I have a collection of dolls from the late 80’s. As far as I’ve been told, I have the whole set, in the original boxes, with all the original pieces, and all the certificates. However, I’m having trouble finding a complete list of all the dolls in the set so I can be sure.
Some of the dolls in the set I’m referring to are here:

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=danbury+mint+storybook&category0=

Also, as a side note, does the value of a doll collection go up if you have a complete set? I’ve never really been an avid collector so I don’t know.

Technorati Tags: amp, boxes, certificates, complete list, danbury mint, doll collection, dolls, ebay, m37, r40, search dll, search ebay, storybook

Hi everyone,
I am writing a research paper about collecting dolls and I would really love your input. Thank you!

Technorati Tags: dolls, writing a research paper

What is the interest in Irish dancing dresses styled after dolls and characters?

I’ve seen dresses styled after Marie Antoinette and American Girl dolls.

Technorati Tags: american girl dolls, dolls, dresses, irish, marie antoinette

Hi im 14. I have 2 American girl dolls that i got awhile ago. I dont play with them or any thing, i just like to buy an outfit or 2 just to keep my collection update. Is there something wrong with that? Am i to old?
Thanks!!

Technorati Tags: american girl dolls

As is the case with any sort of collectibles, there are quite a few fictional stories (or urban legends to some) and rumors that may tend to mislead the newbie collector.  The stories are constantly being changed and distorted all to improve the "value" of a certain collection.  If you are new to doll collecting or have been collecting for a long time, its important to keep on top of the rumor mill. It does no harm for you to do a little investigating to determine the facts with regard to these stories before may a tradeo or purchase.

Many times you can be misled with regard to certain versions or designs for the year on a particular doll.  There are many commonly told stories with respect to the Barbie doll.  The standard legend in the collectible world is that the Barbie with the year 1966 printed on the back was particulalry valueable.  This has led many a collector to be very disappointed when they find out that this is not really the fact.  The year is for the patent date for the Barbie doll and not for the manufacturing date.  The manufacturing date printed on the back has not extra value at all.

Another large misconception has to do with how the doll is displayed and handled.  A doll should not just be locked away in plastic or a glass case and left there for eternity – its not like a mint proof coin for heaven’s sake – its a toy whose purpose is to bring joy and happiness to the owner.  If a doll is well cared for it will have the same value as one that has been locked away in pristine condition.

Another common myth is the fact that the age of the doll and its value go hand in hand.  This is not always the case and in many instances the older doll ends up almost worthless.  The key to collecting is two fold – how many of the dolls still exist and how many people want to own it.  Its simply a case of supply and demand when it comes to collectibles of any sort.

Technorati Tags: Doll Collecting, fact, fiction, myths

Collecting Marie Dolls, just like any other doll can be a great hobby once you know what you are doing.

Starting to collect dolls can be an overwhelming process. There are so many dolls available – with varying values – that it becomes hard for those new to doll collecting to know where to start. Instead of researching the different types of dolls available, focus on the common mistakes made by beginners.

All too often, new collectors want to purchase an assortment of dolls and get the collection started as soon as possible. However, this may result in wasted time and money. It takes knowledge and experience to build a valuable doll collection, so refusing to cut corners is important.

It is always helpful to seek the advice of seasoned collectors, who are a priceless source of information. Joining doll collecting clubs and getting in contact with other collectors will also make the process more fun. Finding a great buy or a rare collector’s item is an exciting event, one that should be shared with those who appreciate its true pleasure.

Although collectible dolls can be purchased using many different methods, it is always nice to see, feel, and inspect a doll before making a commitment. Online auctions and Internet-based storefronts are filled with antique dolls, but be sure to ask questions, seek clarification, and request certification (if available) to ensure that the doll is not a replica.

Maintaining a doll collection can become quite expensive, so it is necessary to use good judgment when starting out. Purchasing a few inexpensive dolls is a great way to get going because they can always be replaced with more valuable dolls later. Keep in mind, however, that saving the money otherwise intended for a few cheap dolls would allow for the purchase of a more costly doll.

As the collection begins to grow, most collectors find a few lines more appealing than others; sticking to just a few different kinds of dolls will make it easier to add to the collection. Letting a doll collection expand to the point where it begins to take over all unused space will not only prevent the owner from enjoying the collection to its fullest, but might also cause a decrease in the enjoyment of future purchases.

Allot a certain amount of space for dolls early in the process and stick to it. Buy dolls that contain a significant amount of appeal and pass on any that you do not feel strongly about. It doesn’t take long to create an admirable collection filled with treasures that best reflect the style and interests of the owner.

Author: Victor Epand

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls. You will find the best marketplace for kids toys, stuffed animals, and dolls at these sites for kids toys, stuffed animals.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Epand

Collecting Reborn Dolls

Even though doll collecting has been an activity that has been focused around collecting early and now rare editions of popular dolls such as Barbie, these days doll collecting has been taken to new heights. 

Doll Collecting

She is larger than life, yet she is not and that is why doll collecting is one of the most taken up hobbies of all time. Such are the power of dolls which moves human emotion even when you are way beyond the years of playing with a doll.

Dolls Collectible

As long as you love each doll that you buy you will love doll collecting. Doll collecting is a passionate pastime and choosing what type of doll to buy is a personal choice that should come from the heart.

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Beautiful Collectible Dolls

There’s no age barrier when it comes to collecting dolls! If beautiful collectible dolls fascinate you, then here are some interesting facts for all you doll lovers.

With the variety of dolls that are flooding the markets, young girls as well as avid collectors are definitely having a tough time selecting these for their collection. I can never forget the ecstasy of having my first Barbie doll! This was like a dream come true; the clothes and the accessories were the ‘in’ thing during those days and owning a Barbie doll was almost like a status symbol. Beautiful collectible dolls have always caught my fancy and it is something that can be an obsession for quite few, where age hardly matters. So what are the types of beautiful collectible dolls available? If you are seriously interested in the collection of dolls then there are plenty of websites that can interest you. Besides, scrounge through the yard sales and this may give you unexpected results!

Types of Beautiful Collectible Dolls:
Collectible dolls can be pure antiques, porcelain, belonging to a particular theme or era or mass produced kinds. Various collection of dolls such as the Barbie and the Ken dolls, Kewpie dolls, Strawberry Shortcake and Friends, Ginny Dolls (Vogue dolls) etc are some of the most popular kinds. These are made from various types of materials. Here are a few kinds of collectible dolls.

Porcelain Dolls:
These have their origins in the 1800s and are among the most popular of collectible dolls. Available in varied shapes and sizes, their designs also differ as per the land they come from. These fine ceramic dolls are made by firing pure clay. It is the translucence of the materials that gives these dolls an elegant look. The porcelain dolls that are made today are quite lifelike in their appearance.

Bisque Dolls:
Such beautiful collectible dolls are made of tinted and unglazed porcelain. The color is added by the doll maker only prior to the firing. Some of them go through multiple firing processes for the warm and rich look. These were an innovation in the late 1860s. The bisque dolls gave the doll maker the scope to give it a very realistic skin tone. The French doll firms are said to be the first ones to make such dolls. Bisque dolls generally have bodies of cloth. Most bisque dolls are not made entirely from bisque because of the great weight and the fragility such a doll would have.

Cloth Dolls/Rag Dolls:
Mothers made rag dolls since the ancient days, for their children. These dolls refer to any kind of dolls that are made of fabric. The English and the American manufacturers first introduced such dolls in the market in the 1850s. Rag dolls or cloth dolls may not have the sophistication of the beautiful collectible dolls mentioned above, but these were greatly loved as they were often handmade and also amongst the first toys any child could have. Raggedy Anne, created by freelance artist, Johnny Gruelle became a rage worldwide.

Plastic Dolls:
Such beautiful collectible dolls are made from flesh toned, painted, hard plastic. Plastic dolls became very popular in the mid 1940s to the 1950s. A famous plastic doll I would like to mention here is the Ginny doll. These were the most sought after until the arrival of the svelte Barbie dolls. The founder of the Vogue Doll Company created the Ginny doll.

Vinyl Dolls:
Vinyl dolls are made of soft plastic. These took over the hard plastic dolls in the early 1960s. These are the more modern and mass produced dolls. The usage of vinyl allowed more freedom in doll making. Here, the doll makers could root the hair to the head rather than using the wigs or painting the head area. Vinyl dolls became popular when fashion dolls started gaining prominence. The most famous of the vinyl dolls has been the Barbie dolls with her sister Skipper and boyfriend Ken.

Wood Dolls:
These are obviously primitive and such beautiful collectible dolls are made of highly carved wood and often are a part of folk art. This is the earliest known substance that was used to make dolls. The earliest dolls made were used for ceremonies and had a symbolic meaning. Most wood dolls were made by artists and manufactured by small cottage industries. The most popular wood doll was the Hitty doll.

China Dolls:
The material porcelain is used generically to refer to both, the china as well as the bisque dolls. As mentioned before, bisque is unglazed where as china is glazed. This is what gives such beautiful collectible china dolls the shiny appearance. These were manufactured approximately in the late 1930s. The French ‘Bebe’ was known to be a famous china doll in the 1850s. The bebes were usually sold with very exquisite fashionable outfits and were available for a premium price.

If you are a serious collector of such beautiful collectible dolls, then do remember to check the condition of the dolls before purchase. Look carefully at the detailing. Many times, you may come across doll clothes that are as beautiful as the haute couture for women. Such items are also very important for collectors. Do in-depth research before purchasing any particular kind of collectible dolls.

Famous Beautiful Collectible Dolls:

• Adora
• Raggedy Anne
• Barbie doll and Ken
• Cabbage Patch Dolls
• Ginny
• Lee Middleton
• Madame Alexander
• Kitty Collier
• Kewpie Dolls
• Strawberry Shortcake and Friends

Vinyl Collectible Dolls

If you collect dolls or are interested in collecting them, it is important that you educate yourself about them as much as possible. Learning how to properly take care of your collectible dolls will safeguard your investment. 

The Philadelphia Doll Museum

Whiteman wrote the introduction for Black Dolls: Proud, Bold and Beautiful, Nayda Rondon’s book centering on selected collectible dolls and those who created them. Whiteman’s essay, however, is an illuminating history of black dolls/small … International dolls; Dolls with bisque heads; Dolls made by American companies; Dolls of famous Americans made since 1950, including Academy Award-winning actress Hattie McDaniel and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. 

Kewpie Dolls

Of all the dolls in dolly land, the Kewpie is one that has most successfully retained its impish image and lovable reputation, almost the definition of the word cute. For while most collectible dolls gaze out through icy blue-glass eyes, or slightly warmer brown ones, … The successful applicant was a Pratt Art Institute student named Joseph Kallus, who modeled the original bisque and celluloid doll, which was accepted and manufactured by Borgfeldt in 1913.

Technorati Tags: antique porcelain dolls, collectible dolls, dollect collecting

The king of doll and doll collecting is the Barbie Doll which has continued to be the largest selling doll since it was introduced in the late 1950s.

All About Barbie Doll Collecting – Why Is Barbie So Popular?

Have you ever asked yourself why Barbie doll collecting is so popular? What drives tens of thousands of people to snap up every type of Barbie doll imaginable?

Barbie Was Brilliantly Marketed

Mattel learned early on exactly how to market the Barbie doll. No other doll maker has come close to her. Barbie has been seen on TV commercials since the early 1960’s. With over 40 years of continuous television exposure you can’t help but see the ads throughout your childhood and into adulthood. This exposure has led Barbie to being one of the most popular toys in history.

Barbie Dolls Are Nostalgic

If you are a woman under the age of 60 then you most likely owned a Barbie when you were a kid. Just like baseball cards, if you collected Barbies’s when you were young, the chances are good that you enjoy it now.

Many people still have their original dolls from their childhood and it almost has become an obsession to collect each and every Barbie doll there is.

Barbie Is Not A Fad

You know that when you buy a Barbie doll that you will always be able to buy new clothes and accessories for her. She is not here today, gone tomorrow. No other doll can say that.

The Internet Has Fueled Barbie Doll Collecting

That’s right, the online world has helped promote Barbie doll collecting to the next level. You can find all sorts of Barbie doll forums as well as websites to purchase Barbie’s. Ebay is a great example of this. Both advertisers and collectors alike can get together and discuss anything and everything to do with Barbie, as well as buy and sell.

What does the future hold in store for Barbie doll collecting? No one can say for sure, but if it is anything like the past, you can expect some really great things to take place.

All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Reprint Rights: You may reprint this article as long as you leave all of the links active and do not edit the article in any way.

Author: Terry Edwards

By the way, you can find out much more about Barbie Doll Collecting as well as more information on everything to do with Barbie on our website at http://www.Barbie.InfoFromA-z.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Terry_Edwards

Barbie Doll Collectibles

I remember, when I was just a little girl my mom would buy me many barbie dolls and I paired barbie to Kent her partner. Believe it or not I used to play dolls almost everyday. Thinking of it right now makes me want to collect barbie dolls.

My Barbie Dolls Collection

I  love your collection!! A sweet friend of mine gave me my first Barbie doll last year for my birthday…Can’t believe that I had to become a grown woman before I got my first Barbie! Thanks for sharing your collection!

Miniature Design For Barbie

But, once I gained experience and word of mouth travelled, I became quite well known in the doll world as a professional doll restorer. midcentury furniture for barbie. Finally, tell us about your customers. 

Technorati Tags: barbie collector dolls, history of barbie dolls, mattel barbie dolls

Many collectors of Marie dolls got started just as is described in this article about how to get started in doll collecting.

If you like dolls and having them around then you might try starting your own doll collection. You can look on the internet to start as there are many clubs and chat rooms specifically for doll collectors.

There are also magazines and books to help you get you started. In many areas there are also doll stores which will probably know quite a bit about dolls. The most important thing is to make the collection something you will be happy with not just for the worth or how popular they are.

You should start by deciding what kind of dolls you want to collect. You can have dolls from different countries, or only by exclusive doll makers, or a collection of totally different dolls. It’s all up to you.

If you pick a certain type of doll you can do some research on it to learn about the dolls history or value because if you collect a certain type you should be an expert. In learning about the doll other aspects of the doll that should be known are the materials the doll is made of, the clothes and the doll. The more you are an expert on the dolls that you have the better off you’ll be when you want to buy a doll that can be worth something.

A nice aspect of collecting dolls is that it can be a financial investment and profitable over time. Dolls, like other collectibles, increase in value over time. This is a good and bad thing when collecting as a doll you would really like but perhaps too expensive but on the other hand a doll that can be reasonable now could be worth a lot later.

You can start a doll collection anywhere from a second hand store to an antique doll store. You can pick whatever collection you would like whether it is a fancy valuable collection or a personalized one where the dolls have more sentimental value. Whatever you choose, doll collecting is a great hobby for young and old alike, and will bring you countless hours of pleasure.

Technorati Tags: antique, collectibles, Doll Collecting, doll collection

Doll Collecting – A Worldwide Passion
 by: Darwin C Vickers 

Although fashion dolls have possibly been around since ancient times there’s no doubt that the introduction of the Barbie Doll at the American Toy Fair in New York back in 1959 set doll collecting on a new course. At first, the slender blond plastic fashion conscious young lady was meant for children to dress and undress and occasionally change hairstyles. However, when the collectors started to take an interest in Barbie she began to move from the toy box to the shelves of the china cabinet and display case.

It’s also no doubt that Marie Osmond introducing her dolls on QVC has stirred the coals on doll collecting.

Today we find a whole range of new and more expensive dolls on the market with price tags that make them out of reach for most children. In addition to Mattel’s Barbie Silkstone, a heavy vinyl collectable, many other chic and curvaceous models have appeared on the scene such as Tyler Wentworth, Cissy and Fashion Royalty. Dollfie, who is more of a young teenager, is also in big demand in spite of having a starting price of five hundred dollars and going up to well over a thousand.

Passionate collectors from all over the world, both men and women, often spend as much on new outfits for their dolls as they spend on their own clothes. At any one time you can see over 6000 items listed under doll’s fashions on eBay where prices range from a few dollars to hundreds. On the Internet you will also find those who specialize in repainting them, some of who have become artists in their own right.

I would venture to say that Fashion Royalty by designer Jason Wu is one of the most popular fashion dolls at this time. You’ll find enthusiasts for this glamorous 12" icon every-where. There are forums, message boards, photo galleries and news groups dedicated to her. People travel across the world to attend conventions held specifically to show off her many forms, her moods, outfits and accessories.

To gain possession of certain limited editions devotees have to enter a lottery and the winner then willingly coughs up several hundred dollars for the privilege of ownership. Many of these sought after special releases will then appear on eBay at several times the amount the seller originally paid.

Whether dolls can be a sound investment is questionable as collectors frequently switch their loyalties as new designs appear on the market. However, many have no intention of parting with their precious collections or the haute couture they have assembled on their behalf.

This is not so much of a hobby as a sub culture with owners speaking of their dolls in the most endearing terms. And there seems to be no end in sight as more and more people discover the joy of owning something beautiful that doesn’t answer you back or wet on the carpet.

http://www.angelfire.com/folk/for_fashion_royalty

About The Author

Darwin C Vickers has spent most of his long life as a journalist and broadcaster. British by birth, Canadian by nationality, he currently lives in the Philippines. His wife, a Filipina, creates outfits for fashion dolls, which she sells to customers all over the world.

Interesting Facts About Barbie

1999 was the first year that a family member of the Barbie doll was introduced into the line as a large-scale doll, Cuddly Soft(TM) Kelly. Doll collecting is second only to stamp collecting as the most popular collecting hobby in the world.

Learn To Collect Dolls

But nowadays, dolls are more than just a young girl’s play thing. It can also be a source of joy for an adult. And adults, which may seem really odd but true, collect dolls to look at them in their display cabinets.

Antique Dolls

If our guide to antique toys sparked your interest–and you liked the suggestion about finding a niche–it may be that you’ve chosen collecting antique dolls.
 

Technorati Tags: Doll Collecting, doll collection, marie dolls