It is not known whether or not there existed more ensembles for the doll but it is known that she was popular as late as 1964. The outfits were of extremely good quality and, being for 15 or 18 inch dolls, obliged customers to buy the dolls if they liked the fabulous wardrobe. The clothes fit neither Barbie nor Babs. Bonnie’s clothes did however, fit any bimbo who came along.

Others who bought moulds of the original German Lilli include, in Australia, Haro-Mate Ltd, marked “Hong Kong” with the registration number “British Patent No. 804566 and U.S. Patent No. 2925684” Shak Ind.,Inc. also marketed a Lilli called “Babbie”....for Pete’s sake! An incarnation of Lilli/Barbie/Babs and goodness knows which other Lilli clone. Her clothes were too appalling to even mention here.

In France, a doll called “Sylvie”, who appellation was honouring the popular pop singer Sylvie Vartan, was sold. She was yet another Lilli version. Her box illustration is very French tart and air-brushed like the famous “pin-ups” which, as we all know, is an invention of the French who also seems to have also invented, or rather condones - prostitution, the “world’s oldest profession” being legal but with “conditions” - that is, they pay alot of taxes!

Collectors and historians alike will be pleased to know that “Bild” Lilli, besides the usual dolls, variations, the magic trick ironically called “The Disappearing Doll” and the trapeze swing for the rear-view mirror of cars and her extensive wardrobe there existed other accessories. There was a fabulous poster drawn by the famous cartoonist who invented Lilli, a chair (very Eames-style in vinyl as well as a now design classic, the archtypical Ferrari Hardoy “Butterfly” chair as well), a what is known as a “Hitchin’ Lilli” which was a solid moulded Lilli with her thumb posed in a hitch-hiking position and attached to a rod on a suction cup to put in the back of cars as well, and a number of other now nearly impossible to locate accessories. There was never a police officer doll or revolver made for the Lilli...hélas. Imagine the Series Noire possibilities that may have existed if they had.

There was a lipstick red vinyl case made by the 3M (Maar) company for their Lilli doll too. It is quite rare to find today and a fabulous anecdote since in Hamburg, where prostitutes display their assets by sitting in windows, this vinyl case imitates such custom with it’s own vinyl window to display Lilli. A number of colour catalogues, a cartoon book, even material on the film, based on Lilli the doll and made in the fifties in Germany exists as well.

The variety and humour of the various wardrobes made for all these Lilli doll incarnations is an ever-intriguing challenge with endless discoveries and these prospects can motivate a collector for practically a lifetime.

AND hang on to your pumps...there are black Hong Kong Lillis, at least in prototype form, and apparently black German Bild Lilli dolls as well as one know seven inch Hong Kong version which was made and sold......it boggles the mind!

In summary, these Lilli dolls and variation dolls are important to study as they run the full gamut of this transitional period in both society and fashion as well as doll tendencies. They reflect, both by quality and concept, the teenage aspirations and the trends of the late fifties and early sixties, a turning point for western culture.

Collectors of Barbie dolls usually scorn these dolls. It’s rather unfortunate and short-sighted. However, very recently some collectors have started to acknowledge the interest of the German "Bild" Lilli doll, a 1980s auction selling one to the highest bidder for $350. Now, the first “Bild” Lilli, correctly dressed and in excellent condition with tube and journal can sell for thousands of dollars. While some examples of "Bild" Lilli, such as a mint, pristine 1955 first example, complete with her introductory first issue of the miniature Bild Zeitung newspaper, has sold for a considerably higher price, others are still within reason and certainly worth buying.