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Top Advertising Icons and Characters for Collectors

By Barbara Crews, About.com

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The Campbell Soup Kids

Campbell Soup Boy

Campbell Soup Boy

Barb Crews
It was 1904 and the Campbell Kids were born when illustrator Grace Wiederseim (later known as Drayton) sketches them for a series of streetcar advertisements. They started out as little kids playing games but they quickly grew up. According to the Campbell Soup Company "the Campbell Kids mature over time and begin performing more traditional adult tasks such as climbing a fireman's ladder and delivering ice". They quickly became very popular and still are one of the most recognized advertising figures today.

The kids have spawned a huge business in collectibles with pins, postcards, dishes and of course dolls. Lots of dolls! The first licensed doll was from Horseman in 1910 -- this license continued until 1914, during which time they produced several various styles. Over the years the dolls have been produced as rag dolls, composition, porcelain, rubber and vinyl. The dolls are still licensed (by numerous companies) and sold today. Annual Christmas ornaments are offered each year by the company, as well as licensed ornaments sold by other companies. Tins, recipe books, kitchen decor and table top, salt and peppers, toys -- the list would take pages just to mention the types of items produced and sold. Many of the vintage Campbells' items were available as premiums, making them just a little harder to acquire and usually adding to the value.

Although the kids have changed a little, maybe slimmed down a bit and given more contemporary clothing -- they have never lost the appealing look they first had in 1904. They're adorable and extremely collectible in many different forms.

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