by Pamela Siegel
If you’ve been contemplating a doll collection of late, you’re in good company. Many celebrities adore dolls and have collections to show for it. Among them are actress Demi Moore who cherishes her antique dolls. Johnny Depp, who got started by holding on to his daughter’s dolls after she outgrew them, favors Barbie and celebrity dolls. They’re among the millions of people who own doll collections, many of which are based on nostalgia.
From groupings of favorite dolls saved from childhood to those passed down from generation to generation, many people end up adding to these types of collections and get seriously involved with the hobby of doll collecting. Others just love the charm and whimsy of dolls or become fascinated by their history or the associated fashions and start buying examples that intrigue them.
Looking at some high-value rarities, different types of vintage dolls you can collect, and where to buy them is a great first step in beginning or furthering a blossoming collection.
Grouping of boxed "Classique" Barbie dolls
Exploring High-Value Dolls
While your mind might gravitate toward antique dolls when thinking about the most valuable examples, that’s not always the case. Sure, the most valuable antique doll – a Kämmer & Reinhardt character doll – brought around $300,000 at auction in 2014. But according to a list of the “10 Most Expensive Dolls Ever Sold” on Rarest.org, nine others are more contemporary, including a porcelain Madame Alexander doll with designer duds valued at $5 million.
Some of the others on the list might not be as surprising since they are Barbie-related. This includes No. 1 Barbie dolls dating to 1959 in mint condition. They can sell for tens of thousands if they are in the original boxes and unused. Other Barbies worth even more are custom examples decorated with genuine diamonds and gold, like the one Beyonce and Jay-Z procured for their daughter Blue Ivy for her first birthday.
Most dolls, even custom dolls by well-known artists, won’t come close to these kinds of values. It’s not unusual to run across dolls that are worth hundreds and sometimes thousands when shopping in the secondary marketplace. Many others, however, can be obtained for far less.
Madame Alexander "Alice in Wonderland" dolls
Which Types of Vintage Dolls are Collectible?
Technically speaking, all types of dolls are collectible, whether they’re brand new or hundreds of years old. There are some vintage dolls that shoppers run across more frequently, though, because they were added to collections by the original owners instead of being used by children for play.
Some of the vintage examples you can seek include:
Cabbage Patch Kids. Cabbage Patch Kids were first produced by Coleco Industries in the early 1980s and by several other companies thereafter. They are made of cloth and originally came with adoption certificates. The Cabbage Patch craze of 1983 resulted in near riots in many American retailers as consumers bitterly fought to nab one of these dolls. Eventually, enough were made to amply satisfy demand. These were some of the first dolls that were never removed from the box (NRFB) and saved as collectibles by the original owners. They are regularly found in the secondary marketplace today.
Madame Alexander dolls. The oldest Madame Alexander dolls made in 1923 are now considered antiques, although they aren’t found nearly as frequently as vintage examples. The company was founded by Beatrice Alexander, and for many years her picture appeared on the boxes in which the dolls were sold. Dolls based on both fictional characters and historical individuals have been a mainstay for this company. They were largely made for children, although many were displayed rather than used for playtime. Other dolls competing with these in the 1950s and ‘60s include Ginny dolls by Vogue and Toni dolls by Ideal.
American Girl dolls. For many young ladies, visiting a store to pick out their first American Girl doll is a rite of passage. The first of these dolls were based on various periods of American history. Storybooks were sold with them to educate and inspire children. American Girl dolls have been around since 1986, so many of the earlier examples are now considered to be vintage. They can be found in all price ranges in both examples that have been played with and those NRFB.
Barbie dolls. Mattel estimates that more than 100,000 people have collections of Barbie dolls. The one with the largest collection, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, is Bettina Dorfmann, who has amassed more than 15,000 different Barbies. Most collectors don’t reach those heights but discover a wide variety of Barbies available as they shop. They vary from the early vintage examples dating from 1959 through the mid-1970s to “pink box” dolls sold for play in the 1980s and beyond. Many dolls specifically marketed to Barbie doll collectors in the 1990s and early 2000s can also still be found NRFB as well.
Collector dolls. Other dolls worth noting are those specifically marketed to doll collectors when the hobby really became popular in the 1990s. Brands like Ashton Drake, Lee Middleton, and a host of others produced thousands of different dolls during this period. These have been coming on the market more and more frequently since the 2010s as the original owners pass away or downsize collections.
When determining the value of all these types of vintage dolls, along with others you might run across, each example must be researched individually. Some are highly valued, but many are worth far less than they sold for when they were new. Condition, rarity, and desirability in the current collector’s marketplace all impact how much dolls are worth at any given time.
Several American Girl dolls with accompanying storybooks
The Best Places to Buy Collectible Dolls
Whether you’re trying to replace a doll you remember from childhood or add several to a collection, there are many shopping options for this genre of collectibles. The easiest method is often perusing online auctions.
Sites like AuctionNinja specialize in estate sales, so you can have first choice when vintage dolls enter the marketplace through their online sales. Checking eBay’s auction offerings can also provide a solid resource for procuring vintage dolls. And while it’s not an auction site, RubyLane.com is a known supporter of the doll-collecting community. The dealers there offer a wide selection of vintage and antique doll listings.
If you prefer examining things in person before making a purchase, AuctionNinja also offers listings of estate sales you can visit across the United States. Local thrift shops, flea markets, and antique malls almost always have a selection of dolls as well. And, of course, scouring garage sales for dolls can offer lots of fun collecting opportunities since you never know what you’re going to find.
Ready to start a doll collection of your own? Browse our auctions featuring dolls and doll accessories on AuctionNinja.com.
Written by:
January 17, 2023 Updated 01:06 PM
As a freelance writer, Pamela Siegel covers lifestyle topics ranging from antiques and collectibles to interior design and everything around the home. Her work appears on The Spruce where she shared tips and research as the site’s antiques expert for many years. She also writes for House Digest, Kovels Antique Trader, Worthpoint, and Mashed. In addition to penning thousands of articles for online resources and print-based pubs, Siegel authored several books including “Warman’s Costume Jewelry” and “Buying & Seling Antiques and Collectibles on eBay.” She also shares her expertise with other magazine writers along with doing television, radio and podcast interviews. As often as possible, Siegel loves shopping flea markets and estate sales for her next great find, home decorating, foodie pursuits, and exploring the world on cruise ships.
Ready to locate an estate sale company or explore online estate auctions? Visit AuctionNinja.com. If you're new to online estate auctions, try it risk-free by sigining up here.
