Collectible Dolls

One of the most collectibles is the Barbie doll. Through the years, not much has changed except for maybe 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

Limited Edition Barbie Collectibles Wedgwood Barbie

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.

There are a lot of people interested in collectible antique dolls. Aside from the ones that are still being produced, the ones that really go for a lot of money are the limited edition collections and some of the first which are no longer being sold.

If you are business minded, you can make money by buying them from someone and then selling it to interested buyers. To help you along, here are a few things to help you out.

First, you have to ask yourself whether you are selling what you have meaning your own collection or starting from scratch which means you will outsource for these goods in order to make a profit. The first one is easy but if you run out, then you have to go to option 2 which is to acquire these from a distributor or wholesaler.

The nice thing about dealing with a distributor or wholesaler is that they will sell these to you at a low price and sometimes give a discount but only you have in large quantities.

Another option is for you to attend trade shows or estate auctions that although will cost a little more, has a sure chance of fetching a higher price from an interested buyer.

So how do you sell it? Well, since we are living in the digital age, why not use the Internet. You can create your own website to sell these products but if you don't know how, this can still be sold by uploading it into an auction site.

A good example is eBay because it is one of the more popular ones around. But when you do sell your collectible antique doll, make sure you have some photos so people will be able to see. It is best to take a few shots from various angles since they are unable to hold like you could when you are in a store.

You should also provide a description of the collectible antique doll you are selling. A brief history of the item, what materials were used, when and where it was made. You should also mention the doll's condition so they know if this is brand new or pre owned.

For those who will order, make sure you select the payment option. A lot of auction sites use Paypal aside from the credit card. You don't have to worry about shipping policies because this is already controlled by the web provider but again if this is your own, you better be sure that the item they selected will be delivered in good condition and on time.

The biggest challenge of having your own website selling collectible antique dolls or any other product for that matter is after sales service. What if the customer is not happy with what was delivered? If you want these people to purchase from you again, you have to be true to your word. This can be achieved by responding to any queries they may have or offering a money back guarantee if they are not satisfied.

If you are able to make this work out, you can make a lot of money buying and selling collectible antique dolls. The question you have to ask yourself is whether you have what it takes to run a successful online business.

Before the 20th century, dolls were made of materials such as clay, paper mache, wax and wood. Later on, manufacturers were able to use something else making such toys priceless today and these are known as collectible porcelain dolls.

But porcelain was not invented by the Europeans. This was discovered by the Chinese in the 600's and this was used to make a cups, plates and pots. Given that it can be molded to just about any figure, it wasn't long before collectible porcelain dolls were made in different colors, shapes and sizes. The best part is that girls who play with them can change their clothes that teaches them learn a thing or two about fashion.

Victorian Porcelain Doll

How is a collectible porcelain doll made? Well, the faces are made by molding special clay. This is then glazed with a special paint or left plain. This creates then two types of dolls, the plain version is called bisque while the painted one is called china.

This is then baked in a kiln which is similar to an oven at over 2000 degrees. Once the initial firing is finished, it is repainted and returned once again to the kiln. Since bisque looks like real skin, a lot of manufacturers focused on producing this instead of porcelain.

The face is then attached to the components like the body, arms and legs. Such parts go through the same process, sewn and then dressed according to the collectible porcelain doll's age, career if any and gender.

One of the best collectible porcelain doll manufacturers can be found in Germany. This is because of the intrinsic detail that is put into each one especially when the work is done by hand. France is another example which is why there is still a strong demand in the world. Naturally, there are others that make this but you cannot get the same craftsmanship and quality.

Just how much do collectible porcelain dolls sell for? The cheapest one can be purchased for under $10 while others may go up to $500. But the most expensive especially the antiques are sold for $1,000 each.

So, should you decide to buy collectible porcelain dolls, it is best to do some research first before you spend your hard earned cash. This will let you know which merchandise are valuable or saleable right now in the market and if your supplier has a good reputation that produces with the highest quality for the customer.

One of the best places to find collectible porcelain dolls is eBay. This is because you won't find what you an antique or limited edition version at the local or specialty store. If you do decide to buy collectible porcelain dolls online, you better ask if the price already includes the shipping costs. Once you get it, make sure that this is displayed properly and protected because they are after all very delicate.

For those of you who are just starting a collection, it wouldn't hurt to get one of those mass produced porcelain dolls at the toy store. Collectible porcelain dolls can sometimes be bought at the local flea market. You just have to go through each stall one by one. But if money is no object, then go visit an antique store.

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.

Ever enjoyed a movie and want to take something home with you as a souvenir? Well some manufacturers have done that by creating action figures like for Star Wars and Aliens. One timeless classic that also has collectible dolls is the Wizard of Oz.

One company that makes this is the Tonner Doll Company. They have all the characters there like Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. Each Wizard of Oz collectible doll is sold separately and is priced at $124.99.

Each character is made from hard plastic with jointing elbows, hips, knees, neck and shoulders so you can change their poses. They also have interchangeable clothes so you can put something new for them to wear.

In fact, when they first released in the market, it sold like hot cakes making it difficult for others to see or even buy them. Aside from the main characters, there are also collectible dolls with different outfits set in different locations.

There is a doll that goes out to lunch, off to a party, strolling around Emerald City and or course the basics.

You should take note though that the Wizard of Oz Collectible Dolls does not resemble any of the characters that played in the movie or even in the musical. This is just the artist's way of portraying these characters.

Two other companies have also made their own versions of the Wizard of Oz. These are namely Madame Alexander and Barbie.

If you compare the prices of all three, Barbie is offering this at the most affordable price of less than $30 a piece. Although they are 4 inches shorter, they are still great collector's item for anyone who loves to bring a part of the movies home.

Once you start your Wizard of Oz Collectible Doll collection, be sure you know how to take care of them so that this could still be saleable in the future. This should be stored in a climate controlled environment because changes from hot to cold or vice versa could damage the doll. An ideal place to put them would be in a chest of drawers or a trunk.

It is also best to keep them in their original packaging or air tight container so moisture does not develop. If these will be stored, this should be wrapped using acid free tissue. If there are any metals, place this somewhere else as it can discolor the plastic.

Probably the only advantage of hard plastic dolls is that you can clean the body using almost any soap detergent just as long as it does not have any ingredients that include ammonia, bleach or chlorine.

Oxygen 10 can also be used to remove stains that are not close to any painted surfaces by moistening a cotton ball. After letting it dry for a few hours, wash it with water and mild soap then rinse well.

One important thing you must remember about any doll is never get it exposed to sunlight. This will make the fabric fade which will also decrease the value of your collectible.

The Wizard of Oz Collectible Doll is must have for those who have been touched by the movie or the play. It has a different message for each of us and one line that perhaps everyone will remember is that "there is no place like home."