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.

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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.

cathay collection porcelain dolls

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.

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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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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.

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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.
 

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Are You A Doll Lover?

One thing is certainly true about doll lovers — for some reason most doll lovers eventually become doll collectors as well. Perhaps it is the case that a love of dolls naturally brings forth a desire to collect them. It may also be true that doll collecting serves to increase one’s appreciation for them as well. Whatever the case, doll collecting and doll loving seem to exist in a kind of symbiotic relationship, each one feeding the other.

When it comes to doll collecting many people think of porcelain collectible dolls. These dolls are usually quite delicate (not the thing for children) and very beautiful. And they hearken back to a bygone era, a time when sophistication and refinement were highly valued. As well, miniature Porcelain Doll kits are valued — not only by collectors, but also those who make clothing and accessories for their dolls.

Did I mention doll accessories? Well here’s another area for doll collectors– collecting doll houses. Some folk go all out and make their own doll house, as doll house plans are widely available today. It is even possible to use the capabilities of a PC to draw up plans for a doll house — and this will save you the time and expense involved in actually constructing them, until you find a design that you like.

Speaking of nostalgia — and there’s certainly nothing wrong with being nostalgic — Amish doll furniture is highly sought after by doll collectors today. Nice furniture pieces are usually very simply made, yet the high quality of the workmanship makes these pieces truly elegant, and very sought after by collectors.

Speaking of collecting dolls, one of the most collectible dolls of all time are Franklin mint dolls. You’ve probably seen these advertised from time to time — they have a great many different types, usually featuring in the face and body of a famous film, TV, movie or other important person. Franklin mint dolls are highly collectible — sometimes they increase in value many times over, as the years pass.

And when it comes to nostalgia, do you see all of the fuss that is being made about Betsy McCall dolls and accessories? These dolls are not even a century old — not old at all by doll collecting standards — and yet these dolls are highly sought after. The explanation? Again — nostalgia. Many women first remember seeing these dolls pictured on the cover of McCall’s Magazine (from hence the name), so they easily relate to them.

The American Girl Company is making it easy for little girls to relate to their dolls. This innovative company manufactures a line of doll clothing and accessories that match an identical set of clothing for girls. This means that your granddaughter or niece could pretend they have a "little sister" — or better yet, a twin sister — which they can carry with them at all times.

Marie Dolls are another doll worth collecting.  These porcelain dolls carry the beauty mark the has touched the face of Marie herself.

Of final area where you might want to begin collecting is that of primitive dolls. These resemble the kinds of dolls carried by children during the pioneer days. They are not sophisticated dolls at all, being made with the simplest of fabrics — they really communicate a sense of history, history that you can hold in your hands.

So whatever your interests you are sure to find an area of doll collecting which will interest you. And here’s an extra bonus — years from now, when you’re old and gray, you can sit down with that special young girl in your life and explain to them what it is all about. Who knows — they too made be a future doll collector…

By: Jason Harris

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

This article provided courtesy of www.total-dolls.com/

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Doll Collecting – Why We Do It

I have always found dolls and bears appealing as collectibles because a person can hug them. With a collection of fine stained glass or metal objects, one doesn’t have that same freedom. Glass is cold. Bears’ fur is soft and warm. Humor aside, another advantage for the doll collector is being the "parent" to a "child" whose psyche can’t be warped with poor parenting skills or lack of experience. Dolls don’t care if they sit on the bed or a shelf for weeks. Dolls aren’t picky about their outfits– pink frills or blue sailboats–all ok. Dolls not anatomoically correct (and even some that are) don’t mind being dressed as a boy or a girl. And when you are done, they sit where you put them without running around getting dirt and schmutz on their new clean clothes. Research in child development even supports the idea that we humans having been hardwired to bond to young for survival of our species, are attracted to teddy bears and dolls because of the round cheeks and big eyes, round bellies so similar to those of human babies. Price can be an issue in doll collecting. If a person prefers the artist doll, Limited Edition or one-of-a-kind it is possible to pay thousands of dollars and to wait several years for a new piece. On the other hand, Ashton-Drake type collectibles make dolls affordable for most budgets. And yet further still on the scale, a person can find a loveable doll in a thrift store or kids’ shop just because it was love at first sight.

There are so many kinds of dolls, bears adn other animals out there now. Just go to any Barnes and Noble and check out "Doll Reader" or "Contemporary Artist Dolls" magazines. From abstract bizarre creations, classic sculptures, porcelains, resins–Fimo, Sculpey and others, babies so life-like they seem to cry, babies that "breathe", vinyls of very good quality with paint that looks like skin tones, fabric dolls, dolls made by hobbyists and dolls made by professionally trained artists, clothing by fashion designers, bear creators who start with raising the rabbits and sheep to harvest the wool to make the felt to make the bear..the possibilities are endless.

One thing is for sure–we’re not talking your mother’s Barbie dolls any more! To be fair, Barbie does seem to endure and remain ageless and isn’t she lucky? even though Ken went by the wayside, usurped by an Australian surfer dude after 40 years. Poor guy! Barbie stands up to all the new exciting fashion doll creations as well. The aisles of Toys R Us contain very good quality vinyl play dolls made by German and spanish companies who can become under the watchful eyes and skilled hands of "Re-born" artists another class of one-of-a-kind collectible babies. Left to their own devices these dolls make wonderful durable play babies for children. It is possible to search online for dolls and bears in several ways. If you like a particular artist you can search that artist. If you like a particular shop you can start there. Many shops and artists have their own websites. Know what you like. Classified ads for doll shows. Trade magazines.

It is up to the individual collector whether he or she keeps the doll out. Puts it in a cabinet or keeps it boxed with acid free paper or to play with it. A lot depends on life style. A person with animal pets may find it challenging to keep the bear or doll out simply because four footed folks do find them tasty to chew and in worse cases, tempting to mark on. I have one dog who loves to carry a teddy bear in her mouth. She is a fierce protector! But just in case, she will bark at you around the dolly she carries. Certain fabrics, vinyls, and resins are vulnerable to sunlight which can cause fading and damage. Others are temperature sensitive. Porcelain breaks. Many folks have made the mistake of trying to remove marks on vinyl dolls with acetone only to lose the paint as well! I’ve had poorly fired resin dolls crack and lose body parts. Dust can damage dolls and bears as well. Whatever way displayed, it is often important to keep not only the box the doll came in but also the tags, receipts, papers and ecertificates. This completes the piece’s provenance and in the event of re-sale adds much to the worth. Some prefer rotating the doll or bear so it spends some of its time boxed and protected from the elements. To sum things up, don’t be shy or embarrasssed or afraid to like dolls or bears. They are not only for children. We carry good memories of these friends with us into adulthood. Friends who comforted in hard times. Always available for a hug and a secret. Loving them still makes perfect sense.

By: Rachael Z. Ikins

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Rachael Ikins is an award-winning photographer of dolls at play; creating images that mimic life and entice the viewer to take a closer look. Additionally, she writes children’s books and illustrates them with her photos to enchant her readers. You can be touched and amused by her life-like photos by visiting www.rachaelikins.com/rzidolls.html .

My Barbie Dolls Collection

A Doll collecting Dolls…how perfect. Your collection is turning out wonderful, and a definite keeper. Just to let you know…your not alone, I have a dear friend who travels around the country for this hobby and loves the hunt and the treasure.

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.

Extended Doll Collecting

Collectible bears are simply and extension of collectible dolls. The teddy bear is as historic as the baby doll, and that is why many of us begin to collect bears as well as dolls. There are collectible bears that come onto the market every year.

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When it comes to Marie Dolls, every collector is always ….

Thinking About Dolls

Imagination plays a big part of growing up. Children are fascinated by ‘acting out’ what it would be like to be grown up. Toys play a vital part of this process. Almost anything can be a toy. From sticks and rocks to old socks, if it can be imagined, it can become a toy.

I suppose dolls have been around since before written history. Traditionally a toy that girls have used for centuries, dolls have played a vital part in the growing-up process. From learning how to care for a baby to becoming a jet-setting executive, dolls have helped young ladies dream about the future.

madame alexander international

Just like the children who play with them, dolls come in all shapes, colors, ages and sizes. There are Barbie, Ken, Cabbage Patch, My Little Pony, American Girl and Bratz Dolls, just to name a few. They can be as simple as paper cut-out dolls and as complex, and expensive, as detailed porcelain dolls. For the boys out there, let’s not forget GI Joe and all those ‘action figures’ (come on guys, admit it, they really are dolls, too!).

As varied as the types of dolls, so are the materials that make them. Early dolls were made of wood and, later, paper-mache. The finest dolls had china heads and sometimes hands with wooden-jointed bodies. In the early days of the United States many dolls were made at home. Sew a few old rags together, and you have a new playmate.

Of course, nowadays dolls are not just for kids. Doll collecting has become a very popular hobby among adults as well as children. There are many categories of collections. Some focus on the ubiquitous Barbie, especially early and now rare editions. Others choose antique dolls, or dolls specific to a period of time. Still other collectors focus on a single manufacturer, country or style of doll. If you do not desire to dig and research, there are many special or collector’s editions of dolls produced today.

No discussion of dolls would be complete without a look at the growing hobby of dollhouses and miniatures. This has become a hobby unto itself. Once more, materials and types are as varied as the dolls they shelter. A dollhouse can be made by a child from a simple cardboard box. Dollhouses can also range to exact scale replicas of homes with exact scale furnishings, and even full lighting. Those with limited space may chose to do a ’shadow box’ that meticulously details one room of a house. It would not surprise me if somewhere some stickler for detail builds a dollhouse with full working plumbing!

So, whether Barbie is jet setting all over the world, or GI Joe is saving the world, if you just want to ‘play’ or construct an exact scale model of the White House, dolls and their accessories can take you wherever your imagination can go. They can make a rainy day go by faster, or allow an over-stressed adult a creative outlet. Anyway you look at it, dolls are cool.

By: Kelly Johnson -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Kelly Johnson has launched several websited dealing with toys and hobbies as well as dolls. Her latest site on dolls and realted subjects can be seen at www.thebestdollinformation.com.

Doll Collecting

I  had been told by several guests that Ruszecki, an active member of both the Japanese street fashion and doll collecting communities, has been instrumental in bringing together the doll collecting and Lolita cultures.

Venturing Into Doll Collecting

Venturing into doll collecting can be a costly experience if not approached in the correct manner These basic guidelines will assist you in knowing where to start this fascinating and rewarding hobby 

Antique Doll Collecting

Collectible baby dolls and antique baby dolls collecting dust are something no baby doll collector wants. Show your toy baby dolls off to their best with antique doll displays.

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How To Survive Doll Collecting

If you have a large Marie Osmond Doll Collection, ask yourself if the following statements are true regarding your passion for doll collecting.  I would love to hear your comments.

Buy what you love.

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. If you cannot walk past a baby doll without feeling it has your name written all over it, then buy baby dolls. If your passions for dolls dates back to childhood memories of playing with wooden dolls and you have a sentimental attachment to these dolls then collect these dolls. Do not let anyone influence you in your choice of dolls as a doll collection brings responsibilities and you do at least want to enjoy fulfilling these duties.

Collect within your budgetary limits.

Most serious doll collectors would love to own a whole collection of OOAK (one of a kind) collectible dolls. Very few of us can afford to own even one. Decide what you can afford to buy and start a collection in this price class. There is nothing to prevent you from upgrading your collection at a later stage should your financial position improve.

doll collecting / black cloth  doll

It is Quality and not Quantity that counts.

You will be adding more value to your collection by purchasing one quality doll per year than adding a number of mediocre dolls. Doll collections can so easily get too big to really appreciate and doll collecting is a marathon not a sprint. Be selective and appreciate each doll when you do manage to buy it.

Do sufficient research.

Making an informed decision always gives us confidence in our actions. Read as much as possible about a particular type of doll and get as much background information on the doll artists whose dolls hold a particular attraction for you.

Do not let price guides rule your decisions.

The Blue Book is every collector’s Bible, but this book is a point of reference only as there are numerous factors that can influence the value of a doll. Always use your own judgment in conjunction with price guides.

Buy from a reputable dealer.

This is of particular importance when purchasing antique dolls. Members of NADDA (National Antique Doll Dealers Association) must adhere to a strict code of ethics and membership requirements include at least five years experience in buying and selling antique dolls. All dolls must be guaranteed as to age, attribution, and physical condition in writing upon purchase. With modern new collectible dolls a reputable dealer will have a good after sales record and be knowledgeable about market trends.

Join a doll club.

Doll clubs are a great way of expanding your knowledge of the doll collecting world and a great way to share your ideas and aspirations. There is so much to learn from other doll collectors and these clubs often organize doll shows and other events that can bring a new dimension to your doll collecting.

Realize that you may want to upgrade your collection at some time.

Tastes change as we develop new ideas and are exposed to different types of dolls. Never feel guilty about wanting to change the direction of your collection. The money you get from the sale of your collection can be used towards your new-found doll collecting interests.

Enjoy yourself!

Remember that doll collecting is a pastime and it is meant to be enjoyed. Never let your doll collecting habits get in the way of family and friends and treasure the dolls that you are lucky enough to acquire. Always appreciate the doll friends you meet along the way even more than the dolls and you will find that you will always enjoy yourself.

Happy doll collecting!

By: Laura du Toit

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Doll Collection

I am quite excited to see a new collectible doll based on Jasmine Beckett-Griffith’s artwork, the Mytical Flora Fairies.

Doll Collecting

Lotz Doll Pages form a comprehensive collection of great information about carved dolls of all kinds, vintage and new and of all nations. I particularly enjoyed reading about Chinese Dolls of Hope which have a sweet quality about them.

Hello Dolly

Should a grown woman be playing with dolls? Deb Baker writes about dolls—(A Dolls to Die For Mystery) great series. Dolls are integral to her stories. That’s business. David Arquette has a doll collection and barely saved his Mr. T doll.


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A Guide To Dolls

Doll guides are large books for doll collectors, used to help them tell one doll from another. They generally have large colour photos of each doll, together with price information. Thanks to the popularity of doll collecting, doll guides sell surprisingly well, even though they are often large, thick, expensive books. They are generally used mainly by professional collectors as tools for identification and valuation.

Because it would be pretty much impossible to fit every doll ever made into one book or even a series of books, each book tends to concentrate on a particular decade, or manufacturer, or even one doll (Barbie, for example).

ashley belle porcelain dolls

Doll guides can be quite hard to find in shops (unless you live near a specialist doll shop), but they’re easy to find on the web, particularly on Amazon.com and eBay. If you get one used, it might not even be all that expensive, although you should expect to have to pay a lot for postage. Make sure you read reviews of any given book before you buy it, because they vary hugely in quality, and not all of them do what they say on the cover very well at all.

It is ironic that doll guides are easiest to buy on the web, however, because it is also the web that is making them slowly obsolete. Even the best doll guides can’t hope to even touch the sheer diversity of pictures and information that exists on the web in the doll collecting enthusiast community. There are websites out there that are at least as reliable as any of the books, and websites are usually more up-to-date in terms of price guidance.

The web works particularly well if you know which doll you have and just want to know which type it is. Even if you know nothing about the doll, however, and you can’t find it in a database, it’s not hard to find doll collectors’ forums (search for ‘doll forum’). Once you’re on a forum, you can post pictures and other enthusiasts will help you out – someone is bound to know the answer.

By: john

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Guide for Collecting American Girl Dolls

Are you into collecting American Girl Dolls? Doll collection starts itself. American Girl Dolls offers many different types of accessories that go good way off clothes.

Doll Collecting

Doll Reference web site, a guide to doll collecting and identifying dolls from 1800 to the 1970’s, Antique to Vintage dolls, over 10000 photo’s, descriptions and markings are included. Dolls are listed by the doll manufacturer on each picture.

Collecting Dolls

Read shortly after I began collecting dolls in 1991, this book opened up the world of black-doll collecting for me and was my collector’s bible for at least a decade. Before reading it, I had been in the black-and-white doll collecting.

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Procelain dolls just like the Marie Dolls have really come onto the forefront of collectible dolls.

Porcelain Dolls – Not Just For Children Any More
 by: Johann Erickson 

Doll collecting is the second most popular hobby in the U.S., and it’s easy to see why. Porcelain Dolls transport us back to our childhood and evoke memories that no other toy can match. We remember our first doll, our favorite doll, the doll we loved to pieces and the beautiful doll we kept on a high shelf. We remember the comfort and love our dolls gave us and the first time we realized we were too old for our dolls. But were we really?

Consider porcelain dolls, they’re the perfect collectible doll. With delicate faces and hands, they remind us of why we loved dolls so much in the first place. There are tiny, precious newborn porcelain dolls, child-like porcelain dolls in fancy attire, and porcelain dolls based on favorite characters.

Porcelain Doll collecting can be addictive, and the choices can be overwhelming. There are artist dolls, made by hand in limited numbers; antique porcelain dolls, which are scarce; Limited Edition dolls, which are mass-produced but only in limited numbers; reproductions, that often attempt to duplicate popular antique or rare dolls; and many, many other types of porcelain dolls.

hamilton collection porcelain dolls

If you want to start collecting porcelain dolls, the first thing to do is decide what type of porcelain doll you want to collect. Perhaps Victorian style porcelain dolls capture your heart, or you just fall in love when you see a porcelain ballerina doll. Whatever type of porcelain doll you can’t walk away from is the type for you.

Once you decide what type of porcelain doll you want to collect, (and the choice can be difficult!) you’ll want to thoroughly research it. Knowing what porcelain dolls are worth and how to tell an antique from a reproduction just may save your wallet. But, like fine art, purchase the porcelain dolls you love.

Once you start building a collection, it’ll be hard to stop. There are porcelain doll shows to attend, new friends to be made, and more and more porcelain dolls to be loved and admired. But every moment spent on porcelain dolls is like spending another moment in childhood.

About The Author

Johann Erickson is the owner of Online Discount Mart (http://www.onlinediscountmart.com). Please email the author and include an active link to this website if you’d like to use this article.
marketing@4intrepid.com

Porcelain Doll

Dolls aren’t real. They resemble human beings, but there’s no real depth or substance to them. And to be a porcelain doll is so much worse; porcelain dolls aren’t meant to be played with. They’re meant to be set upon a shelf.

Antique Porcelain Dolls

The price of antique porcelain dolls is contingent upon the quality. There is a distinction between a true antique and vintage. A vintage porcelain doll is one from the 1940s and after while an antique porcelain doll is a doll made before the 1930s.

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