Bild-Lilli
Bild-Lilli dolls (Photo: musee-imaginaire.de)
Bild-Lilli, the inspiration for the Barbie doll, began as a sexy cartoon character, created by Reinhard Beuthien in the early 50's. Bild-Lilli first appeared as a cartoon charcter in the German Bild newpaper on June 24, 1952. Bild-Lilli's adventures found immediate appeal with readers, especially the male readers,and it was decided to create a doll in Lilli's likeness.
The result was the Bild-Lilli doll, now much sought after by doll collectors. She was later to be the direct inspiration for the Barbie doll. With her hair in a high ponytail and exaggerated figure, the resemblance to the early Barbie doll is undeniable.
Bild-Lilli outfits
Source:Original Bild-Lilli catalog
Bild Lilli Clothing
The chief designer of the clothes was Martha Maar. She designed a range of outfits for Lilli. Bild-Lilli outfits were also sold separately, including sports clothes, dresses and suits. Lilli quickly gained popularity with little girls in Germany. Bild-Lilli dolls and their original outfits are now highly prized by collectors, and are expensive to buy, so it is important to know how to identify original Lilli clothing, if you are planning to buy an original. There are original Lilli catalogs in existence as a useful record. 
Dutsche Modepuppen der 50er &60er German Fashion dolls of the 50's & 60's is an excellent book by Silke Knaak which I highly recommend as the definitive guide for Bild-Lilli collectors. This well-researched book shows most, if not all of the Lilli outfits ever made.
Bild-Lilli Outfits
This 7.5 inch small Bild-Lilli sold on eBay on Aug-17-08 for US $1,400.00.
Max Weissbrodt, of the Hausser/Elastolin company in Neustadt/Coburg, Germany designed the first Lilli doll, an 11 1/2" doll, made of plastic (elastoline) coated with paint, with hand-painted painted features, the shoes were molded on as part of the leg. The Bild-Lilli doll was produced in two sizes, a smaller version of Lilli, 7 1/2" tall, could be suspended from the rear view mirror of a car, on a little swing. A special stand was designed to support the doll in a standing position, on a single metal bar that goes up the leg through a hole bottom of the foot. The first Barbie doll was also supported through a hole in the bottom of the feet.
The New Bild-Lilli
The German Bild newspaper recently revived the Lilli cartoon series, the new version of Lilli is called Lilly:
PRYM SNAPS
An identifying feature of the Lilli outfit is a specially made PRYM snap. The PRYM snaps were a special order for the Lilli factory, they are painted to match the outfit on the top snap, and there is heart type design engraved on the silver of the bottom snap
Bild-Lilli PRYM SNAPS Example:
Schwabinchen by 3M
Very similar outfits were made by the same company ( Drie-M) for a smaller doll called Schwabinchen ( made from 1962), her outfits have similar PRYM snaps. This 10.5 inch vinyl doll with rooted hair, is smaller than Lilli so the outfits are too small on 11.5 inch Lilli,the sleeves are too short, and the dress length is too short. Schwabinchen has the 3M mark on her back, - she does not look like Bild-Lilli, but some of Schwabinchen's outfits are very similar to Bild-Lilli's.
Schwabinchen Catalog Pictures
Schwabinchen, was sold outside of Germany, in Sweden and Holland, under the names of Betty, and Willy Wildebras - Willy has been found without the 3 M marking on the Back.
