Collectible Dolls - How Rare?

In this article we're going to discuss exactly what determines how rare a collectible doll is and how its value is determined.

Collectible dolls are a strange paradox. The reason that dolls are collectible is because back when they were new, they weren't.

How many times have you heard a friend say something like, "I had one of the very first Barbie Dolls. If I had kept it I'd be rich right now". Well, the truth of the matter is, if every girl who bought a Barbie Doll back in 1959 when they first came out had kept it in its box and never played with it then none of these dolls would be worth anything. The reason Barbie is worth so much money is because back then little girls bought the dolls, took the dolls out of their boxes, played with the dolls and ultimately tossed the dolls in the garbage or gave them away either when they became too old to play with them or the dolls themselves simply just fell apart from use.

So an early doll that has become as popular as Barbie has become, if found in its original box and unopened, which is pretty unlikely, would get a lot of money at an auction. How much money? Last figures for an early Barbie doll are estimated at about $2,500. This is actually down quite a bit from the heyday of collectible selling when you could get close to $10,000 for a series 1 Barbie Doll from 1959. We have since come back down to reality.

But is this reality? The early Barbie Dolls sold for a few dollars. How can something that sold for a few dollars be worth thousands today? Well, it all comes down to supply and demand. If something is low on the supply side and enough people want it then the price is going to skyrocket. And for whatever reason, people love old things, the same old things that they used to throw away.

But it isn't just old popular dolls that are worth money. They may be rare because there aren't a lot of them left around. But some dolls are rare and worth a lot of money because there were never very many of them to begin with. While maybe not as many people would be interested in these dolls because they weren't that popular to begin with, the die hard collectors still go crazy over these items. So a collectible doll like 1967's Mike Hazard, Double Agent, will still bring in about $1,500 in an auction if unopened in the original box. Why? Because finding one of these is as unlikely as finding life on Mars.

Of course not every old doll brings in thousand dollar price tags. If the doll was in great supply but for some reason never caught on at all then most likely the doll won't be worth much today. In the case of Mike Hazard there just weren't many made to begin with.

There are those who will argue that this whole collectible craze is just that, crazy. And then there are those who's lives wouldn't be the same without this stuff as many people actually have built businesses around buying and selling collectibles. As they say, one man's peanut butter is another man's lobster tail.

------------------------------------------------------- Michael Russell Your Independent guide to Collectible Dolls ------------------------------------------------------- Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Are Your Collectibles Valuable? Here's How to Find Out

The first thing you will need to do is check out the condition of your item, be it a train, collectible Barbie doll, Disney collectible, or some other collectible item. Is it scratched, torn, clean, dirty, new, in a box, without a box? You get the idea...

Use a good light source and check the item out very carefully, noting the name, identification marks, and any copyright marks. Also, check for any imperfections, tears, scratches, color imperfections, mars, stains, etc.

Many dolls are collected with the box intact. An intact box can raise the value of an item a great deal. Some are worthless if the box is damaged badly or missing.

NOTE: Some dolls are meant to be played with and taken out of the box to dress. Examples are the Tonner Doll Company dolls: Tyler Wentworth, Sydney Chase, Gene, etc.

Remove the doll from the box for inspection. Look for forums, discussion boards, or news groups where similar collectors gather online. You can also check on eBay (or other online auctions) to see what similar items are selling for and what their condition was at the time of sale. Compare the prices with, and without a box to see the difference.

To find your item on eBay:

1. Find the category on eBay where your item would most likely be listed. (Dolls, bears, trains, Disney collectible would be likely categories.

2. If using Dolls, use the [check only in Dolls box] in the search.

3. Use your keyword to search, such as "Barbie doll". This will bring up the current auctions window.

4. Now, check the completed auctions box, to check out the prices and descriptions on the sold items.

5. When you click on the individual auctions, you can see the price the item sold for, the condition of the item and whether it had a box. Look for terms such as NRFB (Never Removed From Box) or MIB (Mint In Box).

Note that the price on eBay is not the best price for your item. Usually, the price could be more if sold locally because the online auction buyer cannot actually handle the item and examine it in person.

Other places to find information about your item (doll) would be websites selling your item (doll), antique or boutique shops, toy or hobby shops, and resell shops. Also, check out the resource books at the public library.

Popular collectibles might have a price book that is printed for collectors. You can also use a collection of hobby magazines to price items or to locate the year the item was made.

If you have done all of the above and still cannot find the information that you need about your item, check out some local hobby clubs in your area. Most hobby enthusiasts will be willing to help you find the information you need and are eager to talk about their hobby. You might even find an expert on your items, or a buyer!!

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Kathy is a professionally published freelance writer and photographer who is currently involved in a fascinating adventure of living off the grid and working on the road as she travels around the southwestern United States.

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Vintage Barbie Dolls - Identifying Vintage Ponytail Barbies

Barbie was first released by Mattel in 1959 and since the earliest Barbie doll had her hair pulled back in a Ponytail, she is referred to as the Ponytail Barbie by vintage Barbie collectors. There are six different incarnations of the Ponytail Barbie and so she is referred to by her number, i.e. #1 Ponytail Barbie or #2 Ponytail, etc. What follows is a brief guide to identifying each one as the differences between them are usually subtle, but hugely significant to value.

#1 Ponytail Barbie

The #1 Ponytail Barbie can be either blonde or brunette. More blonde dolls were made so the brunette is more valuable. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail and she has curled bangs. Her irises are white and her lips are red and she also severely arched eyebrows. Pointy, actually. She is also peering off to the side.

Constructed from heavy vinyl plastic, she has a solid torso and holes in the bottom of her feet and copper tubing in her legs so she can be fitted to her pedestal. The bottom of her right foot also says "Japan" on it.

Due to the nature of the plastic she was made from, she is usually faded to a very white color. Her original outfit consists of a black/white zebra striped swimsuit, open toed black high heels (with holes in them!), white sunglasses (blue lenses) and golden hoop earrings.

#1 Ponytail Barbie is also marked: Barbie (TM) Pats. Pend. ©MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc.

#2 Ponytail Barbie

The #2 Ponytail Barbie is actually exactly the same as the #1 Barbie except she no longer has holes in her feet and no copper tubing. Her new pedestal has arms to hold her in place. She bears the same mark as above.

#3 Ponytail Barbie

#3 Barbie is like the #2 except she now has blue irises and softer eyebrows. She may have either brown or blue eyeliner.

#4 Ponytail Barbie

The #4 Barbie now comes in a new type of plastic and generally keeps her flesh-colored tone over the years. She also only comes wearing blue eyeliner.

#5 Ponytail Barbie

The big changes to the #5 Barbie are that her torso is now hollow and she bears a new mark: Barbie ® Pats. Pend. ©MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc. Note the ® instead of the (TM).

In addition. #5 also is available in a new hair color, Titian. Barbie's hair is also a bit stiffer now. The Titian #5 Barbie is very hard to find and the most collectible. Unfortunately, #5 Barbies are prone to greasy faces due to some problems Mattel was having with the vinyl. A greasy appearance will reduce value as the problem isn't universal and there are some dolls still showing lovely matte faces to be found.

#6 Ponytail Barbie

#6 has a new outfit, a red jersey swimsuit and red open-toed heels. Her lips are now watermelon colored instead of red. Her fingernail polish matches her lips. The vinyl problems were fixed so she won't have a greasy face anymore either.

Is she a number 6 or number 7?

Some time in 1963, there was a major change to Barbie. The #6 dolls produced in 1963 and 1964 have broader faces and also have a different mark: Midge(TM)/© 1962/Barbie®/© 1958/by/Mattel, Inc and they are available in different hair colors -- lemon blonde, ash blonde, titian and brunette (not raven black like the #1's). Her lips and nails are now coral.

Sometimes the Barbie with the new mark is referred to as the #7 Barbie by collectors and sometimes she is referred to as the #6. If you are considering adding one of these dolls to your collection, the important thing is to know that Barbie had a bit of a makeover between 1962 and 1963 and the 1962 doll was only manufactured for one year so she may be more collectible.

On a final note, there are lots of artists doing restorations and repaints of vintage Barbie dolls. Like any antique, any vintage Barbie that has been altered from her original condition will be far less valuable even if the repaint restores her beauty. If you are bidding on an auction for a Barbie doll and you have questions about any possible restoration work done to her, don't be afraid to question the seller.

if you would like to learn more about vintage Barbies or are looking to add to your collection, you can see some of the vintage Ponytail Barbies available on Jenni's website: http://vintagebarbies.collectiblesnook.com/

Jenni Kerala is a mid-century modern collector and collects mod Barbies and fashion accessories.

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Ken and Barbie - A Love Story

Ken and Barbie are household names around the world. It is doubtful that many people born in the western world in the past 40 years have not heard of Barbie and Ken, let alone owned one. Barbie was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler, who was the co-founder of Mattel. It quickly became one of the biggest selling toys of all time and continues to be a success today, despite heavy competition. Barbie's partner, Ken, was introduced in 1961. In 2004 Mattel announced the split of Barbie and Ken with a rather realistic press release reminiscent of real Hollywood break ups, saying that Barbie and Ken "feel it's time to spend some quality time apart." Others even went as far to say that they broke up due to overwhelming pressure from constant public scrutiny or possibly because Ken did not want to tie the knot. It is believed that they were back together again as soon as 2006.

It is believed that Ken and Barbie met on a TV commercial set and from there, a perfect love story began. Mattel launched many clothing and accessory ranges aimed at both Barbie and Ken and their circle of close friends.

The full name of Barbie is Barbara Millicent Roberts and Ken's full name is Ken Carson. Ken originally came with real hair mane but this was eventually changed to plastic to avoid the hair falling off when wet. The Ken doll is known for his muscular physique and permanently molded underwear. 1993 saw the introduction of Earring Magic Ken which gained a cult following within the gay community.

Both Ken and Barbie have consistently come under criticism for their unrealistic body proportions and apparent pressure on young people to conform to particularly body shapes and fashions. Barbie and Ken have always been known for their keen fashion sense, sports car driving and exotic pet keeping ways which many people criticize as being excessive and a symbol for materialistic western culture. Others however simply see it as good fun and a way for children to simply play out a fantasy life with dolls.

There is no doubt that Barbie and Ken are the most famous non-human couple in the history of humankind. Their 40+ year relationship sees them never aging, and always staying on top of fashion trends. More importantly in the eyes of Mattel, they consistently help to keep the Barbie line up alive and well with a never ending supply of accessories, clothing, cars and other gadgets that are still keeping kids occupied today.

Barbie dolls [http://www.barbiworld.com/barbie_collectibles/Barbie-collectibles-directory.html] retain their popularity after four decades. Watch some old Barbie videos and commercials.

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Barbie Doll Values Collecting - A Value Guide To Find The Worth Of Your Barbie Dolls

When collecting Barbie, the doll values in a guide used for Barbie dolls can be either tangible or intangible but either way we have a value guide for you. As people always say...everything has a price. You might be wondering what the values of your Barbie doll are or if you are getting ready to purchase Barbie doll collectibles to add to your collection what price should you pay? For this a Barbie doll collector should always use a value guide.

Collecting Barbie Dolls, defined by our 8 steps, can be lots of fun but finding their values can become frustrating as a collector because you are not sure what are the "right" price values. With a Barbie doll values guide book you can spend time researching your Barbie collector dolls, to understand their history, and related items like dollhouses, clothes, coloring books, games, etc. to help you in the process of finding the right values for your dolls. During the search you will want to use many different methods such as internet, auctions, local stores, and basic collector guides . While trying to determine the values of your collector Barbie Doll you will need to look for Vintage Barbie collecting terminology and it will guide you in the right direction.

Some key words that you need to know while you are looking through your collector Barbie doll value collecting guide:

HTF- hard to find
MIB- mint in box (factory doll in mint condition)
MIP- mint in package (means all accessories are still in original packaging)
MNB- in mint condition but not in original box
NT- (not touched) can mean excellent as well when talking about the collector Barbie Doll's condition
NRFB- never removed from box
OSS- has the original swimsuit

When a collector is trying to determine the worth of their Barbie doll, here are some key terms they will see in their value collecting guide:

Barbie Doll Book Values is defined as the pricing guide values of the collector Barbie and does not mean the price you should get on a secondary market. This is an important key word to note when collecting Barbie.

Barbie Doll Market Values is defined as the actual price you expect to sell your collector Barbie Dolls for. There are many factors to take into consideration as a doll collector so you will want to use online auctions as a guide when determine your collector Barbie values.

Barbie collector dolls should reflect the values of the items you collect because they appeal to you. This is the point where the values of your Barbie collector doll become intangible so even if the worth of the Barbie you are collecting is not valuable to the market, the sentimental worth will make it a value to you!

For more information on Barbie visit http://www.crazyforbarbie.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_Stewart

Watch Your Daughters Face Light Up With Excitement and Joy When You Give Her Barbie Doll Dream House

It's every little girl's dream to own a Barbie collection. Chances are your daughter is craving for Barbie collectibles to augment her current toys. Barbie collectibles are famous not only because of the Barbie figurine, but also for other sets such as the Barbie Doll Dream House.

If your daughter is eight years old or older, you can wow her this holiday season by giving her the splendid set collection of the Pink Barbie House. This set includes over fifty-five unique parts which imitate real-life household furniture and accessories.

The Pink Barbie Doll House is three feet high when fully assembled. There are ambient effects as well, lights and sounds which give the dream house a realistic feel. Tiki lights and chandeliers provide a luxurious glow to five delicately molded deluxe rooms in the three-story dream house.

Samples of ambient sounds include the crackling of the fireplace, the ring of the kitchen timer, and the flushing of the toilet. Your kid will delight in helping Barbie explore her new Pink Barbie House.

Watch as your kid makes Barbie ride the pull-string elevator to the different floors of the dream house, or let Barbie relax amidst the outdoor spa area complete with a whirlpool-type tub which can be filled with water. Your kid can re arrange the parts of the house every time Barbie has an occasion.

With the Pink Barbie Doll House, your daughter will learn household responsibilities such as cooking in the kitchen and cleaning up the house. The Pink Barbie Doll House provides your daughter with a good training ground for her future household activities. If your daughter's looking for only fun and relaxation for Barbie, she can let Barbie bask in the warm glow of the fireplace, or watch a movie on the mini-flat screen TV.

The Pink Barbie Doll House provides a perfect role-playing experience for your daughter as she dictates Barbie's activities in the luxurious house.

This is my Squidoo minisite where I put up all sorts of incredible videos, articles and reviews about Barbie Doll Dream House. To find out more about Barbie Dream House Click Here

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Antique Avon Barbie Doll Collection

When it comes to Barbie dolls you should know there are a lot of them throughout the world to collect. Many of the Barbie dolls from the old days are collectibles but then you have new Barbie dolls from today's era that are collectibles as well. Within this article we are going to be telling you some basic information about antique Avon Barbie doll collections.

Throughout the world there are a lot of antique Avon Barbie doll collections. If you are looking for a antique Avon Barbie doll collection that is well known to all doll collectors then you may want to consider taking the time to go online to find other individuals that are into antique Barbie Dolls. It would be even better if you could go online and find an individuals that is into antique Avon Barbie doll and that has a antique Avon Barbie doll collection of their own.

When it comes to the antique Avon Barbie doll collections you should know that there are a number of different types of Barbie dolls. For example there are antique Avon Barbie doll collections out there that consist of bride and grooms. Then you have antique collections that are of princess and prince. You may not realize it but antique doll collections can be worth a lot of money.

The truth is that if you have just one antique Avon Barbie doll out of a collection it alone could be worth a lot of money. If an individuals is missing that Barbie doll out of their collection and you have the one doll that will be completing their collecting then you can count on them offering you a lot of money for it. You see, the value of things are going up like never before.

Old video games go for about $80.00 and the same goes for a doll. Could you imagine having someone pay you $80.00 for an antique Avon Barbie doll? How about this, could you imagine someone paying you $800.00 for a doll collection? If you have the right antique Avon Barbie dolls in your collection then you may be getting over $800.00 for it.

One guess says that it is their hobby and something they enjoy doing. Many times the antique Avon Barbie doll collections will take a person's childhood memories and bring those memories back to them as if it were yesterday. If you have a antique Avon Barbie doll collection in your life right now then you have chosen a great thing to collect and we wish you luck with that.

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about antique avon Barbie dolls [http://collectingbarbiedolls.info/antique-avon-barbie-doll-collection], please visit Collecting Barbie Dolls [http://collectingbarbiedolls.info] for current articles and discussions.

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