Every generation had toys that marked their childhood and were their favorite pastime. Baby Boomers loved Dam Dolls, Gen-Z played with Littlest Pet Shops, but Generation X and younger Millennials adored Cabbage Patch Kids.
These dolls likely started the toys craze, becoming one of the longest-running franchises for kids in the U.S. Roger L. Schlaifer obtained the exclusive worldwide license from Xavier Roberts in 1982 and renamed his Little People brand Cabbage Patch Dolls.
Schlaifer’s Coleco Industries created numerous products, including bedding, children’s apparel, and board games. Although this company generated over $2,000,000,000 in retail sales worldwide, Schlaifer lost a legal battle with Roberts in 1988, causing bankruptcy.
Although Hasbro Industries and Mattel continued producing these toys, they never regained their original popularity and appeal. However, they remained one of the most beloved U.S. creations that kids of that era will never forget.
Therefore, we’re going down the memory lane, looking for the rarest Cabbage Patch Dolls.
10. Petunia the Pig Baby
Production year: 2001
Rarity: Fairly rare
photo source: eBay
Even though one can find this adorable toy on many websites, such as Amazon, Walmart, and eBay, it’s not as easy to find the original doll. It has a cuddly, soft body and a plastic head with the traditional Cabbage Patch Kid appeal.
Kids usually love the thumb-sucking feature and that it belongs to the Farm Cuties edition, enabling them to collect characters dressed in various costumes. Moreover, Petunia has the signature Cabbage Patch Fresh Baby Scent.
Did you know?
Although it’s questionable whether the idea was his, Xavier Roberts was only 21 when he created the Little People Dolls. He was also an art student and produced the first dolls in a converted medical clinic in his hometown, Cleveland.
9. Ruby Fox Cutie
Production year: 1985
Rarity: Fairly rare
photo source: Amazon
Like Petunia the Pig Baby, Ruby Fox Cutie isn’t discontinued, but it’s hard to find the original doll made by Coleco Industries. This fluffy toy includes a thumb-sucking feature and scent that helped Cabbage Patch Dolls differentiate themselves from other brands.
Children love its soft body and unique design, making it look both like a baby and a pet. If you own the 1985 edition, consider yourself lucky as that could be the start of a unique, vintage collection.
Did you know?
A couple from Maryland owns over 5,000 Cabbage Patch Dolls and considers them their children. TLC covered their odd passion in the series My Crazy Obsession! In 2012.
8. Jewel Unicorn
Production year: 2003
Rarity: Fairly rare
photo source: Walmart
Jewel Unicorn is nine inches tall and has a unique baby powder scent. This toy belongs to the Fantasy Friends collection, made of dolls dressed like mythical creatures.
Its vibrant, unique outfit is its most prominent feature and why kids loved it from day one. Thus, Jewel Unicorn is soft and cuddly, making it a stellar bedtime buddy.
Did you know?
A Kansas City mailman named Ed Pennington flew to London in 1983 to buy a Cabbage Patch Doll for his daughter. He ended up buying four dolls and donating four to charity.
7. Alex Bell
Production year: 1985
Rarity: Fairly rare
photo source: eBay
This little, curly-haired gentleman belongs to the CPK series made to meet the demand for Cabbage Patch Dolls in Spain, Italy, and West Germany. Hence, dolls from this edition reflect how beloved these toys were outside the U.S.
If you own any model from this series, you could sell it for a significant amount or start building a remarkable collection. Sadly, it’s beyond challenging to find CPK dolls in mint condition and with birth certificates and adoption papers.
Did you know?
The public vote chose the Cabbage Patch Dolls in 1999 as one of the 15 commemorative U.S. postage stamps representing the 1980s. These dolls came fifth and were right behind the E.T., Washington’s Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the Berlin Wall fall, and video games.
6. Anne Greta
Production year: 1985
Rarity: Rare
photo source: eBay
People who loved playing with cabbage dolls probably remember how much everyone loved Anne Greta’s bright red hair. It might not be hard to acquire this doll on eBay and social media but finding her in the original box is likely impossible.
However, Anne Greta is a valuable doll, especially if it has a pacifier and well-kept clothing. But those who also own a birth certificate and adoption papers could earn an impressive amount of money.
Did you know?
Cabbage Patch Kids were so influential that they became the official mascots of the 1992 U.S. Olympic team. Moreover, all the members received dolls created in their image to take them to the competition.
5. Iddy Budds Ranny
Production year: 1987
Rarity: Rare
photo source: Pinterest
These dolls have different hair colors, depending on the model. That is also their top feature, highlighting their uniqueness.
Iddy Budds Ranny might not have a long, curly hair or aesthetic hairstyle like many Patch dolls, but it has a quirky, cabbage-like skirt. Although its price isn’t as high as others on the list, it’s hard to find it in good condition, and it’s a must if you’re building a collection.
Did you know?
Coleco Industries introduced Cabbage Patch Dolls to the world at the International Toy Fair in NYC in 1983, receiving praise and ovations. The demand outpaced production, causing the Cabbage Patch Dolls riots that inspired the plot of the 1996 holiday movie Jingle All the Way.
4. Kimono Girl from Tsukuda, Japan
Production year: 1985
Rarity: Very rare
photo source: carousell.sg
All Cabbage Patch Kids made in the Tsukuda factory are rare and typically have a worth of over $450. This short-haired, blonde lady is a remarkable example from this series.
She is wearing a colorful kimono with vibrant flowers and is hard to find online, especially in good condition. However, one seller recently sold it on eBay for $1100, and the price was likely that high because the doll had a birth certificate and adoption papers.
Did you know?
Although Coleco used marketing to encourage kids and adolescents to commit to taking care of their Patch Kids, the adoption community disliked their approach. They believed that Cabbage dolls trivialize adoptive parents and kids and give an idea that people can be bought.
3. Yvonne Mellie
Production year: 1985
Rarity: Very rare
photo source: eBay
This cute, brown-haired lady was among the favorite dolls of many children in the mid-80s when Coleco Industries released it. No wonder one Yvonne Mellie doll was recently sold on eBay for $1000, even though its original box was in poor condition.
However, it was in a mint condition and had her birth certificate, contributing to her value. Not many dolls from this series remain, and those who still own them could earn a significant amount if their Yvonne is well-kept.
Did you know?
Before Roger L. Schlaifer bought the license and renamed the brand, the Cabbage Patch Kids were known as the Little People. Although Xavier Roberts gets the credit for creating the original dolls, he likely took the idea from an American folk artist, Martha Nelson Thomas.
2. Teresa Ann
Production year: 1985
Rarity: Very rare
photo source: eBay
Many kids dreamed of having this adorable ginger with green eyes in the 80s. That probably explains why it’s possible to sell for a significant price, even without her dress.
For example, one can find Teresa Ann on eBay without clothing, thus with dirty spots and blemishes, selling for $500. But those who have the luck to possess this doll in a mint condition could earn up to $2000, speaking of how beloved this little lady is.
Did you know?
Despite being one of the favorite toy brands in the 80s, controversy often followed the Cabbage Patch Kids. Legal battles between Xavier Roberts and Roger L. Schlaifer caused most of these issues, but product safety incidents also occurred, forcing consumer protection to intervene.
1. Little People Twins Signed by Xavier Roberts
Production year: 1979
Rarity: Very rare
photo source: PicClic
These vintage twins might not belong to the Coleco Industries brand, but they’re its predecessors. They are also among the rarest Cabbage Patch Dolls, despite being a part of its predecessors, the Little People.
These twins are valuable due to having the signature of Xavier Roberts. Hence, if you own these toys and have them in good condition, they might bring $3,500.
Did you know?
A specific, powdery scent is among the most remarkable features of Cabbage Patch Kids. However, fake replicas appeared in the 1980s, and one could tell they were counterfeit due to the reeking of kerosene.
The Takeaway
Cabbage Patch Kids were among the favorite toys in the 1980s and early 90s. The demand was so high that it surpassed the supply and caused violence.
Some parents turned to physical fights to purchase a doll for their children. Controversies also followed the manufacturers, ultimately affecting the brand’s popularity.
Although these dolls aren’t discontinued, they never regained the appeal they had in the 1980s. That is also why vintage models are more beloved and valuable than the new ones, increasing their worth and making them hard to find.
