The "Izal" Dolls

Here are a collection of eight dolls that were effectively disowned by Peggy Nisbet.   We have called them the “Izal” dolls – here is their story :  

Some time in the late 1960’s, Peggy was approached by Lever Brothers, the manufacturer of “Izal” toilet tissue, to supply dolls for a sales promotion.   At first, Peggy was horrified by the idea of using her dolls to promote toilet tissue, but eventually, she realised the business sense of the contract - but she refused to sign up for the deal, until Lever Brothers agreed not to use the Peggy Nisbet name to promote the dolls!   The result was a set of eight dolls, all without tags, or anything bearing the Nisbet name, either on the dolls, or their boxes.   But collectors easily identified the very distinctive models, and the style and quality of their clothes, so the secret of the dolls’ origin didn’t stay hidden for long!

Our thanks to Dawn, who has sent us a copy of the special promotional wrapper for the rolls of Izal tissue, which showed pictures of the 8 dolls in the series that could be sent off for.   (See below)

Part of the wrapper for the "Izal Dolls" Promotion
Voucher

There was a cut-out token on the wrapper, (a proof of purchase?), which said "'Exquisite Hand-Made DOLLS in National Costume - Only 15/11 (normal value 27/6)".   These prices were pre-decimalisation shillings and pence, and in today's money, would be 80p, (normal price £1.38).   ("Decimalisation Day" was 15th Feb 1971)

Click this button to visit the "National Costume" page
Click this button to visit the "International Ladies" page

The slideshow below displays the entire collection of “Izal” dolls

Please note that the dolls in these pictures have facsimile Nisbet tags (in an apple green colour) to identify them in our collection - The originals never had tags

The doll pictures will auto run as a slide show in the window above.   Alternatively, you may control the slideshow manually :

  • Place the cursor at the bottom of the window to access thumbnail and navigation control bar
  • Click on the “?” (question mark) symbol (bottom left hand side of the control bar) for a detailed explanation of the controls
  • See a full screen slideshow by clicking on the “Square with Arrow” symbol (2nd from right on the control bar)
  • Use the keyboard arrow keys to move forward and back through the slideshow, as desired
  • Use the “ESC” key to leave full screen mode

News

21st September 2023

 

Important Announcement

 

My dear wife, Christine, passed away on the 8th December, 2021, after 8 weeks in hospital. I was by her side, when she slipped away from me peacefully, with no pain or suffering.

 

Chris had been struggling with a slow decline in health, associated with a progressive, untreatable, and ultimately terminal lung disease, and finally succumbed to her old adversary, Pneumonia.

 

We had been friends for 55 years, together as a couple for 50 years, and married just a month short of 48 years, when she died.   

 

This website was Chris's idea, and I did all the technical stuff, to make it work.   After news of Chris's passing reached her close friends in the doll collecting world, I was deeply touched and gratified to hear their tributes to my dear wife, and I must thank them all for their kindness and support.   Ultimately, it was her doll friends that gave me the courage to continue with the website.

 

In the months before her eventual hospitalisation, Chris had outlined a number of additions and changes she wanted to make to the website, and it is my intention to honour those wishes, and to implement the changes we had considered, over the coming weeks and months.

 

I must apologise to all those who have written to us via the website, only to have your emails go unanswered.   Unfortunately, the email system had been hacked aroung the time Chris was going into hospital, and many emails must have been lost, as a result.

 

As you might imagine, I felt completely broken by Chris's loss, and it is only now, almost 22 months after her passing, that I have felt strong enough to even look at the website again.   

 

My aim is to continue with the website, and to implement Chris's aims for her many new ideas as soon as I can.   In the meantime, I have hopefully got the email system sorted out, and I will attempt to answer any enquiries as soon as I can, and to send replies with the same high degree of accuracy that a reply from Chris would have had.

 

From now on, I will be flying solo, whilst my co-pilot and guide will be soaring much higher, (though she is always in my heart, and in my thoughts).

 

My thanks to all our website visitors for your continued support

 

Dave (also known as Arthur), and Chris, (my lost love, Guinevere)

 

Christine Poulten

25th December 1949 - 8th December 2021