THE VINTAGE POLLY POCKET MAP MYSTERY!

Here we go. Let’s do this. Today we’re diving deep into the mystery of that random playmat I very casually purchased but didn’t realize at the time was rare. The problem with rare stuff is it’s hard to find any details, and that’s where I need your help! #pollypocket​ #collection​ #vintage​toys
HERE'S THE LINK TO MY MAP with the spaces numbered: imgur.com/a/pNd5vQX
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[@kattriella1331]

I think your theory about it being a promotional piece is probably the most probable answer. It could be that it wasn't meant for a particular series (like the light up sets), but it may have been for a particular STORE. Not all stores might have carried all the sets available at the time, and there may have been a few of these made for different stores (Walmart, Kmart, Toys R Us, etc.) The reason you can't fit them all in logically is probably because you don't know which stores were carrying which sets at the time. It's also possible it was literally made for different things to fit in different places for the most customization.

[@adellemetcalf586]

I think the treehouse might go by the river, and the place where you have the church, has school crossing signs so that would make sense to be the light up schoolhouse. This is a neat find! I bet they released them in limited quantity for a Christmas Sale or the mail theory makes sense!

[@PocketVintageToys]

Yes, when I looked at the side of my mansion box last night I was thinking the same about the treehouse. I agree that would make the most sense! I am thinking where I had the bay window house may actually be the nursery.

[@nocterayne]

Lmaooo I loved this unhinged chaotic energy, all over a map!! Felt like the perfect embodiment of the it's always sunny charlie meme, but with like, polly pockets XD The school doesn't fit on the corner where you put the church? Feels like such a perfect spot for it, since it has the school bus sign, the corner sidewalk, and the hopscotch on the back.

[@PocketVintageToys]

It's DRIVING ME BONKERS!!! Hahaha "unhinged chaotic energy" is my life, really.

[@jimmyhopkins8447]

Watching you put the church in the spot with a school bus sign and hopscotch on the ground is driving me crazy 😰😂

[@davidmchugh2959]

All I can say is my cousin definitely had this along with a large number of the pollyviille houses because I remember frustratingly trying to match the houses with the squares and the footpath… some of them fit perfectly but unfortunately I think some just don’t and weren’t made for any particular house

[@PocketVintageToys]

I feel that this could definitely be true. I am leaving no stoned unturned before I make that call, haha! ...it's also an excuse to have all the Pollyville sets, too, if we're being honest here.

[@davidmchugh2959]

@@PocketVintageToys yes I encourage you to get them all!

[@zoefry9582]

I think the grandmas cottage goes beside the river 😯😯 because it’s a water mill! Give it a try xx

[@PocketVintageToys]

Current working theory is now the Treehouse (which I do not yet have) but the search continues!

[@debe8890]

I was under the impression that those dates are "date of design or patent" if the the copyright symbol is next to the date and this is not necessarily "date of manufacture". So a compact that was copyrighted one date may well be manufactured for several years using that same date with newer or older Pollys in them. I could be wrong concerning the toy world but it is that way in with other types of manufactured products.

[@tinymouse.travel]

Grandma's house could go near the water and pier as it has a water wheel. Also does the cafe fit if turned so the front points towards the left/water with tables then going round two sides in a L shape

[@pixywings]

I never had the map... Never actually wanted it either. As a kid I didn't understand the need for a playmat. As an adult I do now understand the appeal, but it's still not for me really.

[@coolthinghere6853]

such an interesting history puzzle! i dont know anything of polly pocket (im just cruising vintage toy restorations lol) but this does seem like something that would be a mail item. with the date being at the end of the lines run, maybe look to the pieces that came out then? some spaces being up to interpretation makes sense, as not every kid would be able to collect an exact list of sets, or every set from the same year. maybe ask people to measure the base of their sets to see what matches up! if there were websites for the bay, polly pocket collectors, or the company themselves at the time, try the wayback machine! i dont know how far back it goes but you might be able to catch something c:

[@PocketVintageToys]

I've got even more sets now (already, I have a problem) and I'm going to revisit this one again soon!

[@Distantmanner]

I think your guesses make sense and are valid.. i just don't understand (and maybe it's because I focus on the details too much) why there would be and ice cream stand behind the bridal salon? It's driving me nuts!!! I hope we find answers soon, im so invested in this map it's crazy 😂😂

[@PocketVintageToys]

A lot of people get married when they get pregnant 😂 hahaha, but who knows. The good news is I have a lot of new sets on the way so I'll be able to try some of the new theories!

[@elisamargarete8493]

Hi Holly - I am picking up my childhood passion and am getting into the Polly hunting now as a grown up again ☺️ I realized that the wedding chapel in the picture on the original box has the tower on the right side, but all the real ones I have seen, have the tower on the left. Have you noticed, too? Another mystery? 😂

[@PocketVintageToys]

Whoa, really? I have to go look. That's wild!

[@PorcelainJoy]

At one point they released a Super Set that included about 10 pollyville sets and that one came with an exclusive play mat. But upon rewatching the vid by NexJen it seems to have come with the same mat that came with the mansion so you may be right in thinking the one with the squares is a promotional mat.

[@SharonRaeRyan]

I'm so into this mystery now! Lol I can't wait until you get the rest of the sets in!

[@PocketVintageToys]

Thank you! Same! The good news is it looks like a Supermarket is finally on its way to me 😍

[@theplushfrog]

I have a feeling that the squares are for like... non-residential sets and the houses go in the non-marked spots... but it's just a hunch without anything to back it up. I also remember a lot of 1980s-1990s vinyl playmats for toy series not fitting things exactly when made like this, so things not fitting could just be factory error--which doesn't actually help at all, sorry. Now I really want to see it all setup as a town tho.

[@poppyseed4807]

okay but hear me out…. the white boarder at the top and bottom isn’t on the sides? is it possible they made more than 1 mat that could be combined for a giant pollyville playmat? it looks incomplete to me tbh

[@PocketVintageToys]

Ooh, I love this theory!

[@kawaiirainbow7637]

🕵🏻‍♀️Love this video!!! Thanks!!!💕

[@PocketVintageToys]

Thank you!

[@MayaCreations95]

First time watching your vid and omg! I love you channel. I never collect Polly pocket i’m more of a Barbie/ Disney doll myself but I might start collecting Polly pocket! 😍 and you’re so pretty! That natural red hair you remind me of Ariel and Merida combine! 🧜🏻‍♀️😍🙌 Also please make a mermaid Polly pocket collection! I grew u- with bluebird and Mattel as a hand down collection from my cousin but I remember I have those 3 mermaids with lighting compaction it. I’m not sure the name but that’ll help to remember that set if you have it. Or know that set thank you!😭💕

[@PocketVintageToys]

Thank you so much ♥️

[@InsideTheBaux]

Could space #4 be the burger drive-in? It looks narrow enough to fit in the space, and the drive-thru menu would be aligned with the road!

[@LizziLuna]

Please, please do a video on the waterpark compact, I looked to see if you already have and I didn't see it. Every time you do a compact one, I always think, "Is that one my cousin and I had?? I'm not sure..." But as soon as I saw the waterpark on your shelf my brain flooded with childhood me and my cousin and playing with that one in particular. I audibly gasped. I think she had a couple sets but I maybe only had that one??? I think? I was more of a Barbie girl plus I think my parents and grandparents were like, "no, we're not buying these tiny things just to get lost, barbie loses a shoe no big deal you still have the doll to play with but if you lose Polly, all you have is the compact..." I'm speculating, of course.

[@leifang1211]

The UK next to the date stands for "United Kingdom", so I doubt this was a Canadian promotional map, unless the same map was used in both countries.

[@kattriella1331]

The UK is actually showing that Bluebird owned the copyright/distribution rights in the UK, while Mattel had them for North America. This was the era where they were transitioning over to Mattel fully owning the Polly Pocket line.

[@cutienerdgirl]

This is extremely off topic, but you have beautiful eyes and they way you do your eye makeup suits them! 👁🤩

[@PocketVintageToys]

Thank you so much 😀

[@nicky._.2017]

Maybe the special playmat was made for the sets which came with de pollyville super set (i though so since some of them match with your guesses. Also the drawn items to me look like details which belong to those compacts)

[@PorcelainJoy]

I was thinking this too but NexJen has a video where she purchased and unboxed the superset brand new and the mat that came with it doesn't have the squares and seems to be identical to the other one holly has (the one that she says came with the mansion)

[@personalemail9187]

I just found this video even though I’m subbed and i love it. It’s really weird it may an exclusive. I think the beach house matches the other mat because there’s sand on the corner. Mattel bought Polly pocket in 1998 so how could they make a licensed Mattel play mat. And I’m pretty sure Mattel didn’t make pollyville sets. I’m commenting as I’m watching the vid 🤣 why don’t you find info on the people who worked either at the bay or at polly through different sites and try to contact them they may have answers

[@PocketVintageToys]

Mattel did distribute the Pollyville sets in North America before 1998, they just didn't outright own it - my Pollyville sets as a kid were sold by Mattel! and labelled "Mattel" on the box (of course they still had the Bluebird logo on the bottom). One of my IG followers even knew someone who worked at Mattel in the 90s and asked but unfortunately she didn't work in that department! Hard to find out who worked there in the 90s :( I always hold out hope they'll see this, though!

[@personalemail9187]

@@PocketVintageToys it takes a lot of work and dedication to actually solve a mystery

[@Stormchaser143]

Maybe the maps conjoin at the sides where there’s no white? Idk 🤷‍♀️

[@Lucieff]

It looks like the church would fit better, if turned to the side 🤔

[@jimmyhopkins8447]

It’s in the school spot surely, there’s a hopscotch on the ground and school bus sign, plus it’s a corner just like the school set. Too many coincidences, seems very obvious to me, I don’t know why Holly changed her mind about it going there 😅

[@rockgirpnk]

Its a UK mat certain items are only available in other countries.

[@PocketVintageToys]

UK didn't have Mattel as a distributor, but the working theory is a Canadian Hudson's Bay Co. exclusive

[@sailorPinata]

I don't understand why the sets are not pastel-colored just this the toys :(