Tia Maria is a 7 1/2" jointed vinyl character doll with fiery orange hair that was manufactured in Japan for the Kamar Company circa 1968.  The back of her head is incised "® © 1968 KAMAR INC. Japan."  Tia Maria remains in sturdy condition with light wear, imperfections, and soil.  Her facial make-up is full (scratch line to right cheek coloring), her "shag cut" orange hair is soft and shiny, and her pink toned body is sturdy, though her legs have splayed a bit.  Her nose and fingers have lightened with age, her upper back suffers a green spot that appears to be transfer from the snaps of her dress, and her inner left leg sustains a green "scuff" that may be transfer from her shoes or a paint slip.  She wears her original green and white velveteen dress and white panties (yellow spotting) that sustain minimal age related wear and discoloration.  Her green painted  "Mary-Jane" shoes suffer rubs to their coloring.  Tia Maria appears to have been gently, if al all, played with. Her "big eyed" portrayal may have been inspired by the Margaret Keane paintings from the 1960s, and she predates the Blythe phenomenon.  Tia Maria is precious in her "wide-eyed" sweetness.