Dolls, one of the most popular subjects for collectors throughout the world, not only give an insight into childhoods past, but also the development of various cultures and the evolution of the modern industrial world.

This book is a concise history of the doll industry over the last three hundred years in Europe, the United States and East Asia. It affords a global view of how dolls have developed, and will be a useful guide to all who enjoy them. Typical examples from each region are illustrated and described, together with a number of rarities.