POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

'Cabbage Patch Kid' doll byToltoys

Object No. 87/1210

Cabbage Patch kid dolls swept the world in the early 1980s with millions 'adopted' to children complete with adoption papers, family histories, footprints and thumbprints. Each was unique with different-coloured eyes and hair, expressions and hairstyles. Marketed as hand-made, the Cabbage Patch Kids were expensive (selling for $125 in the US) and often hard to find. The 'Kids' went on sale in the US in 1983 and American parents went nuts over the fad. As Christmas approached parents became increasing desperate to have their child 'adopt' one. There were even reports of fighting and riots at toy stores and some seventy-five million were sold worldwide in 12 years. The craze soon spread to Australia. This one, from 1986, was distributed for Coleco Kids in Australia by Toltoys. The Museum purchased this Cabbage Patch Kid at the height of its popularity in 1986. In a nice touch the official adoption certificate was made out to the Museum's then Director, Lindsay Sharp, who named the 'Kid' Elise Delia Sharp.