Barbies

Fun and Profit Collecting Barbies

Executive Summary By Steve Dolan and Terry Edwards

One of the most popular collector's items is dolls. Collectible dolls can range from antique dolls to modern collectible dolls. If you are interested in collecting dolls, it would be a good idea to focus on a particular type of collectible doll.

Certainly one of the most rewarding and exciting is collectible Barbie dolls. While every little girl owns a Barbie, most of them do not collect them. Most of the people who actually collect Barbies are adults. Nearly all these adults are women, and about ten percent of Barbie collectors are male.

How to Collect Barbies

If you wish to maintain the value of your collectible Barbies, you must leave them in their boxes. Part of the value of a Barbie is the original box; therefore most experienced collectors do not ever remove their collectible Barbies from their boxes. The value of collectible Barbies can depreciate by as much fifty percent if they are taken out of their boxes.

As a collector of Barbie dolls you have a choice to make about whether to take the doll out of its box to enjoy while losing out on value, or simply console yourself that the doll in its box is beautiful and will maintain its value even though you will not get a chance to touch and play with it. Before you are able to accurately judge the value of collectible Barbies, you may need to ask an expert or read up on the literature pertaining to collectible Barbie dolls. There are two classes of collectible Barbie, vintage and modern. Vintage dolls are those produced from 1959 to the early eighties; modern dolls are produced from the mid-eighties on. Both classes have collectible value.

The value of your Barbie can depend on several factors. Evaluating the current value of collectible Barbies can be a bit confusing.

What Styles of Barbies to Collect

Most collectors who collect Barbies because of their value will gravitate towards Label dolls. The White Chocolate Obsession Barbie Doll is a wonderful example of such a collectible doll, and the name refers to the scent of white chocolate that exudes from the doll's hair. Other similar collectible Barbies include Faerie Queen, Badgley Mischka Bride Barbie, as well as the very restricted Nurse Barbie doll that has been designed by Robert Best.

However, Barbie dolls are so popular that they are also made based on TV shows, movies, and famous personalities. Collectors find them appealing, and the value of these popular Barbies will often appreciate. When considering collectible Barbies, these are perhaps the type of collectible Barbie doll that will come to mind first.

Barbie Doll Collecting - Something For Everyone

Barbie doll collecting

has been around for quite a while time and has accomplished many things. There are Barbies made for play and there are Barbies made for collectors. Let's look at the different types of Barbies that you can collect:

Vintage Barbie dolls. These are dolls made before 1972. Pink Box Barbies. The pink box Barbies are the Barbies that are meant for play. The collectible box Barbie is especially designed for adult collectors. Collect by themes. There are many types of themes for Barbie collectors. There are movie themes, such as Gone With The Wind or the Wizard of Oz, celebrity themes, such as Barbie as I Love Lucy, holiday themes, fantasy themes, and the list goes on and on.

Fashion designer collection. Barbies have a condition grading system much like baseball cards.

Improper storage of your doll can cause irreparable damage to the doll and its clothing. The garage, attic or basement is not the place to store your dolls. These places are not climate controlled and the fluctuation between hot and cold can damage the doll. Do not store your dolls in closed plastic bags or plastic Tupperware type containers. These containers can trap in moisture and cause mold to form on your dolls. Storing your doll in their original boxes may seem like a good idea; however it can actually damage the dolls due to the acid in the boxes. If you want to store your doll in the box, wrap it in acid free tissue paper first. Remove any jewelry or metal items from the doll because over time they will discolor plastics.

Wrap everything in acid free tissue paper prior to storage and check your dolls periodically. Under the right storage conditions, your Barbie dolls will still look brand new decades from now. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.

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vintage dolls

Executive Summary by Katharine Swan and Low Jeremy

Doll Collecting - How to Identify Your Vintage Doll

Some dolls can be identified by their maker's mark. Others are more difficult to identify; not all dolls were marked, and some companies sold their molds to other doll manufacturers, creating a host of "look-alikes."

Marked Dolls

Many of the well-known doll manufacturers marked their dolls, so the first thing to do is look for markings. Most markings are on the back of the doll's neck, right underneath the hairline, or on the doll's back. If the doll has her original clothing, that should be checked for identifying marks, too. Many doll manufacturers sewed tags into their doll's clothing, stating who the doll was or what company made her. For example, many American Character dolls were marked simply "A.C."

Unmarked Dolls

Unfortunately, many vintage dolls were not marked. Identifying these dolls require a little more work to identify them.

Research the doll. There are many doll reference books on the market, many of which provide detailed color photographs and descriptions of the different dolls. You can also research your doll online, as there is a host of websites that can help you identify your doll. You can take your doll to a doll hospital or store and ask if they know what it is. Doll shows and sales can be a valuable resource, as you'll find many people there who know and are passionate about all kinds of dolls. You can also have the doll appraised, and hope that the appraiser can tell you something about your doll.

If you are trying to identify a doll, there are many resources available to you.

Collecting Vintage Barbie Dolls

If you're one of the avid fans and collectors of modern Barbie but would want to possess valuable Barbie items, then you might want to consider collecting for vintage Barbie dolls. Vintage Barbie dolls-those dolls copyrighted by Mattel Incorporated from 1959 to 1972-are becoming quite valuable pieces in the world of antique collection.

- Check if the ears of the vintage Barbie doll have turned to green. Collectors say that this is a very important thing to consider in buying vintage Barbie dolls because it reflects the overall condition of the doll.

- Check is the face of the doll is greasy. The plasticizer that leaks out from its face usually causes greasy face of a vintage Barbie dolls. So make sure that before buying any vintage Barbie dolls, you check the face meticulously in order to check its status and condition.

The simplest remedy in removing the grease off the doll's face is by applying powder on it but better be careful because this remedy can worsen the doll's condition by taking off the vintage doll's facial make up.

- Check if the limbs of the vintage Barbie doll can be bent without restraint. - Check is the vintage Barbie doll has a fresh, complete and original face paint. Bright and original face paint on the lips, cheeks, eyes, eyebrows, nose and finger and toenails paint are quite valuable assets of a vintage Barbie doll.

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Bratz Dolls

Executive Summary by Kristen Crane and Ian Huckabee

Are Bratz Dolls a Negative Influence on Little Girls?

I remember when I was a little girl, oh about 11 years old, I had a really good friend named Chris. My family was poor and my mom didn't really dress up much, but Chris' mom did! She had the feather boas, the high heel slides with the feather puffs and tassels, along with the most glamorous dresses. Boy did her mom have some sexy dresses! We would try to dress up as sexy and as glamorous as we possibly could. We would put on make-up, jewelry, fishnet stockings, heels, boas, sequined, silk, taffeta or other fancy dresses, put up our hair and just have a ball! When my daughter was a little girl, I used to let her dress up in my clothes, but I didn't have any fancy or sexy dresses for her to play with. The question is: "Are Bratz Girls a Negative Influence on Little Girls?" The key here is parents need to instill morals in their children and let them know that characters like Bratz Girls are only make believe; and that girls their age really don't dress that way or wear make-up unless they are "playing" dress-up. Did you know that playing dress-up is a natural part of a young girl's life?

Bratz Forever? Green Building is Coming, But Slowly

I spoke with a builder this week who let me go on for about 4 or 5 minutes about two homes I'm starting which received the Bronze rating of my local home builders association's Green Calculator. When I paused from my excitement to catch my breath, the builder asked, "What's green building?"

Green building is expensive, and it takes much longer than the life of an average mortgage for the technologies and products used in building a green home to pay for themselves. At a green gathering I attended recently, we went around the room introducing ourselves. The room was fled with green specialists of various sorts, including the builder of Americ'a second greenest home in 2005. When it was my turn, with tongue in cheek I said I was a spec builder who's trying to build green competitive.

Green products and technologies are expensive, in part because they're still in the early stages of acceptance. Applying what's called S-curve theory -- which says that the amount of time it takes a product to gain 10% acceptance is the same amount of time it'll take that product to go from 10% to 90% acceptance -- it could be at least another 15 years before we see 90% acceptance of the products and technologies that will green our homes. We won't be brats forever, but we've got to stay the course and stem the tide.

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Preserving and Caring For Antique Dolls

Dolls are one of the most popular collector's items. Over the years, dolls have been created using a variety of materials, some of which are more delicate than others. Improper storage can mean a significant decrease in value for a particular collection.

Antique dolls made of wax were one of the first types produced. Originating in England at the beginning of the 19th Century, these dolls were quite realistic in appearance. The head was sculpted in clay and a plaster mold was created from the prototype. The wax was then poured into the mold and the remaining details and clothing were finalized by other workers. By the time a wax doll was finished, it had been subject to the fine-tunings of about twenty people. Bisque and porcelain are also popular components of antique dolls. Both porcelain and wax dolls can be damaged by sunlight so experts often advise to store them in a cool location, away from direct light. They are also highly susceptible to temperature changes, especially dampness. Excess humidity can result in mold and mildew and therefore easily ruin the value of an antique. Dolls should be kept in proper cases, preferably made of glass, to protect from dirt and smoke. Over time, cigarette smoke can discolour clothing, so great care should be taken to prevent his from occurring. While many plastic cases are available on the market, some forms of plastic degrade over time. It is best to store plastic dolls in boxes that offer ventilation. To clean antique dolls, simple dusting is advised. Dolls were not always created with water-safe materials and can be destroyed simply by coming in contact with liquid. In the 19th Century, doll hair was often made of mohair, set in a sugar solution that can be instantly broken down with water.

Clothing is an important feature of antique dolls and whenever possible, original clothing should be left intact. If new outfit is being created for a doll, it is crucial to save (and properly protect) the clothing being replaced.

When cracks or other damage occurs that is not easily repairable, a conservator should be consulted. Never try to patch up a nick with paint, as there are over 100 shades of white and proper matching of any color is near-impossible.

Sometimes even a damaged antique is more valuable in its original state than it is following repair. Although conservators are highly trained in the restoration of antiques, many collectors admire the wear-and-tear that has accumulated on a particular piece over time. Minor imperfections are all part of an antique's history.

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Hottest Ugly Doll Toys

Uglydolls are the hottest collectibles today; both kids and adults are always on the lookout for the latest editions. Each doll is handmade and has their unique individual personalities. Created by David Horvath and Sun-Min Kim, they play up to the ugly theme with cute but monstrous design features like having 3 eyes, or just one eye, or snaggly teeth, or tentacles. I have my personal favorites and it's a satisfying feeling that no other people share the same doll as mine.

Abima

Abima is out of control! He's got his hand in the cookie jar, and his mind on the next adventure, which is probably going to involve bouncing off the walls and knocking over expensive stuff. He only knocks over the expensive stuff. Not to worry though. This adorable doll is very protective and would always watch out for you.

Babo

Babo will protect you and what Babo lacks in mind power, he makes up for in love. He's everybody's best friend. He will stick with you to the end and when something scary happens, he will send you a nice greeting card from wherever it is he runs away to. A very curious, mischievous creature, Babo may need some guidance and parenting, so make sure to bring him with you to as many places as possible.

Deer Ugly

Deer Ugly lives in the forest where it's nice and quiet. But deep down, he's thinking: "Please take me home with you!" The nice quiet forest is great, but Deer Ugly wants to see the world...YOUR world! He wants to explore the fantastic places you frequent. Like that room with the desk and computer?

Cinko

This adorable doll fears the water. The best way to keep Cinko calm is to sit him down next to you to watch TV. Watch something about dry stuff. Maybe sit him on a towel. Those are dry. Or tell him your best joke.

By Kim Daly

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Barbie Dolls for Holiday

Since people love to collect something from holidays, the creators of Barbie-Mattel, Inc.-have come up with numerous Barbie doll designs that are fit for each holiday occasion. These Holiday Barbie dolls are quite thematic for the season and are becoming most sought-after items especially to Barbie collectors worldwide.

HOLIDAY BARBIE DOLLS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Indeed, there are seemingly countless Barbie dolls that were released to cater the collectors' demand annually. Whether you are interested in collecting Barbie created for a specific holiday or you would want to collect Barbie dolls for all seasons, occasions, and holidays, you better be aware what the are most collectible Barbie dolls to watch out for.

1. Never miss the Ferrari Barbie Doll. You're indeed lucky to get a hold of this Barbie doll because it was originally meant to be released overseas alone. But since there is a growing collector's demand, it was made available to the U.S. market. Since it is a special holiday Barbie dolls, this is quite expensive for a doll that doesn't have an elaborate gown.

Although it might seem that its pricey for a doll that doesn't have elaborate details, the Barbie doll's unique details and accessories like a the Ferrari-lined jacket, laced up boots, and a Ferrari-inspired skirt make up for it. Plus, the Ferrari Barbie is segmented as a Gold Label doll, meaning it can increase its value as time goes by.

2. Watch out for the Holiday Barbie Doll by Bob Mackie. Being the first holiday Barbie doll designed by Bob Mackie, this doll is exquisite and truly a remarkable piece.

Meeting up with the tradition of releasing holiday Barbie dolls for each holiday season, this doll is considered as a unique piece because it comes with unique outfit that is enchanting combination of red, silver and emerald accents and jewelry. It is also one of the most sought-after Barbie dolls because it comes in Caucasian or African American appearances.

3. Capture the beauty of the Stolen Magic Silkstone Barbie Doll. A significant number of Barbie collectors today only focus in collecting Fashion Model Collection or the Silkstone collection of Barbie dolls.

To meet a certain demand, Mattel came out with the Stolen Magic Barbie especially fit for the holiday season. This holiday Barbie doll come in an elaborately-dressed form that wears a satin charcoal gray gown with silver embroidery, sequins embellishments, faux chinchilla fur trims and a pale blue satin stole.

4. Get a hold of Lilly Pulitzer Barbie and Stacie Dolls. This cute holiday Barbie doll comes in Lilly Pulitzer designed outfits that is a perfect gift for the holiday season.

5. Don't let the Princess of the Pacific Islands Barbie Doll pass you by. This series of holiday Barbie dolls is quite popular because they feature dolls that are exquisitely-costumed with a good price.

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Doll Toy - What Does Your Girl Love Best?

When you're shopping for the little girl in your life, it can be difficult to decide what doll she will enjoy best. But there are many options when it comes to doll toys, doll clothes, and even doll furniture. Some of the most popular brands offer all of these options and can help your child to have more realistic playtime.

For younger little girls, you'll want to think about dolls like Baby Alive. Baby Alive allows your child to make and feed "food" to the doll. She will also be able to change her realistic diaper after a meal. Baby Alive makes realistic noises and she actually sucks a bottle or eats from a spoon.

If you're looking for something a little lower-tech, Fisher Price makes Little Mommy dolls that are the perfect size for toddlers. They also come with accessories like car seats, strollers, play pens, and high chairs. Little Mommy will please any little girl who wants to play with doll toys.

Barbie is, of course, the most iconic of all doll toys. She's been around for over 50 years and she continues to remain very popular. She comes in many different versions and has younger siblings, pets, and many different careers. You can find a Barbie for virtually any interest your little girl has. You can also invest in Barbie clothing, furniture, houses, stores, and you can even get her a dream car. Barbie is great for kids ages three and above. Little girls from ages five to eight are particularly interested in Barbie.

Girls also enjoy Bratz dolls. These dolls are famous for their large heads and tiny bodies. They're also known for their trendy fashion sense. Not only can you play with Bratz dolls, but they also have hundreds of accessories such as pets, purses, shoes, and furniture. You can also purchase homes for your Bratz dolls.

American Girl is another popular doll with little girls. These dolls are about 18 inches tall and are very high quality. Each doll comes with a story about her life. You'll also find furniture, clothes, and other accessories. These dolls are also popular with mothers who appreciate their wholesome look. American Girl stores also offer parties where little girls can bring their dolls for lunch.

By Tiffany Dow

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Bratz Dolls - Have They Replaced Barbie?

Do you know the latest craze among young girls these days? Well, you probably have if you have a little girl at home. But in case you have not, then you should know that it is not Barbie doll as you may have thought.

The days of Barbie doll are over and these leggie beautiful dolls no longer rule the hearts of the young ladies. She has been replaced by the Bratz dolls. The reason why that is the case if very simple! For one, these dolls are more in the times and represent the rebellious youth more efficiently than the sexy but straight Barbie. The emphasis of the product is on the face, which is padded with make-up. The make-up used also is extremely trendy and in keeping in with the times. The dolls use eye-shadow profusely and that aspect is emphasized to draw attention. These dolls are not boyish looking ruffians but beautiful dolls that have a defiant expression and attitude. This is what appeals to the young girls of today.

The second reason for the popularity of the Bratz dolls is the fact that it is being advertised all over the place. Hate them as much as you like, but the fact of the matter is that the advertising guys have done a good job of developing and placing the advertisements in the right places. Not only are the advertisements alluring and enticing, they are also aired in channels like Cartoon Network and Nick Junior. These are the channels that all kids watch these days. And the ads, therefore, are extremely difficult to miss. To add to that these advertisements are aired day in and day out to ensure that every kid in the country watches them and knows about the Bratz dolls.

And then there is peer pressure. If your friend has a Bratz doll, then you need to have it too. And there are so may different ones that getting the latest one for your little princess, may cost you a fortune.

To get the latest dolls, you could visit Toys R Us or log onto the Internet to look at the wide range that is available. The Internet is the best place to find a good discount. And it is best to try and shop for Christmas well in time so that the prices are not hiked up due to heavy demand.

By Scotie Keithlow

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