Coleslaw Doll. Joke item following Cabbage Patch Kids.
23 January 2024
Description

During the Cabbage Patch Kids craze, an unknown company produced this item. I bought it at a Meijers Thrifty Acres store in Saginaw Michigan during the Christmas rush. I no longer have the box. It was sold as a "Coleslaw Doll." it appeared to be a shredded Cabbage Patch Kid, in a mason jar. I've spent three years looking and can find no confirmation that this item exists, I have one.

Dimensions

6.5 inches high, 3 3/8 inches diameter at jar cap.

Acquired from
Dealer or Gallery
For sale
Yes
Answered within 2 days
By Delia
Jan 25, 21:32 UTC
Fair Market Value
$400 - $600 USD
Suggested Asking Price $700 USD
What does this mean?

Hi Robert,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A novelty "Coleslaw" Cabbage Patch Doll
limited run by Coleco or Mattel, late 20th Century
A Mason jar containing a shredded Cabbage Patch doll
Jar: 6-1/2 inches high, 3-3/8 inches diameter
CONDITION: Lacking original packaging but otherwise intact and appears to be in good condition
PROVENANCE: Acquired from Meijers Thrifty Acres store in Saginaw Mich., in the 19890s
$ 400-600*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia

Robert mason Jan 26, 03:53 UTC

Delia,
Thank you so much for for efforts!
I can't see anything that looks like part of a label. There might be something further inside, but I don't want to open the jar.
Any help, from additional experts, would be greatly appreciated. I'm in no hurry at all. It's not bothering anyone by sitting on its shelf.

Thanks again,
Bob Mason

Delia Jan 31, 14:19 UTC

Hi Bob,
I wanted to check in and give you an update - my colleague has never seen one of these before. We're trying to track down people who were connected with Mattel to confirm if this was a prototype.
More later, hopefully soon!
Delia

Robert mason Jan 31, 14:24 UTC

Delia,

Thanks for the update.

Have a great day,

Bob Mason

Delia Feb 23, 19:26 UTC

Hi Bob,
I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you, and I regret I haven't been able to fully resolve this but I've spoken with several people - none who were working at either Coleco or Mattel when this would have been made - and the general consensus is that it is a very limited edition "Coleslaw Doll" as it was advertised and not a prototype. Everyone was very interested in seeing it but no-one could tell me where I could find another one or provide a reference to a comparable example, etc.
As to giving it a value, that's also a bit complicated as there aren't any others that have come to market that anyone can find. Currently, Cabbage Patch dolls - even those signed by Xavier Roberts are selling for less than $100 at auction (prices on eBay are unreliable...people put whatever price they want on things and hope they find someone willing to pay that price). My colleagues and I discussed ideal values - the number everyone seemed to like was $400-600, which is what I've priced this at here. It's high enough to support the idea that this is a rare/unusual thing without being so high as to be unrealistic in terms of selling it. If you'd kept the original packaging, it would have a value of $800-1,200.
Thanks again for letting me have a bit more time to research this.
Delia

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