Shirley Temple's Birthday Party Costume from the 1935 Film "The Littlest Rebel"

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Of very fine sheer organza pale rose silk, the dress features double rows of ruffled lace-edged bretelles at the bodice, edged with lavish garlands of silk baby roses and velvet bluettes. The skirt is composed of five tiers of narrow pleats with lace edging, and a blue satin sash and a multitude of matching blue bows decorated the shoulders, waist, and skirt. Giving form to the skirt is an extraordinary triple-hooped petticoat of rose silk with muslin lining, and matching pantaloons with eleven bands of lace trim extend to her ankles. Generally excellent condition. The costume has studio label of "5128". Included is a vintage photograph of Virgie (Shirley) with her parents at her birthday party. The costume was worn by Shirley Temple in the opening Birthday Party scene of the 1935 film, "The Littlest Rebel", In that scene, Shirley (as Virgie Cary) shares her last ice cream with a little friend, enjoys a Bojangles tap dance performance with the entire party, and dances the cotillion with her chubby friend whose pants are too tight for him to bow, until soldiers arrive, announcing war has been declared.