The Cabbage Patch Kids were a marketing hit that promoted the idea of dolls as adoption targets. Each Kid came with its own name, a birth certificate and adoption papers.
History
In 1978, Xavier Roberts, an artist and businessman from Georgia, created a doll that he first named "Little People." The Little People dolls were manufactured under the business name of Original Appalachian Artworks, Inc. In 1982 they became the Cabbage Patch Kids and the company name switched to Babyland General Hospital since it was housed in a former clinic.
Features
No two Cabbage Patch Kids are identical, but all of them have round, chubby faces made of plastic. Roberts' signature is located on the left buttock of the cloth body. Some variations of the doll feature synthetic hair instead of the yarn most of the originals have.
Fun Fact
In 1984, during the height of the Cabbage Patch Kid popularity, over 20 million dolls were adopted. By the end of the 20th century, 95 million dolls had been sold.
Size
The size of the standard Cabbage Patch Kid is 15 to 16 inches in length. There have been many variations of dolls through the years, including a "newborn" that measured 11 inches long.
Value
In 1984, the Cabbage Patch Kid doll retailed for $30, the same price new versions sold for in 2010. An original 1980s doll still in its box can be worth $100 or more.
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