Collecting Dolls

Submitted by: Lily Morgan

Doll collecting is a hobby that has been in practise for many years. There are collectors that dedicate their entire hobby interest to dolls, dollhouses and the proper maintenance of them. Hobbies such as this are not for the weak. It takes plenty of time and commitment to grow a substantial doll collection. Beginners should take a time out to consider the many facets of doll collecting. It certainly should be a decision made based on joy and passion. Doll collecting is a much bigger world than some might think based on first impressions.

For the beginner that is seriously interested in devoting time to making doll collecting a viable hobby, it’s important to seek out information. Be sure that any sources used for facts and information gathering are reputable. It’s incredibly easy to be misled by websites or other sources that are not accurate. It’s important to know what you want to get out of your doll collecting experience. Going in blind can leave you feeling clueless and uncertain of where or how to begin.

The first thing that most would be doll collectors should do is read up on the most basic and common types of collectible dolls. There are certain ones that can easily be identified if you know what to look for. Getting informed should always be used as a starting point. There are many fabulous resources that can assist new doll collectors in their new endeavour. Try an online search or consult the library for hobby books.

Look into doll shows and exhibits. This is an ideal place for getting acquainted with other doll collectors. It also opens your eyes to a whole new world. Plenty can be learned from attending a doll exhibit. Don’t hesitate to ask questions of the professionals since there is no better place to gain valuable information. Browsing through the many dolls on display is great for getting ideas and insight on the many possibilities associated with collecting dolls.

One thing about being a collector of any type of item is that you must always keep your eyes open for that one great find. Some of the most valuable dolls collected were saved from somebody’s attic or storage room. Garage sales tend to have more antiques than one would assume. Many people selling old dolls are not even aware of the potential collectible within their possession. Don’t underestimate the bargains you can find by perusing garage sales and second hand stores for dolls and doll accessories.

Of course it should go without saying that dolls must be properly and carefully stored. To improperly store a doll of value may effectively reduce the worth of the doll. Paying attention to factors like temperature and moisture is extremely important. Too much or too little of either of these can be detrimental. If you know you have dolls of value or wish to preserve them so they may increase in worth, seek out professional assistance. Collecting dolls requires patience and persistence, both of which always pay off.

About the Author: Add to your miniature collection, or start a new one! Come see our large selection of doll house furniture kits and accessories. Visit us online at http://www.TheMagicalDollhouse.com today.

Source: www.isnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=286629&ca=Family+ConcernsAngara Inc. Heart Ruby and Round Diamond Split Shank Ring (5237) Heart Ruby and Round Diamond Split Shank Ring

Doll Collecting by Blake Hygate

Doll collecting is a hobby that has grown in popularity. Doll collecting basics includes identifying dolls and their values, how to protect and preserve dolls, how to photograph your dolls and how to sell your dolls for the best prices.


Antique dolls are those created before 1930. This would include bisque, china, papier mâché, wood and wax dolls. Early dolls were produced in 1850 by individual English craftsmen. The dolls were made by carving the wood, handpainting their features, and clothing the dolls. In excellent conditions, these dolls referred to as "Queen Anne" dolls can be quite valuable. An early 19th century doll in excellent condition is valued at $1,500. A late 17th century Queen Anne doll in excellent condition is valued at over $20,000; these are very rare, with less than 30 reported.

Following the Queen Anne dolls in succession were the papier mâché dolls. Made in the early 19th century and continuing through the early 20th century, the dolls were made in the United States, Germany and France. They cost less to manufacture than the Queen Anne dolls because molds could be used. The German doll making industry became a leader in doll production. The American doll making industry was represented from 1840 to 1874 by Ludwig Greiner of Philadelphia. The traditional papier mâché doll has molded hair painted black, limbs made of wood, handpainted eyes, with a child's body. Glass eyes are available on a few dolls. Papier mâché dolls in excellent condition are an extreme rarity. A small, marked post-1872 Grenier can fetch $500 while an extraordinary German "milliners" doll could be valued over $2,000.

The next generation of dolls was the wax dolls. Again, the earliest wax dolls were manufactured by England craftsmen around 1840.They were created by home-based businesses by pouring liquid into molds and then setting the hair and glass eyes in the head. The bodies were made of stuffed cloth while the limbs were made of wax. Wax has proven to provide a realistic media for doll heads because wax can imitate skin better than wood or papier mâché. Wax dolls from the mid-19th century England can range in value from $1000 to $2000.

The typical antique doll is the china doll and parians. The china doll, popular from 1840 to 1880, featured fashionably dressed ladies with glazed porcelain head with identifiable hairstyles. For example, the Dolly Madison doll had all over curls and a ribbon. The parian dolls had head made of unglazed porcelain. A widespread doll such as the 1860s Highland Mary is valued at $300. A china doll with an elaborate hairstyle and ornamentation can be valued at several thousand and may be considered rare.

German and French bisque dolls were formed from the 1840s until after World War I. Fashion dolls depicted ladies dressed in gorgeous reproductions of current fashions. Jurneau, Rohmer, Simone and Huret were the leading manufacturers. Prices vary for fashion dolls; approximately $2,000 is the value for an unmarked fashion doll and $20,000 and up or more for Hurets and rare examples in their original outfits.

Doll collecting is an enjoyable hobby for all. Research must be done in order to recognize valuable dolls. Care must be taken to maintain and preserve the condition of the doll and protect your investment.
Blake Hygate owns a website dedicated to Antique Toys and Vintage Toys.

The Effanbee Doll Company

The Effanbee Doll Company, Inc. is located at 459 Hurley Avenue in Hurley, New York.

This company was found around 1912 in New York City. Effanbee stands for Fleischaker & Baum who were the company founders. The Effanbee Company is well known for being the first to produce a realistically proportioned child doll named “Patsy.” Identification of the Effanbee dolls is made easier by having the dolls name in the marking.

The doll Patsy was designed by Bernard Lipfert and advertised in 1928. She was one of the first dolls to have a manufactured wardrobe just for her. Other manufacturers sold accessories and clothing as well. She was made of all composition. Her patent was defended by Effanbee, which was actually a neck joint that allowed the doll to pose and stand alone. Patsy portrayed a three year old girl with short bobbed red hair with a molded headband, painted side glancing eyes, pouty mouth, bent right arm and wore simple classic dressed closed with a safety pin. A golden hear charm bracelet fit tightly on her wrist and a gold paper heart tag with her name. Patsy was a very popular doll. There were several sisters created in many factory variations and a boyfriend named Skippy.

The Effanbee Doll Company created a doll line to popular current events such as producing George and Martha Washington for the bicentennial of George’s birth. They also costumed dolls in ethnic dress such as “Miss Scotland,” or after characters in books like “Alice in Wonderland.”

In 1940, the death of Hugo Baum, and loss of income during the war years brought the Effanbee success story into a decline. The Effanbee Company was sold in 1946 to Noma Electric and they reissued a 1946 Patsy, then later a new 17-inch Patsy Joan. The company has changed hands several more times. It was at one time with Stanley Wahlbery as president of the company and Irene Wahlberg as designer.

There were limited editions of Patsy Ann and Skippy issued during the 1970s. Patsy reappeared in vinyl in the 1980s.

The Robert Tonner Doll Company acquired Effanbee in 2002 from bankruptcy. Robert Tonner is a talented designer who designed Betsy McCall and fashion dolls.

Early Doll Creations

Among some of their earlier creations is “Brenda Starr, Reporter.” She was created by Dale Messick to premiere on June 30, 1940 as the tempestuous and flamboyant redhead who was always impeccably dressed and coifed traveling the world on one exciting assignment after another for her newspaper, the Flash. Her adventures were filled with glamour, romance and intrigue as she was torn between the demands of her career and the many loves of her personal life.

Brenda Starr’s story showed readers a new type of heroine. She fought from day one on the newspaper job to be treated as an equal. Brenda has a sleek and sexy style that portrays the allure and independence of a working woman at the top of her career.

In 1945, Brenda dreamed of a tall, dark and handsome stranger who materialized into the Basil St. John doll creations. Basil St. John was a reclusive millionaire who cultivates a rare species of black orchids, which is the only known remedy for his “secret disease.” Basil St. John is introduced with a collection of dressed dolls and outfits worthy of a dashing Romeo.

Later Versions of Brenda Starr

In 2000, Effanbee introduced Brenda Starr, sculpted by Sandra Bilotto. Sandra Bilotto created imaginative clothing and zest for the favorite reporter, Brenda Starr.

When Robert Tonner acquired Effanbee in 2002, he re-styled the original Brenda head sculpt to fit the Tonner Doll Company’s Tyler Wentworth body style. A new era for Brenda Starr, the sexy and independent newspaper reporter, spanned across the years of 2002 to 2007. This collection has provided collectors with extraordinary fashion from another era.

Daphne Dimples joined Brenda Starr at the Staff at the Flash Newspaper office. Daphne is an apprentice to Brenda and the heiress and niece of the owner of the Flash Newspaper. She is not one to take second place to anyone, she joined the staff to gain fame as a reporter in her own right.

Daphne Dimples is my favorite of this modern collection. I like her as “Arrival at Port.” She wears a two piece belted suit of flannel with faux fur sleeves. Her ensemble includes a spiffy looking hat, purse, earrings, necklace, hose, and shoes.

In 2005, Robert Tanner introduced Brenda Starr’s best friend, Betty Ann, a witty copywriter with the same glamorous flair as her best friend, Brenda Starr.

Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about starting and maintaining a Vintage Doll Collection visit http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special sections in U.S. History and the Kennedy Administration visit http://www.camelotarticles.com/
This article is FREE to publish with the resource box
© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

The Basic Doll Types Part 1

If you are serious about starting a doll collection of any kind you should have some basic knowledge of how to identify doll types. There are basically nine doll types that include:

Bisque Dolls
Composition Dolls
French Bisque
German Bisque Dolls
Glazed China Heads
Modern Dolls
Paper Mache Dolls
Untinted Bisque
Wax Dolls

A bisque doll refers to a type of doll that has been fired twice having color added before the second firing. The color before the second firing includes the overall tint as well as the facial features. Even though the Bisque heads were expensive to make, if made on a large enough scale, they could become very cost effective. The Bisque dolls were also created from molds like a poured wax doll and later composition dolls.

The early bisque heads had molded hair and eyes, later heads had possessed glass inset, sleep eyes, or flirty eyes. Some bisque dolls even had inset tongues and teeth. Most of the bisque dolls were produced in Germany because of the large deposits of clay needed to make the porcelain. Body types of the bisque dolls varied. Some types were made of leather, cloth, wood, paper mache, composition, and bisque. Bisque doll bodies are heavier than other types of dolls. Bisque dolls are usually only seen in a smaller size doll.

The term “composition dolls” is a collective term used to describe a variety of pulped-wood or paper-based mixtures. These mixtures were used to create heads and bodies. These mixtures were used in the place of wood because they were generally less expensive. They were also easier to use and allowed for more creativity than working with wood materials. The easier to use materials allowed a greater production with machines, which made a huge difference throughout the doll making industry.

Some of the formulas for composition included edible ingredients like eggshells and bread. This created a problem with insects, bugs and rodents gnawing upon them. Other formulas of composition were susceptible to changes in the temperature and humidity. When the composition formula shrank or swelled the result was cracking or crazing of the paint on the dolls. The varnish used on the composition dolls often became discolored and turned dolls to a yellowish tint. Due to all these problems with the composition formulas it is very difficult to find a composition doll in really great condition, one without the cracking and/or peeling of the heavy paint.

When you do find a composition doll in good condition, storage conditions has to be controlled. Avoid storing in basements or upstairs closets or any area closed off from the rest of the house. Store your composition dolls in the more lived in areas of your home.

The French Bisque Dolls created in the 1840’s to the 1950’s have a few characteristics unique from other doll makers. They usually have large almond shaped eyes, long painted lashes, large brows with numerous strokes. The eyes are paperweight. Hair of mohair wigs and either jointed composition bodies or kid leather bodies. Also, the French Bisque dolls were more detailed and a bit fancier than the German Bisque dolls. A few of the best known French Bisque doll manufacturers include:

Jumeau
Bru
Steiner
SFBJ.SFBJ

When trying to identify a French Bisque doll look for markings on both the heads and bodies. There are a number of markings distinctive to Jumeau, Bru, Steiner or other French doll makers. The markings also help to identify French made Bisque dolls from their German counterparts.

As a general rule, French Bisque dolls are much harder to find than their German counterparts. They are also considered to be more valuable. If you can add a good French Bisque doll to your collection, you have made a major accomplishment.

Continued in Part 2

Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about starting and maintaining a Vintage Doll Collection visit http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special sections in U.S. History and the Kennedy Administration visit http://www.camelotarticles.com/

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box

© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

The Madame Alexander Doll Collections

The Madame Alexander dolls are collector-quality only. They are exquisitely fine dolls that are designed to be displayed and not played with. Each of the Madame Alexander dolls are produced in limited quantities, and never produced again. Once all dolls are sold, you will have to purchase from a collector.

Madame Alexander dolls can be found in fine doll shops, online on collectors’ web sites and auction sites such as eBay. The Madame Alexander dolls are created with a story that portrays some kind of special moment in history, literature, movies, girls’ lives and fairy tales. The categories of Madame Alexander dolls help the collector decide whether or not to build a Madame Alexander doll collection around a certain line such as all the dolls in the fairy tales category.

A good place to start to get to know the Madame Alexander Doll Collections is to visit their company web site.

The cost of a new Madame Alexander doll is usually around $79.99. I just saw some of the new birthday theme dolls in a fine shop for this amount. In the future, these dolls will become more expensive to purchase from those who have collected them today, and if you purchase Madame Alexander dolls from the previous years, you can expect to pay a huge amount of money for them. The older dolls and of course those in mint condition command prices anywhere from $300 upward.

I personally do not like keeping my dolls in boxes. You should always keep the box, but I keep my dolls behind glass cases so I and other can enjoy seeing them. A nice case is a must for a doll collector to preserve the quality of their collections.

You will need to purchase a doll price guide to get an idea of how much to pay for previous dolls.

The creator of the Madame Alexander dolls actually grew up in the doll business under her Russian immigrant father, Maurice Alexander. Beatrice Alexander Behrman learned to appreciate the beauty of dolls during her early years in life with her father who opened the first “doll hospital” in the United States in 1895. As an adult, Madame Alexander founded the Alexander Doll Company, Inc. in the 1920’s and became the leading professional woman of the doll industry. Her company is famous for beauty and high quality dolls and clothing all based upon a special moment in history, in literature, in the movies, in a girls’ life or a fairy tale. Madame Alexander dolls are fascinating to collect.

The earliest Madame Alexander dolls were actually cloth and composition as this was the type of materials most dolls were made of in the 1930s’.

The first doll was based on a licensed character (Scarlet from Gone with the Wind). This creation lead to the dolls based on characters from popular motion pictures, the first to bring feature baby dolls to market, the first to create dolls in honor of living people such as Queen Elizabeth and the Dionne Quints.

The Alexander Doll Company was acquired by the Kaizen Breakthrough Partnership LP.

Madame Alexander and her company’s goal were and still are to produce the highest quality and most beautiful doll clothing in the entire world. I personally think Madame Alexander and her Company have accomplished this goal over and over again. She used the same molds over and over again with only costume and hairstyle changes to create the personality and character of each.

Written by: Connie Limon. For more information about starting and maintaining a Vintage Doll Collection visit http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting For a variety of FREE reprint articles as well as special sections in U.S. History and the Kennedy Administration visit http://www.camelotarticles.com

This article is FREE to publish with the resource box

© 2007 Connie Limon All Rights Reserved

Horsman Dolls: "America's Best Known and Best Loved Dolls

In 1950, the Horsman Doll Company had been in business for 85 years. All this time the Horsman Doll Company produced a “People’s Doll,” which was a fine doll at a moderate price. Their reputation was built upon producing a limited number of well-made composition dolls. In particular, the Horsman Doll Company produced baby dolls with mama criers with a certain look, a sweet, dolly face that did not change significantly from year to year. The company’s slogan was, “America’s Best Known and Best Loved Dolls.”

The material once used, which was composition, has now given way to a sturdier vinyl material. The Horsman Doll Company continued doing what they did best. They consistently produced a staple line of very attractive dolls in wonderful high quality outfits all at affordable prices which made it possible for almost any American girl to own one.
Another significant change for the Horseman Doll Company was the beginning of rooting Saran fibers into their soft vinyl doll heads. In 1953, they decided to use Dynell, another plastic hair fiber, for the Shadow Wave doll. The hair on this doll could be styled and set. However, in 1954, they returned

Read on at: http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting

Galoob Baby Face Dolls

Mel Birnkrant is the creator of the Galoob Baby Face doll. He has been in the toy industry for many years and is a leading toy designer. Mel Birnkrant was the Creative Director for Colorforms Toys for over 20 years. While in this position he created a cornucopia of products that included the Mickey Mouse and Disney Colorforms toys. He licensed the Baby Face doll design in partnership with Kiscom Toys to the Lewis Galoob Toy Company in 1990. All the original outfits worn by the Baby Face dolls were created by Judy Albert, who also has fame for the Cabbage Patch family of dolls.
Mel and his wife, Eunice converted a three-story schoolhouse in upstate New York into a home for themselves and their unusual collection of rare comic character toys.
The first dolls’ names were:
· So Surprised Suzie
· So Happy Heidi
· So Sorry Sarah
· So Shy Sherry
· So Delightful DeeDee
· So Playful Penny
· So Innocent Cynthia
· So Loving Laura
· So Sweet Sandi
· So Funny NatalieAll the dolls have acrylic glass eyes and real eyelashes. The dolls are made of a high quality vinyl and are about 13” tall. Being jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbows,

Read on at: http://smalldogs2.com/VintageDollCollecting