Archive for May, 2009

Doll Collecting

May 15th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Doll Collecting, Vintage Dolls

People collect all sorts of things. Take a look in eBay's collectibles category some time and you might be surprised at some of the things you will find. One of the enduring favorites however, is the collectible doll.


Doll collecting has grown into one of the largest hobbies around today. Estimates vary, but it is generally accepted that collecting dolls is one of the top five collecting hobbies around. People collect dolls for a variety of reasons. Many people start collecting dolls when they're young either because they are given collectible dolls as gifts or because they just develop in interest on their own.
VINTAGE 19 INCH UNMARKED COMPOSITION DOLL
VINTAGE 19 INCH UNMARKED COMPOSITION DOLL
Paypal   US $38.00 		Vintage 64 BARBIE Doll Clothes CAMPUS BELLE Rose Dress
Vintage 64 BARBIE Doll Clothes CAMPUS BELLE Rose Dress
Paypal   US $71.00 		VINTAGE CABBAGE PATCH KID LITTLE PEOPLE BLACK DOLL 25
VINTAGE CABBAGE PATCH KID LITTLE PEOPLE BLACK DOLL 25
Paypal   US $40.35
gorgeous vintage NODDING HEAD Kiss Me Dolls Japan
gorgeous vintage NODDING HEAD Kiss Me Dolls Japan
Paypal   US $19.59 		Vintage Dancing Strawberry Shortcake doll NRFB
Vintage Dancing Strawberry Shortcake doll NRFB
Paypal   US $45.00 		VINTAGE BLACK 6 Amanda Jane Baby doll VINYL DOLL MIB
VINTAGE BLACK 6 Amanda Jane Baby doll VINYL DOLL MIB
Paypal   US $42.04
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Although you can spend a lot of money on this hobby, you don't really have to in order to enjoy it. The amount of money you'll end up investing depends a lot on what kind of dolls you are actually collecting. Some people are very happy collecting dolls that remind them of their childhood without any regard to its perceived collectible value. Other people see collecting dolls as a way of making money or investing their money. There are quite a few people that started out as casual collectors and then went on to well paying doll related careers. Some people start as collectors and then move on to design dolls and doll clothing, others act as consultants for other collectors and some stay involved by actually reselling collectible dolls for themselves or other people.

If you are just getting into doll collecting you may want to pick one particular type to start with rather than purchasing "one of everything." One big reason for this is that you can quickly drop a ton of money on collectible dolls if you do not have a focus on any certain type of doll. You can always go back and build your collection later if you decide you like one kind of doll more than another. If you are a shrewd buyer, you might even make some money as you do this.

Purchasing a guide to collectible dolls might be a wise investment as you start your adventures in doll collecting. Even if you do not intend to sell any of your dolls, a quality guide can help you to avoid getting scammed as you purchase dolls and build your collection. Doing a little bit of research can save you a lot of money in the long run.

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The Vintage Barbie Doll

May 11th, 2009 by Sandy | Comments Off | Filed in Vintage Dolls, vintage Barbie dolls

People who collect vintage dolls often specialize in one type of doll or another. 


One of the more popular dolls collected today is the vintage Barbie doll.  Honestly, vintage Barbie dolls have a very strong following of extremely savvy collectors who really know there stuff.   There are quite a few very detailed guides available for serious Barbie collectors who wish to know the exact value of the dolls they own.  These guides are a wise investment for serious collectors as they will include very specific information such as mold numbers and trademark clues that will help to identify a particular vintage Barbie doll that you have in your collection.
Vintage 64 BARBIE Doll Clothes CAMPUS BELLE Rose Dress
Vintage 64 BARBIE Doll Clothes CAMPUS BELLE Rose Dress
Paypal   US $71.00 		Vintage Dark Long Hair Pony Tail Barbie Doll 1964 0850
Vintage Dark Long Hair Pony Tail Barbie Doll 1964 0850
Paypal   US $57.00 		Rare Vintage Round Ponytail Barbie Doll Case 1961
Rare Vintage Round Ponytail Barbie Doll Case 1961
Paypal   US $25.99
Vintage 1960s Barbie Doll
Vintage 1960s Barbie Doll
Paypal   US $20.00 		TWO 1 Vintage Malibu Skipper Doll Clothes Lot Barbie
TWO 1 Vintage Malibu Skipper Doll Clothes Lot Barbie
Paypal   US $20.00 		1960 3 VINTAGE BARBIE DOLL ORIGINAL SWIMSUIT 1 SHOE
1960 3 VINTAGE BARBIE DOLL ORIGINAL SWIMSUIT 1 SHOE
Paypal   US $366.66
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To truly be considered vintage, Barbie dolls must be from between the years 1959 and 1972.  Other special "collectible" editions of Barbie were released by Mattel later than that, but they are their own story and I may write more about them later.

Prices for the very early Barbie dolls can get quite high.  Values can exceed ten thousand dollars in some cases.  The value of each doll will depend on factors such as the model itself, its condition, and whether or not any type of restoration work has been done to the doll.  If restoration has occurred, the quality of the restoration becomes very important.  The techniques and materials used during the restoration process should be true to the era from which the doll originally came.  The value of a Barbie doll can drop significantly if it has been restored improperly or by inferior means.  There are many Barbie doll collectors who do not want anything to do with restored dolls.  They prefer to pay the extra money required to obtain only original, undamaged Barbies (preferably with the original packing).  Certainly, if you are considering the purchase of a vintage Barbie doll as an investment or as an expensive addition to your collection, you should ask the seller for as many details as possible about the dolls history.  A quality seller of vintage dolls or any antique or vintage merchandise will feel obligated to mention any restoration that may have occurred, but you should still ask if it has not been mentioned specifically in the listing for the item.

Often, the original packing material for a vintage Barbie doll will be long gone by the time a collector is considering its purchase.  If you do happen upon a truly vintage Barbie doll still in its original package, you should be prepared to pay a premium price to own it.  Do some investigative work before bidding on one of these items and be sure that the seller is knowledgeable about the doll they are offering for sale.  Specifically ask the seller if this is an original or if it is a replica Barbie released to commemorate an earlier addition.

Probably the most rare vintage Barbie doll available is the original 1959 doll wearing a black and white swimming suit.  You can take a look at one of those if your travels ever take you near the Smithsonian.  They are very rare but it is possible that you will find one selling at someone's garage sale (you never know!).  There are still quite a few vintage Barbies floating around out there in peoples attics and basements waiting to be discovered by collectors.

Collecting vintage Barbies can look like a hardcore business at times, but it should be fun first of all.  Serious collectors also find themselves playing the part of serious investors at times, so caveat emptor (buyer beware) certainly applies.  Do some research and enjoy yourself as you build your collection of vintage Barbie dolls!

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Vintage Paper Dolls

May 11th, 2009 by Sandy | Comments Off | Filed in Doll Collecting, Vintage Dolls

The fact that vintage paper dolls have survived through the years is a testament to how well some people take care of the items they collect.


It is refreshing to know that in today's society, when many children have very short attention spans that can only be captured by blinking and flashing video games, there are still some people who appreciate something as simple as collecting vintage paper dolls. Paper dolls are a reminder of the time when things were much simpler and people were more inclined to use their own imagination for entertainment.
VINTAGE PAPER DOLLS OLD CUT OUTS BALLERINAS PLASTIC
VINTAGE PAPER DOLLS OLD CUT OUTS BALLERINAS PLASTIC
Paypal   US $7.99 		VINTAGE BUNNY WOODEN DOLL PAPER DOLL UNCUT WHITMAN 1939
VINTAGE BUNNY WOODEN DOLL PAPER DOLL UNCUT WHITMAN 1939
Paypal   US $15.95 		VINTAGE PRINT PAPER ART BOUDOIR DOLL PINK LACES SILKS
VINTAGE PRINT PAPER ART BOUDOIR DOLL PINK LACES SILKS
Paypal   US $18.22
VintagePaper Dolls3 little girlsMaryAnnLouJane
VintagePaper Dolls3 little girlsMaryAnnLouJane
Paypal   US $16.63 		VintagePaper Dolls3 Wood DollsMimiKathieSallie
VintagePaper Dolls3 Wood DollsMimiKathieSallie
Paypal   US $8.63 		1932 Dolly Jean Paper Doll by Fern BPeat S 877vintage
1932 Dolly Jean Paper Doll by Fern BPeat S 877vintage
Paypal   US $8.63
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Paper dolls originated in the time of Louis XV of France. This was during the 1700s and owning one or more of these dolls was a privilege. They were carefully collected and very well taken care of by their young owners.

In America, paper was very hard to come by and was considered a valuable commodity. For that reason, not many people owned paper dolls. As paper production techniques improve in paper became more available for common use, the dolls could be mass produced and became available to many more eventual paper doll collectors.

Most of that vintage paper dolls collected today are from the time during the Mid 20th century when they became very popular. A lot of people like to collect these as a way to look back at the fashions and famous people of an earlier time. Not all paper dolls carry the same monetary value, but collectors of the delicate paper treasures often have reasons for collecting that go beyond money.

Paper Mother and Child with Clothes for Each
Creative Commons License photo credit: perpetualplum

If you are looking to either purchase or to sell vintage paper dolls, eBay is an excellent resource to check. I have noticed over the years that sellers in certain categories seem to take a very fine interest in what they collect and put up for sale. For the most part, it seems that the people selling vintage paper dolls and vintage dolls in general on Ebay, have a real connection to the merchandise they are buying or selling. It seems to go beyond nostalgia. Sellers often will offer guarantees and seem to go above and beyond the norm as they lovingly present their treasures to potential buyers. Buyers of the vintage paper dolls on Ebay also seem to realize and share a special bond with their fellow collectors which is evidenced by their willingness to sometimes pay prices that can get a little bit high for a casual doll collector.

For the person who just wants to introduce the fun of paper dolls with a little one, there are printable paper dolls and paper doll templates available online.  But more serious collectors tend to look for specific dolls.  Tom Tierney paper dolls, Victorian paper dolls and Disney paper dolls are a few of the specific brands often searched for on the Internet in general and on Ebay in particular.

If you are not interested in purchasing vintage or antique paper dolls on Ebay, you can try to find them yourself.  They are one of the items that sometimes show up at places like estate sales, but finding them on your own is a very hit or miss proposition.  Looking for the dolls in a collectible shop is another option, but you will almost certainly pay the top "book" price.  This is a major reason that so many collectors have taken to checking Ebay before making any purchases.  There are often items that seem to slip under the radar and that can present a nice opportunity for some serious savings on hard to find items.

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