Madame Alexander began making international dolls in the 1930’s using the Little Betty mold in composition. Her hard plastic 8” dolls were introduced in 1961, just as the interest in Wendy was waning. The first dolls were available as bent knee walkers (BKW) and included 7 dolls that first year: France, Italy, Dutch, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and Sweden.

Dutch, France, Italy, Scott’s Lass, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. All of the dolls in the picture are BKW except France.

Scott’s Lass was the earliest doll. Later dolls were called Scotch, Scottish or Scotland.

Scot's Lass and Scottish who is a bent knee non-walker

In 1962 three more dolls were added: Tyrolean boy and girl and Hungary.

Hungarian, Tyrolean Girl and Tyrolean Boy.

There were variations as well. The Tyrolean girl shown has the Maggie Mix-up face that was introduced in 1960. Here are my two Tyrolean girls, the second one with the usual Wendy face is a bent knee non-walker.

Two more were added in 1963 that were made for only 4 years: Ecuador and Bolivia.

Ireland, Mexico, Poland, Spanish boy and Dutch boy were added in 1964.

Ireland, Dutch Boy, Mexico, Spanish Boy and Poland. The earliest Dutch dolls had regular slip on shoes, later ones had wooden shoes.

1965 was the last year BKW’s were available, so some dolls that year had only the bent knees, but were strung (BK). Added that year were Argentina, Brazil, India, Israel, Russia, Greek boy, Argentine boy and Peruvian boy. The Argentine and Peruvian boy were made for only 2 years, and Greek boy for 4 years.

Brazil, Greek Boy, India, Israeli (sitting), Peruvian Boy, Argentina, Argentine Boy, and Russian.

Here is a comparison between the earlier BKW and a BK Brazil. The hat was discontinued, and various sizes of white polka dots can be seen on green fabric.

India was made in a white doll early on. Here are my two together. The white one is a walker.

In 1966 Germany, Thailand, African, English Guard were added. That year and thereafter until 1972, the dolls were BK. English Guard was made for only 3 years, but reintroduced more recently in the new Alexander mold, introduced in 1987.

While preparing this program I discovered I didn’t have a Germany or a Vietnam. So I purchased them on eBay.

There were no new dolls in 1967. I suppose this gave collectors time to catch up. Then in 1968 thirteen new countries were added: Canada, Finland, Greece, Japan, Norway, Portugal, Rumania, Turkey, Yugoslavia, Korea, Morocco, and Vietnam. That is the first year I became aware of these dolls, but I bought only the ones with brown hair and brown eyes, and unfortunately, did not find the last three, Korea, Morocco and Vietnam, that turned out to be more costly on the secondary market. And when I found Vietnam on eBay, she was much lower in price than she would have been in the mid 80’s

Japanese, Canada (in back), Korean, Finland, Morocco, Greece, Turkey and Yugoslavia (who had to be stitched in after the fact). Seated are Portugal and Rumania.

Denmark and Indonesia were added in 1970.

I’m not sure but I imagine the Indonesia in the middle was an earlier doll. She has the Maggie Mix-up face and a much more elaborate headdress. They were barefoot.

In 1972, China and Czechoslovakia were added. Then the line stayed the same for many years with some minor costume changes and name changes from Tyrolean to Austria and from Dutch to Netherlands in 1974.

The earlier China dolls had this rounded hat. Later ones were conical.

Here are 2 recent China dolls that I fell for:

In 1973 the dolls were made with straight legs, and slightly bigger eye openings (you can see the whites of their eyes underneath the iris). These are referred to as “Alex mold” (1973-1976). Here is a comparison of bent knee and Alex mold dolls. The ones on the outside are Alex mold. Notice the lip color is more orange.

Greece, Turkey, Peruvian Boy, Argentina.

Then in 1977 the head molds were changed. The dolls were still marked ALEX. The first 5 years had a rosy complexion, and are described as such (1977-1981). As far as the International series, there was nothing new until 1977 when Great Britain was introduced.

And then nothing much changed until after 1984. The dolls made from about 1982 until 1986 are very pale and have a prominent upper lip. I’ve always called them “pasty face moustache mouth”. Here is an example of that face on a Germany doll.

In 1987 Alexander redid the head, body and leg molds, and perked up the complexion. I took a 10-year vacation from collecting between 1977 and 1987 because I didn’t like the pale-faced dolls. But when so many new dolls came out and new variations of the costumes, I realized I could never keep up, and asked myself, “ WHY?”

I did get more dolls that are part of my heritage.

These are two dolls representing the Philippines. The one in teal is from 1985 and the yellow from 1987.

And there were a few I just couldn’t resist.

BK Japanese, Japan from the 80’s and a pastel outfit from the early 90’s.

I actually sold some of the newer dolls I had gotten, but I couldn’t sell my BK dolls because I’d bought them at the height of Alexander prices (mid 80’s), and they were worth less than 30-50% of what I’d paid. So I still have the bulk of my International Series dolls. They live in 2 huge cartons in my closet, but have gotten to come out for this program. And in a previous house, 25 of them were displayed on my Christmas tree for 2 years!