R. John Wright - Snow White & Seven Dwarfs Felt Dolls

Over the last quarter century, R. John Wright Dolls Incorporated of Bennington, Vermont has created a variety of Disney dolls, including Cinderella, Pinocchio, and Mickey & Minnie Mouse. However, their affiliation with the Disney Company got its start with a Snow White series--first introduced in 1988 at the International Toy Fair and then released to the public the next year. The dolls were produced between 1989 and 1993.

"The Seven Dwarfs" are seen here, advertised in the November/December 1988 issue of Storyboard--Your Disneyana Magazine (Volume 1, Number 6).

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The fully jointed dolls are made from molded wool felt and include hand painted features. The dwarfs also have mohair beards. They stand 9" tall. Six of them are limited editions of 2500. Dopey is 3500. Individually numbered with an attached paper label, each is also adorned with RJW imprint button.

"The lower numbers were offered as matched number sets and the higher numbers were sold individually. Each came enclosed in its own deluxe RJW presentation box and included a signed and numbered certificate of authenticity, a descriptive booklet, and the forms for owner registration."

Grump & Happy.

Bashful & Sneezy.

Doc & Sleepy

Dopey.

 

Snow White wears her iconic dress. Limited edition of 2500. Stands 16" high.

She was also available in her rag dress. Limited edition of 1000. Measures 16" high. Came with a bucket and brush.

The dolls come up for auction every so often. In 2013, the entire set of nine was sold by Case Antiques for $2691.00.

Original boxes.

At the end of their run, a special "Finale Edition" was created--an edition within an edition--the last of the 2500. The dwarfs were accessorized with actual wood and metal picks. Sold as a group of eight dolls, availability was restricted to 25 sets in the Disney Catalog and 25 sets at the Disney Store. Retail $3500. Seen in the Holiday 1994 Disney Catalog.

Magazine Ad and Catalog scans courtesy of Dan Alexander Dizmentia.

From 1989, a one-of-a-kind custom wood and metal mining cart driven by a 9" Sleepy with bent knees. It's filled with his wood and metal pick axe and a load of faceted Austrian crystals hand set in lava rock. Name: Heigh-Ho, It's Off To Work We Go. Created for the first Walt Disney World Teddy Bear Convention.









In 1992, a Frightened Dopey. Limited edition of just 250. Measures 9" high. Wood and metal pick axe.