The Haunted Dolls: An Anthology

From inside cover of Doubleday 1980 edition:

The Haunted Dolls is an anthology of eerie and spooky stories about dolls endowed with special powers. There is a story by Agatha Christie about a doll that tries to take over a house, a story by Nathanial Hawthorne about a scarecrow brought to life by a witch, stories of haunted dollhouses, a doll that is an assasin, a dancing doll, a doll that possesses a young girl, a story written by the doll herself, and many, many more....The fine delicate illustrations of primitive, antique and modern dolls enhance these eerie tales and help bring them to life.---

I'm so glad I found this book! The authors have published other anthologies I want to look for, now, because this one has a wonderful show more selection enhanced by numerous and very charming illustrations and photos throughout--and the art alone is worth the price of the book. Also each story begins with informative commentary by Manley and Lewis, the two sisters who compiled the stories. Apparently they collected supernatural stories throughout their lives. As in any anthology I enjoyed some works more than others. A few didn't fit the "evil/haunted doll" genre, but I'm glad to have read them nonetheless.

This volume contains a few stories you won't find anywhere else, such as "The Life of Aunt Sally, Alias Blackmore, Alias Rosabella, Alias Ameliea, as related by herself," by a Contributor to The Christmas Box--an annual early 19th century serial publication. Also this Anthology includes an interesting "About the Authors" section.

Contents:
--The Dressmaker's Doll, Agatha Christie
--The Peg-Doll, Rosemary Timperley
--The Haunted Doll's House, M.R. James
--The Doll, Algernon Blackwood
--The Dancing Partner, Jerome K. Jerome
--The Grey Lady, Mary Danby
--The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Hans Christian Anderson
--The Dolls' Ball, From Frank Leslie's Magazine
--Feathertop, Nathanial Hawthorne
--The Life of Aunt Sally, Contributor
--The Puppets, J.H. Pearce
--The Christmas of the Big Bisque Doll, Seon Manley
--The Doll's Ghost, F. Marion Crawford show less