Imagine a doll so real in appearance that grown men send for rescue squads to "save the baby" from a locked car! Because of the life-like look and feel of the dolls produced by Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc., mistaken identity is a frequent occurrence. The dolls have been counted as "passengers" on airplanes, "rescued" from store countertops and adopted by many collectors as true members of the family.

• Browse Lee Middleton Collectible Dolls in stock at My Doll Shop.

Artist Lee Middleton, founder of Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc., developed her own techniques for sculpture and doll production. She introduced the "porcelain look" in vinyl collectibles and later created the first vinyl dolls to be considered truly collectible.

As her company expanded, Lee remained adamant that each doll bears the special, personal touches, which set her creations apart. Every doll is packaged with its own tiny Bible tucked inside. Lee considered the Bibles an extension of her Christian values and a way of "giving credit where credit is due." She often commented, "There is only one Creator. I am merely a re-creator."

Lee set the stage for the firm's first period of outstanding growth. For nearly two decades, her superb artistry captivated doll collectors nationwide. Her unexpected death on January 30, 1997, saddened her admirers.

In honor of Lee and her indomitable spirit, Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Inc. lives on and thrives. The firm's alliance with gifted doll artists Reva Schick, Eva Helland, and Mavis Snyder insures the continuing development of incredibly life-like dolls, which create intense emotional bonds between collector and doll. The growth of the firm is reflected in its commitment to building generations of doll collectors. The Artist Studio Collection appeals to adult doll collectors while its Middleton Play Babies are designed for children.