it easy to identify Minifigures. Moreover, the catalog contains a price guide and detailed photographs of the Minifigures' heads. This catalog is the essential guide for all Minifigure collectors and enthusiasts. This 2nd Edition features many extensions and corrections,

Alice: Out of the Box is an eclectic scrapbook of Alice in Wonderland-themed dolls that have graced the author's collection over the years. Alice fans and doll collectors alike will enjoy this friendly showcase, including both traditional and contemporary dolls. From vinyl to resin, the editor of the Fashion Doll Review introduces both restyled, one-of-a-kind, and manufactured eye candy, from girlish befuddlement to Lolita-style ball-jointed beauties. While the author herself does not profess to be a photographer, she hopes to bring her passion for Lewis Carroll's timeless heroine to the page--in a tiny, redressable, posable art form. The Out of the Box series is a casual visual reference for doll collectors and fans of the Fashion Doll Review blog. An affordable paperback collection, this series examines specific doll styles, sculpts, and collections in pages filled with color photographs with descriptions. Fashion dolls are styled, dressed, and fashioned according to the book's theme. Resources and references are included.

This first definitive retrospective of the Easy-Bake(r) Oven celebrates its journey from children's toy to pop culture icon. The book explores the innovation, history, economics, commerce, advertising, and marketing behind the toy's 50 year histor

My name is Jo Hammers and I live in a cabin in the Ozark Mountains with my dolls and depression days memories. This little homespun book is my way to share with you, my interest in dolls. Many of the stories were inspired by my childhood moments in play. Some are fantasy. Let the doll lover in you embrace the doll lover in me. It doesn't matter how old we get, we are always little girls at heart.