Authenticity, Signatures, Tags, Prototypes, Fakies, Oddities and More
**Please note that this is not a comprehensive identification list. These are not rules set in stone. There can be identification missing from a 'Kid or extra identifiers that, to a newbie, can be confusing. If in doubt, please ask someone you know who has been a long-time collector and "expert" to these identifiers. Many times the difference between a fake and the original is as simple as comparing the quality.**
Fake ‘kids were manufactured by other companies, trying to copy Cabbage Patch Kids. They may look identical to some, but to the long-time collector, they are very different.
Proto types were the original dolls that they used before mass production. Some had different head molds that don’t exist in the mass-market-produced ‘kids. There were Prototype Koosas, as well as Preemie Twins. There was also a prototype Asian head mold that has a #5 on the back of the head.
Here is a link of photos of prototypes.
If you don’t know the difference of fake, proto, or authentic, you may come across a “fake” ‘kid and sell for really cheap what was actually a Proto worth a lot of money. Likewise, someone may be trying to sell you a “proto” that is actually a fake.
“Manufactured By Jesmar. Made in Spain”
If the back of the head simply says “Made in China”, then you can find the factory letter on the inside of the head. You will have to take the head off to do this. You can buy zip-ties almost anywhere to replace the head.
Cut the zip tie (I use cuticle clippers), and pop out the plug with a butter knife or similar.
Use a butter knife to pull out the plug.
“IC 3 1” (Sorry, I lost the photos)
Not sure what the numbers are for, but this is from the IC factory.
Fake and Proto Type ‘Kids
Some long-time collectors can identify a ‘kid at a distance, but to the newbie, it can sometimes be confusing, as there is a LOT to know about these ‘kids. There are fake ‘kids as well as Proto Type 'kids.Fake ‘kids were manufactured by other companies, trying to copy Cabbage Patch Kids. They may look identical to some, but to the long-time collector, they are very different.
Proto types were the original dolls that they used before mass production. Some had different head molds that don’t exist in the mass-market-produced ‘kids. There were Prototype Koosas, as well as Preemie Twins. There was also a prototype Asian head mold that has a #5 on the back of the head.
Here is a link of photos of prototypes.
If you don’t know the difference of fake, proto, or authentic, you may come across a “fake” ‘kid and sell for really cheap what was actually a Proto worth a lot of money. Likewise, someone may be trying to sell you a “proto” that is actually a fake.
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How to Identify an Authentic Cabbage Patch Kid
There are three identifying characteristics of regular mass-marketed authentic Cabbage Patch Kids:
1. Xavier Roberts’ signature stamp on the left bum cheek (in rare instances, the signature is on the right and in even rarer instances upside down).
2. Copyright notice on the back of the head.
3. The side tag.
Coleco Kids Distributed in Foreign Boxes
Coleco produced Kids that were distributed to other countries, such as TolToys Kids which were Coleco Kids distributed in Australia. Some Coleco Kids were distributed by Kuschel Kinder for Germany and Les Patoufs for France. Some of the most common foreign distributors were Arxon for Germany, Giocadipiu Giocadag for Italy, Ideal for England and France, and Kaalitarhan Tenavat for Finland.
Foreign Half and Half Kids
When Coleco shut down the foreign factories in 1985, all remaining inventory was shipped back to Coleco’s main factories in China. There are some ‘Kids with part Coleco/Jesmar/Tsukuda, etc. miss-matched bodies, tags, and heads. Here are some examples of some that have been found:
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Tsukuda head on Jesmar Body
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Jesmar “Made in Spain” head mold with a TP Triang Pedigree body tag and green dated 1984 signature
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Tsukuda head on Coleco body
Factory Flukes, Oddities, Rare, and VHTF Kids
- Coleco’s bald ‘Kids had blue eyes, but there are some to have been known to have green eyes.
- Coleco’s brown-haired boys had brown eyes, but there are some known to exist with blue eyes.
- The #5 Brown single-pony with blue eyes is rare.
- A 1985 #3 Coleco boy with a tooth exists, but collectors are not sure of its authenticity.
- Designer Line ‘Kids with red crimped hair and brown eyes have freckles, but some have been known to have no freckles, which may be a factory fluke.
- A #19 brown double popcorn with brown eyes is VHTF (very hard to find).j
- Designer Line boys with brown hair and blue eyes are rare.
- Most #4 Coleco Preemies came with brown eyes, but in very rare instances, there have been some known to have green or blue eyes.
- Coleco ‘Kid with a Koosas body tag is a factory fluke.
- ‘Kids with an embroidered side tag are VHTF. They are from the KT factory. “Designed by” is above the Signature stamp on the bum.
If your cabbie does not have a side tag, you might be able to tell from looking at the back of the head. If it is from a foreign factory, it will say “Made in Spain” or some other country other than China.
“Manufactured By Jesmar. Made in Spain”
If the back of the head simply says “Made in China”, then you can find the factory letter on the inside of the head. You will have to take the head off to do this. You can buy zip-ties almost anywhere to replace the head.
Cut the zip tie (I use cuticle clippers), and pop out the plug with a butter knife or similar.
If the plug doesn’t come out easily, you can soak the head in hot water to soften the vinyl. This should only take a few minutes.
Use a butter knife to pull out the plug.
“IC 3 1” (Sorry, I lost the photos)
Not sure what the numbers are for, but this is from the IC factory.