A PAGEANT OF DOLLS

The number of doll collectors- the group activities and organizations- the channels of information all bear witness to the need of a book such as this. It is a more direct sort of approach than, perhaps, the St. George book- Dolls of Yesterday published last year by Scribner, in that the main text deals with specific dolls of countries round the world, their history, their costumes. She has chosen dolls that are reasonably available -- not historic dolls or dolls of great value- and this will make her book more practical for the collector whose interest lies in dolls characteristic of different peoples, rather than antiquarian values. The background history of dolls tells much of their significance- the variants- the reflection of social customs-national customs- fashions, etc. There is some space given to development in techniques of doll making, materials of which they have been made, uses to which they are put. Throughout, the text is livened by line drawings, and there are numerous double spreads in full color. Wonderful value in a book the market for which will cover children and adults.