Baby Doll Collectibles

Dolls come in all shapes and sizes.  When you go into a store, you can even select one based on age and a favorite among many are the baby doll collectibles. Why hobbyists would like to collect these dolls is probably because it makes them feel like they just gave birth to their own child. In fact, there are so many to choose from so here are a few of them.

One company that excelled in this field is the Madame Alexander Doll Company. The dolls they made were usually bought by their mothers so their daughters will have something to play with. Two of the most valuable are namely Kathleen Toddler that was introduced in 1959 and its market value today is from $125 to $300. The second namely Binnie that was introduced in 1964 is worth about $175 to $475.

Cabbage Patch Kids is another example of Baby Doll Collectibles. Their marketing strategy is quite different because you don’t buy it but rather adopt one. You pay a small fee for that and this was very successful way back in the 1980’s. Because the brand was taken over by various companies through the years and hundreds were sold throughout the world, its market value is not that high compared to the others if you try to sell it to anyone or over the web.

Lee Middleton also produces Baby Doll Collectibles. Some of their collections are My Own Baby Collection, My First Nursery Dolls and Playbabies Play Doll Collection. Most of the new ones sell from $55 to a little over $100 and because they are so life like, this is still a popular favorite among collectors. 

Another company that makes life like dolls is Tiny Miracles. They have a collection called the Ashton Drake Galleries that feature 10 inch long babies that have micro rooted strand hair, vinyl skin, wispy bay eyelashes, tiny hands and feet outfitted with its very own diaper. This is not sold in stores so if you want one, this has to be ordered straight from them that costs from $59.99 to $129.99.

These are just a few of the Baby Doll Collectibles in the market. Where can you find Baby Doll Collectibles? The best place is still online because almost everyone has a computer and they can make money here much faster than putting an ad in the paper. The sellers don’t even have to create their own websites because there are auction sites around so they will just have to open an account.

When you are trying to sell Baby Doll Collectibles, it is best to put a photo, give the measurements and a brief description of the item. Mint condition ones fetch for a higher price than those have slightly damages which is why you should take care of everything. 

Other venues to find Baby Doll Collectibles are toy conventions, garage sales, antique stores and bazaars. You should just examine each item carefully before buying them so you get your money’s worth when you bring it home.

If you store this properly for a few years, you can probably get a return on your investment because the market value of baby doll collectibles which are in good condition increases annually assuming that there is still a demand for them.

Barbie Collectible Doll

One of the most collectibles is the Barbie doll. Through the years, not much has changed except for may be the outfits and the accessories truly making it a classic.

Barbie was invented by Ruth Handler and was introduced in a toy fair in New York City. Naturally, it was an instant success.

Just to give you an idea of what Barbie has done, she has had over 80 jobs from being a fashion model to even a president. There was even a version to promote the Olympics that was released to the market in 1975 and 2000.

There are those who say that Barbie was sometimes controversial. One example is when the company decided to make the doll join the army. She served as a medic during Operating Desert Storm in 92 that had to go through the approval of the military to make sure the uniforms were authentic. To promote the quest for space, the company even made the astronaut version with the last in 1994.

So you could say that Barbie has been through a lot for almost 50 years. So how much do collectible Barbie dolls sell for? If you happen to have one that has never been opened, there is a chance you could sell this to someone for $2,500. If you have one of the first that came out especially in 1959, you could get a check worth $10,000.

The next question once you have it is how do you take care of it? Here are some tips that you should follow to keep you collectible Barbie dolls in good condition.

First, never store this in the attic or basement. This is because although they are safe in a box, the temperatures in these places change which could ruin the doll. Also, the Barbie doll should be placed face down because if this is left on their backs, the eyes could fall off after some time.

Since most people want to show this to the world, be sure to dust them regularly. This is because if you don’t do anything about it, you may be forced to wash it and lower its resale value.

Another thing you have to do is keep your collectible Barbie dolls away from other children or pets. If left out in the open, this can be bitten or mangled. In short, destroyed and you wouldn’t want that to happen when you want make a profit later on.

Also, do not keep your collectible Barbie container. If you want to, go ahead but be very careful because the slightest moisture that enters the air tight plastic container may cause mildew or molds to grow. This can be prevented of course by putting a few small holes so moisture will be able to evaporate.

The most important tip is never expose your collectible Barbie doll to direct sunlight or any bright light as this will make the color of her skin and the outfit made.

So how do you sell your Barbie collectible doll? You can attend a convention, offer this to a specialty store or offer this to the highest bidder online. Don’t forget that you can make some money by also selling the accessories since Barbie had a lot to offer like her cars and pets. Just check on the market value of what you have and then look for potential buyers.

Proper Care For Your Beautiful Collectible Dolls

It is one thing to own some beautiful collectible dolls and another to maintain it. If you fail to do so, no one will want to buy it and you might as well throw it in the garbage.

The first thing you have to do when you buy your beautiful collection doll is to keep the original packaging for the simple reason that it is worth a lot more money especially when everything is still intact. 

If there is any tape on the hair or the clothes, you should remove it immediately because this can discolor the fabric. Also, double check if there are any metal wires because this can turn to rust.

It is impossible to display all the beautiful collectible dolls you have and so you will have to hide others to give way to the new ones you acquired. There should be a layer of acid free tissue placed in between the doll and the clothing because just like tape, the color of the fabric may bleed into the doll’s body.

The most important thing to do is to let the doll face down. This will prevent the eyes from pushing to the back of the head. This should be checked regularly so any problem can be detected and fixed immediately.

Should the body of the doll leak sawdust, you can fix this by putting a few drops of glue in the hole where it came out. But if the area is hard to contain, you should put a round patch made out of kid or muslin then placed this over the hole.

If your collection of beautiful collectible dolls happens to sleep or their eyes are able to close, you should clean the eyes thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol that is mixed in water. You should hold the eye you are cleaning open and then apply a few drops with a medicine dropper until it is completely covered. The same should be done to the other eye several times and then drained by letting the doll face down. Once it is dried, make it stand up and then wipe everything off with a clean dry cloth.

A few things you should never do.

First, never change the original clothes or change the hair. Believe it or not, interested buyers like it just the way it is. If some parts of the beautiful collectible doll are made of wood, never let it get into contact with water because this will cause a stain.

Given that there are so many beautiful collectible dolls in the market, it is really hard to choose which one to start your very own collection. If you want to stick to convention, two favorites are Barbie and porcelain dolls.

These two have been around for more than 40 years and even as new brands come in, they are still a classic.

Initially, you may not have bought the beautiful collectible doll to sell it but if ever you change your mind, the tips mentioned above will be very useful and get you the best possible price. So you will also know how much it costs in today, look it up in the Internet or ask someone from the specialty store because they are the authority figures on this matter.

Cabbage Patch Collectible Dolls: The Mystery Behind its Stardom

Cute and adorable may be the best words to describe why the Cabbage Patch became collectible dolls.

The Cabbage Patch Kids are stars on their own rights with the admiration of fans and supporters, with their achievements and some gossips and intrigues they have been through, signs that only prove that this line of dolls have arrived from way back its humble beginnings.

The History
In 1978, Xavier Roberts created the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls for voodoo purposes. The dolls were originally marketed on witchcraft stores. Roberts first named the line "Little People" and produced them at an old clinic that he converted into showroom, in Cleveland, Georgia called the Babyland General Hospital.

It has become a hit, not only the dolls but even the idea of the place being the "birthing place" for the dolls, their nursery and adoption center. Babyland General Hospital became a tourist attraction during that time.

In 1982, the toy manufacturer Coleco began mass producing the dolls. They changed its name from Little People to the Cabbage Patch Kids. This was when it started to hit it really big. Every child wants to have one. It even became a must-have toy every holiday season. The line has become so big that they even got to travel with the NASA Space Shuttle in 1985.

Adding to its popularity, in 1992, the Cabbage Patch Kids became the official mascot in the US Olympic team. And in 1999, it has become part of the 15 designs of US postal stamps commemorating the 1980s.

When Coleco declared bankruptcy, the Cabbage Patch Kids were then mass produced by other known toy companies like Toys R Us, Mattel, Hasbro and Play Along.

Other Versions
Through time, the Cabbage Patch kids have evolved. Different versions have come up to the sheer enjoyment of the kids who want to play with such and the adults who collect the line.

Danbury Mint offers mail delivery right into your doorstep of the porcelain versions of the Cabbage Patch Kids. The prices for this type range from $54 to $125.

There is also the talking Cabbage Patch Kids. These dolls are equipped with sensors and microchips which enables the dolls to communicate with other dolls of the same type with the limited vocabulary that they were set up with.

Although this is also a collectible piece, it is not as successful as the silent versions due to its higher price that limited people can afford. And kids, even some adults get spooked with the idea that the dolls are actually talking with one another. This may be a high-tech feat but sadly, didn't enjoy as much fame.

Controversies
The Cabbage Patch Kids' stardom didn't come easily. They have gone through many controversies and hoaxes. One famous urban legend about it is that there was a time when the owners would bring the dolls to the manufacturer for repair and the dolls would actually be sentenced death certificate. It was also said that these dolls were created so that people would get used to seeing mutated babies that may be caused by the Nuclear War's aftermath.

But none of the said controversies were proven. And until now, Cabbage Patch Collectible Dolls is still around. And as long as there are children who want to play with such, this type will stay in the market for quite a while.

Collectible Dolls: Interesting Finds You May Want to Keep

It used to be just a simple toy. Now dolls became collectible. It is because through time, innovations have happened with how they make the dolls that one cannot help but buy each design that they like and collect them for personal enjoyment or even as an investment.

A Doll as a Child's Toy
A doll was created as a representation of people, animals and other creatures that the mind could imagine. It is said to be around since time immemorial. Our ancestors may have dolls carved out from woods and other materials that can easily be gotten from the environment.

But now, name whatever you like your doll to be made out of from and you could easily find one. There are dolls that are made out of simple things like paper or wood, bone, clay, rubber or plastic to the complex and hard to find stones, porcelain, china and cloth.

Other Uses of Dolls
In early times, dolls were used as representations of something important in ceremonies and even religious rituals. It is also evident until now, the voodoo dolls that are being used in witchcraft and sometimes, just as an accessory for people who owns such.

There are also dolls that are being used by people in the medical profession to train budding health professionals regarding the anatomy of the human body. While there are also dolls to train caregivers on how to look after babies, even new moms and daddies can be handed dolls to prepare on how to care for a child while awaiting the birth of the real one.

But most dolls serve as fashion figures. Like Barbies became really prominent because of the clothes that they wear and the accessories that they come up with.

History of Dolls
There are archaeological evidences that prove that dolls are among the oldest toys ever existed, the earliest ones was said to be found on 2000 BC in Egyptian tombs, mostly in children's graves. While the type that has limbs and are movable and the outfits may be changed is said to date back in the 600 BCE. While in Asia, fashion dolls has become one of the fastest rising forms of collection among adults, especially in South Korea and Japan.

The Materials
Dolls nowadays can be made out of every material available, as long as it can actually be transformed. Not only have the materials varied but the features of the dolls. The materials now known to make dolls from are leather, paper, bisque, china, clay, celluloid, even corn husks, resin, rubber, or wax wood, bone, or ivory, vinyl, porcelain among many others.

Famous Kinds
Barbie may come in our minds first when talking about famous dolls. But other types that stand out in the collector's market include action figures, especially if the characters are from famous movies or TV shows, Ball-jointed dolls, Chatty Cathy, other Celebrity Dolls or those that are patterned after your favorite famous personalities, Fashion dolls like Barbie and Bratz, Holly Hobbie Dolls, Cabbage Patch Kids, Paper Dolls, Strawberry Shortcake, to Japanese and voodoo dolls.

The abovementioned are only some of the collectible dolls available in the market now. There really are so many to choose from, it just depends on what you want to add up to your collection or just possess to enjoy as a toy.