Archive for August, 2009

Doll Clothes|Vintage Doll Clothes Lots

August 25th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Doll Collecting, Vintage Dolls

Doll clothes are one of those items that are always in demand. Vintage doll clothes in particular can be tough to find in good used condition.


Often vintage doll clothes show the ravages of time and little girls customizing outfits for their favorite dolls. One great thing about eBay though is that there are people out there with doll clothes that are in outstanding shape, and even if they are half a world away, you can own those clothes within a week (for the right price).

I mentioned in another post that older Barbie accessories have become very popular, but other doll clothing and accessories are also doing well for sellers. When you are looking for doll clothes on eBay, you sometimes have to spend a little bit of time exploring. That is usually pretty good advice for almost anything you might be looking for on eBay. Try typing in every possible combination of words or variations that you can think of for the item or items you are looking for on the site. Some people might include clothes as part of a "lot" and never even mention the word "clothes" in the title. Does that make sense? Well, not really, but remember that people selling their old treasure on eBay are not always professional sellers. Many of them make little "oops" mistakes like that and if you are good at sniffing those listings out, you can save a few bucks. Sometimes a lot more than that!
Lot of 18 pieces Vintage Doll Clothes Mostly Handmade
Lot of 18 pieces Vintage Doll Clothes Mostly Handmade
Paypal   US $20.50 		VINTAGE DOLL CLOTHES ASSORTED MIXED LOT
VINTAGE DOLL CLOTHES ASSORTED MIXED LOT
Paypal   US $2.75 		LARGE LOT VINTAGE ANTIQUE DOLL CLOTHES VARIOUS SIZES
LARGE LOT VINTAGE ANTIQUE DOLL CLOTHES VARIOUS SIZES
Paypal   US $9.99
LARGE LOT OF 46 VINTAGE SMALL DOLL CLOTHES GINNY
LARGE LOT OF 46 VINTAGE SMALL DOLL CLOTHES GINNY
Paypal   US $29.30 		LOT OF VINTAGE DOLL CLOTHES COWGIRL OUTFIT FUR COAT
LOT OF VINTAGE DOLL CLOTHES COWGIRL OUTFIT FUR COAT
Paypal   US $9.99 		LOT OF 36 VINTAGE DOLL CLOTHES SWEATERS DRESSES SKIRTS
LOT OF 36 VINTAGE DOLL CLOTHES SWEATERS DRESSES SKIRTS
Paypal   US $10.49
View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16

So, back to doll clothes! Unless you have one or two particular outfits that you simply must have or need to complete a set of some sort, checking out "lots" is almost always the way to go. Many of you are probably much more knowledgeable about the fashions and dolls that are being sold than many of the sellers. That isn't true in all cases, but for someone who just happened across a suitcase filled with old doll clothes and accessories, spending a month researching each item probably is not high on their priority list. If you can look closely and pick out the larger lots than contain hidden gems, you can really make out on a deal. Of course, this selling in lots can be a double edged sword. Some inexperienced sellers will slap the word "vintage" on any item they didn't buy themselves in the past week. This is where your knowledge comes in to play. Feel free to ask questions and request more photos if you feel you need them. Ask the seller about any identifying marks that you would expect to find on what you are looking to purchase. This isn't being a pain in the neck. It is being a smart shopper


So what are some of the current going rates for doll clothes? Well, it all depends on what you are looking for really. I know that is not very helpful, but honestly, I’ve found that eBay pricing is a pretty good indicator of what is popular and what is selling. It can be sort of like a game. In general, I believe you have better chance of finding good deals on eBay than you will going to specialty doll shop. Face it, your odds of finding something amazing that slipped by the shops owner are about nil. On eBay however, you’ve always got a pretty good shot at finding something that interests you that hasn’t been bid up to outrageous amounts yet.

One recent check of eBay listings for doll clothes brought back over 12,500 results. That can sometimes be a little bit confusing because many times people list dolls and clothes together as large lots. If you are only interested in clothing, you will have to look through what is available and pick and choose a bit. One thing you can do to make things a little bit simpler is to use the sorting tools they provide on the left of the screen. Those tools can help you to narrow down what you are looking for by brand, age and a host of other variables. Take a look. You’d be hard pressed to find this many doll clothes available in any other single place and eBay has been working overtime to make the shopping experience user friendly.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Dolls

August 25th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Doll Collecting, Vintage Dolls

Collectors of vintage Strawberry Shortcake Dolls have a lot to keep track of when they consider their collections. This isn't just because of a wide variety of doll types, but just keeping track of what doll was released with what features can become a bit confusing to a less experienced collector.


Many people think of Strawberry Shortcake as strictly an 80s phenom. That is when her popularity exploded, but the first dolls were actually released in 1979. The five dolls included in that bunch were Strawberry Shortcake herself, a "bad guy" named "Purple Pieman", a baby named "Apple Dumpling", and her friends "Huckleberry Pie" and "Blueberry Muffin". The pets that would become popular additions later were not included in this first issue. Except for Purple Pieman, these very first dolls can be recognized by their flat hands. The later dolls released in this first issue would come out in 1980 and they had hands which were in a curled or curved shape. Rounding out the first lot are "Orange Blossom", "Raspberry Tart", "Lemon Meringue" and "Apricot".

The dolls gained in popularity and later editions added new characters to the Strawberry Shortcake family of dolls. The values of these is often dependent upon what issue they are, what particular character they are, and of course, the condition of the doll itself.
HUGE Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Doll Lot First Issues
HUGE Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Doll Lot First Issues
Paypal   US $53.88 		Huge Lot of Strawberry Shortcake Dolls Figures vintage
Huge Lot of Strawberry Shortcake Dolls Figures vintage
Paypal   US $10.50 		Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Doll fashions MOC 1981 8
Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Doll fashions MOC 1981 8
Paypal   US $9.99
Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Pals Doll Clothing TLC
Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Pals Doll Clothing TLC
Paypal   US $8.50 		1979 Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Apple Dumpling Doll
1979 Vintage Strawberry Shortcake Apple Dumpling Doll
Paypal   US $.99 		1979 Vintage Strawberry Shortcake ADA Twin Doll No VDS
1979 Vintage Strawberry Shortcake ADA Twin Doll No VDS
Paypal   US $.99
View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8

I came across this commercial on YouTube.  This particular commercial aired in 1981.  This was near the start of it all!

Today, having one of the more rare dolls from the Strawberry Shortcake line of dolls could be worth some money. I like to look at eBay as a way of judging the monetary value of many dolls because it is a real world example of what people are willing to pay for a particular vintage doll (or any collectible really). A 1985 Banana Twirl Berrykin recently sold for $415 complete with all of its papers and mint in box. That was the top recent seller as I'm looking. The average selling price for a vintage Strawberry Shortcake doll out of all the recently listed dolls was much lower. It was just around $24.

If you are looking for value, the Strawberry Shortcake dolls are one of the dolls more likely to be sold off in larger lots. Many people seem to list them in these larger groupings and this can be a way to save significant amounts of money if you are willing to make the one time investment. It is possible that you might be able to patiently watch and wait for extremely low priced dolls to appear and then manage to win them, but usually, checking out these dolls that are being sold in lots is a pretty good strategy for building a collection.

During the time period that I checked, the busiest day of the week for Strawberry Shortcake dolls to end at auction seemed to be Thursday.  Wednesday had much less competition among bidders and sellers.  You might want to check that out.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shirley Temple Dolls

August 25th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Celebrity Dolls, Vintage Dolls

It is pretty amazing how one little girl could have such an influence on so many people, but Shirley Temple really pulled it off.


Shirley Temple dolls have stood the test of time and are still very popular.  Many collectors specialize just in Shirley dolls.  It is amazing how popular Shirley Temple dolls still are today.  I say that with the utmost respect.  What a little girl Shirley must have been.  During the dark days of the depression, she helped people to find a way to smile and gave them some relief from their troubles.  She grew up to be a wife, mother and even a delegate for the United States!
8 Shirley Temple Doll Collectors Doll Series
8 Shirley Temple Doll Collectors Doll Series
Paypal   US $1.25 		Vintage Ideal 1982 Shirley Temple Collectable Doll
Vintage Ideal 1982 Shirley Temple Collectable Doll
Paypal   US $5.99 		1930s Shirley Temple doll with pin
1930s Shirley Temple doll with pin
Paypal   US $183.49
NIB Mint Shirley Temple Doll Clothes Danbury
NIB Mint Shirley Temple Doll Clothes Danbury
Paypal   US $15.95 		Original Shirley Temple Doll Yellow dress Tag and Pin
Original Shirley Temple Doll Yellow dress Tag and Pin
Paypal   US $45.25 		SHIRLEY TEMPLE 12 DOLL WITH CLOTHES AND SHOES NR
SHIRLEY TEMPLE 12 DOLL WITH CLOTHES AND SHOES NR
Paypal   US $51.00
View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11

Vintage Shirley Temple dolls are now very collectible.  The earliest ones were made of all composition.  This doesn't really stand the test of time as well as some other doll materials which makes it more likely that any that you might come across will have some cracking or crazing.  I just mention this because as you browse you have to realize that the people listing items may use terms describing the doll's condition relative to what would be expected of other similar dolls with the same makeup.

Shirley Temple dolls have continued to be manufactured since she burst upon the scene in the 1930s.  As doll making techniques have changed, so have the Shirley dolls.  Besides the earliest composition dolls, you may also find the vintage Shirley Temple dolls made up of a mix of composition and cloth, vinyl or porcelain.  The later, porcelain dolls are made pretty much with just collectors in mind.  There were also Shirley Temple paper dolls made that are popular among collectors of paper dolls.

Here is one of Shirley Temple's more famous scenes that I found on YouTube...


Checking the most recent auction results, the highest price paid for a vintage Shirley Temple doll was . That particular doll was an 11 inch Ideal composition doll with tin eyes. It was in very nice condition without crazing or cracks and was complete with its entire cowgirl outfit and accessories (except for a missing scarf). The average sale price for a vintage Shirley Temple doll on eBay has been around seventy dollars. Keep in mind that there can be a huge range of prices here though depending on rarity, condition, how many people are interested and such. Just a tip for potential buyers, it looks like there wass a bit of a lull in bidding on Wednesday nights, so if you don't have your eye on one particular doll, you may want to check out listings that end during that time to see if you can beat out the light competition. Of course, if you are looking at "buy it now" items, that really won't apply.
Checking the most recent auction results, the highest price paid for a vintage Shirley Temple doll was      .  That particular doll was an 11 inch Ideal composition doll with tin eyes.  It was in very nice condition without crazing or cracks and was complete with its entire cowgirl outfit and accessories (except for a missing scarf).  The average sale price for a vintage Shirley Temple doll on eBay has been around seventy dollars.  Keep in mind that there can be a huge range of prices here though depending on rarity, condition, how many people are interested and such.  Just a tip for potential buyers, it looks like there was a bit of a lull in bidding on Wednesday nights, so if you don't have your eye on one particular doll, you may want to check out listings that end during that time to see if you can beat out the light competition.  Of course, if you are looking at "buy it now" items, that really won't apply.  eBay is an outstanding place to find vintage dolls, but you can improve your results as a buyer and lower your ending bids if you use a little bit of strategy too!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

You’re Never Too Old to Start a Doll Collection

August 19th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Doll Collecting, vintage Barbie dolls

No matter what type of dolls you collect, there is probably at least one special doll that you remember from your childhood.  Perhaps it was the doll that got you started in collecting.  Maybe it was an "untouchable" doll at a relative's house that you just stared at and wished that you owned.  Most collectors have some especially memorable doll that is close to their hearts.


Unfortunately, a lot of us either loved those dolls so hard that they ended up looking a bit beat up or we may have gone through a phase where we thought we were simply too grown up for such "babyish" things.  When one of my cousins visits, she will always stop to check out my dolls.  For years she never failed to mention how much she regrets giving all of her dolls away when she went away to college.  Actually, she sold them at a garage sale.  She was quite a Barbie collector in the 1960s, and she realizes that beyond the memories, she also sold off some very collectible dolls at a pittance.

I have been telling my cousin for a few years that she could always start rebuilding her collection again.  She has always put it off for one reason or another and eventually, I just put it out of my mind.  She finally broke down and bought herself a Bubble Cut Barbie last month as a start to her collection.  You wouldn't believe the excitement bubbling out of her as she showed it to me.  It was just one doll, but it is lovely and it is a start to a new beginning of her collection.

Now, when she visits, she no longer looks sad or depressed about what she lost.  She seems to have almost magically gotten over her previous mistake and she talks about what her next doll purchase will be.  Now that she is older, she is sticking with Barbies but she is going the route of saving up, researching and buying the best that she can afford.  It may take her a while to get back to what she once had, but I have little doubt that she'll get there and enjoy the trip the whole way through.

If you have been putting off or ignoring a collection for a while, there is no reason you can't start right in or get back into the action.  Collecting dolls is a fun hobby whether you enjoy one particular type of doll or just the thrill of the hunt.  Collecting now is easier than ever with dolls available right on your computer.  Go browsing a bit and see if anything catches your eye.  You might end up having a lot of fun!

gimme babay.
Creative Commons License photo credit: ThouArt.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Corolle Dolls

August 10th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Newer Dolls

Corolle dolls are not the fanciest dolls you will find, but they certainly still have a solid following among collectors.

Including Corolle dolls may be pushing it a bit as far as “vintage” goes.  The company has been around since 1979.  Many of them are bought and sold on eBay regularly though with the vintage label and the definition of vintage can be a bit “fluid” as items are listed by sellers with differing degrees of experience in the field of selling dolls.
Lot of 10 Different Full Page Color Ads COROLLE DOLLS
Lot of 10 Different Full Page Color Ads COROLLE DOLLS
Paypal   US $10.51 		Corolle Poupee Toddler Doll 17 tall made in France
Corolle Poupee Toddler Doll 17 tall made in France
Paypal   US $14.99 		Corolle 13 Doll Baby beautiful
Corolle 13 Doll Baby beautiful
Paypal   US $56.00
Corolle Les Cheries Chloe Doll lots of outfits
Corolle Les Cheries Chloe Doll lots of outfits
Paypal   US $9.99 		Mint 1998 Corolle 14 Toddler BeBe Baby Doll Clothes
Mint 1998 Corolle 14 Toddler BeBe Baby Doll Clothes
Paypal   US $8.99 		Corolle Doll
Corolle Doll
Paypal   US $6.49
View Page:   1  2

Corolle dolls and Corolle doll clothes are both popular items with buyers.  Though not as well known or prestigious as some older, more established doll companies that are cornerstones of the doll market, Corolle dolls hold their own and usually at a much lower price than some of the more well known names.

The company has actually been honored with several Doll of the Year awards and is known within the doll industry for producing high quality dolls.   The dolls are very lifelike and the Corolle doll home page states that they are often designed based on real babies.  My own experience has been that the dolls are very well received by little ones.

These dolls are made to fall into stages that match up with children's growth and development.  Of course this is great for the company because the idea is to keep people buying, but really, the dolls are quite nice and each stage is a great match for the children who are there audience.  There are plenty of Corolle baby dolls and Corolle doll accessories to choose from if you are a collector.

The Babi Corolle is for the newest of babies.  These are snuggly soft dolls that also include rattles and hand puppets.  The idea is to stimulate the senses that baby is just starting to explore.

Mon Premier is designed for little girls ages eighteen months and up who are starting to get the idea of taking care of a baby.   Dolls in this line include Tidoo, Calin and Poupette.

Les Classiques is the next in the Corolle line. This is designed for roughly the same age as the Mon Premier but also goes up to the 3+ age range. There are five sizes to choose from in this line and more accessories become available.

The Miss Corolle dolls are for the next stage.  These dolls are a continuation of the three years plus group but also step up for little girls who are a little bit older.   These are more of your classic play dolls that are made for acting out day to day adventures with friends.

A final line from Corolle is designed for little girls with an early interest in fashion.  These dolls are called "les Trendies" and the Corolle site says they are for "budding fashionistas".

If you are searching for Corolle dolls, you probably already know quite a bit about them, but if not, you can find their home page here.  eBay is a nice place to check for older Corolle dolls or even newer ones that might be available at lower than retail prices.  In addition, eBay is, without a doubt, a great place to find larger “lots” of doll accessories.  Corolle doll clothes and even the Corolle doll stroller can usually be found for sale, often with baby dolls included!

Here is a Corolle video that does a nice job of showing off the dolls' features.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Tonner Dolls

August 10th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Celebrity Dolls, Doll Collecting

Tonner dolls are very popular and well recognized for their beautiful styling and attention to detail.


Robert Tonner started out in the fashion industry and was well on his way to a fine career in the fashion and design field, but followed his interest in dolls to break off and start his own doll company. The dolls were so beautifully designed and so well received that Mr. Tonner was able grow his company and actually purchase the very well established and prestigious Effanbee Doll Company in 2002.

Robert Tonner has used his special talents for designing and sculpting dolls and their costumes to build a huge following and gain international fame for himself and the Tonner Doll Company. Tonner has partnered with large companies such as Miramax Films, Warner Bros., DC Comics and Marvel Comics in the past to design dolls based on their projects.

Robert Tonner dolls regularly show up on eBay and are quickly bid upon by collectors. The Tonner collection of dolls is huge and very diverse. Because Tonner has so many different associations and such a strong history in fashion dolls, you never know what will show up for auction. The only sure thing is that almost any Tonner doll will be popular and draw plenty of attention.
Tonner Co Four 17 waist grip doll stands clear bases
Tonner Co Four 17 waist grip doll stands clear bases
Paypal   US $6.99 		ROBERT TONNER 18 INCH MISS AMERICA DOLL ORIGINAL OUTFIT
ROBERT TONNER 18 INCH MISS AMERICA DOLL ORIGINAL OUTFIT
Paypal   US $20.50 		Tonner2000BETSY MCCALL 8MIB DRESSED DOLL COZY CAPE
Tonner2000BETSY MCCALL 8MIB DRESSED DOLL COZY CAPE
Paypal   US $31.00
Mary Engelbreits Classic Sailor Doll Tonner
Mary Engelbreits Classic Sailor Doll Tonner
Paypal   US $27.99 		White Leather Closed toe Shoes Tonner 16 doll size
White Leather Closed toe Shoes Tonner 16 doll size
Paypal   US $5.50 		Gold Calf High Boots Tonner 16 Fashion doll size
Gold Calf High Boots Tonner 16 Fashion doll size
Paypal   US $10.50
View Page:   1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17

Many times, Tonner dolls with a very limited production end up getting a lot of attention on eBay regardless of their age. The "Hungry" Edward Twilight doll was recently auctioned off by a seller on eBay when I was checking out the category. Although it is a new doll, it was limited to 200. It had no problem picking up bids well before the end of the auction.

Another very popular limited edition doll by Tonner is the Queen of Hearts. Her hair actually changes color with a change in temperature. She sold out quickly in her original run and was recently a very popular find for eBay bidders.

There are also many dolls that slip through the auction process without a single bid. I guess that is part of the fun. If you are looking for a particular doll at the right time, you can really grab a bargain! There are also many dolls that get listed with buy it now prices as well. Whatever your interest is, it is definitely worth a look.

These dolls shown in the video are anything but vintage. They are new for 2009, but I thought some Tonner fans might still like it when I found it on YouTube.

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

SEO Powered by Platinum SEO from Techblissonline