Dolls appear in leading and supporting roles in the work of the German children’s book author (and illustrator) Tony Schumacher (1848-1931). Schumacher was an extremely popular writer in the 19th century who published dozens of books as well as being a collector of antique furniture, nativity figures and much more. In her autobiographical writings, this largely forgotten author places a particular emphasis on her collection of more than 200 dolls which undergo interesting narrative and pictural transformations. The playful approach of the author and illustrator with both individual dolls and doll collectives is analyzed and subtly coordinated with the narrative content and its visualization providing examples of images and texts from the period between 1885 and 1930 which are classified biographically and historically.