There are two things to remember when you are looking to buy dolls online - firstly, there's a difference between buying antique dolls and modern dolls online.

Modern dolls such as the the Barbie collection can be easily purchased online and generally are pretty durable to be sent through postal or direct delivery means. On the other hand, antique dolls can be a bit of a challenge if you're buying them online especially as they compass a long history and different types have there own uniqueness especially in the clothing department.

In recent years, buying dolls online over platforms such as Ebay has become extremely popular and the great thing to keep in mind is that while pricing will determine overall purchase, buying online has some big advantages than going to a physical outlet and making a purchase. The emphasis is on deals and dolls deals online are big business. More importantly, you as the buyer can be in a strong position to grab a great deal especially if you're following auctions.

There are basically two types of doll enthusiasts - those who revel in the enjoyment of enjoying eras gone by with antique doll collecting and those who are more modern orientated or people buying for kids.

Buying Antique Dolls Tips

Here's a few things to keep in mind when buying an antique doll. These tips can save you a lot of frustration.

#1. Because they are older there is always a concern that they may be hiding some issues. Things to look for include cracks which can put a dampener on your purchase. Especially look for hairline cracks.

#2. If you are buying the doll physically then ask that you can remove things like the hair so you can check beneath. Always remove the body or ask the seller to do it for you. This only makes sense because when you're looking at shelling out hundreds of dollars you want to make sure your purchase isn't flawed.

#3. Make sure the doll is original if that's what it has been advertised as. This can be difficult to check online and that's why buying through platforms such as Ebay are great in that you are protected in many areas from purchasing a dud.

#4. Also, buying the complete original doll and by complete we mean it has it's original clothing intact can be important. It depends how badly you want it but inexperienced collectors should be aware that replacing parts and clothing can be expensive. It's almost like buying new parts for a motor vehicle - they always seem to be priced over the top.

This was the beginning of the Barbie doll phenomenon which is one of the great success stories of the toy manufacturing business. Before Barbie most children's dolls were child dolls or babies not adult figures. Barbie changed this completely.

In 1945 Elliot and Ruth Handler began a partnership with Harold Mattson. The company name Mattel is a combination of the two names Mattson and Elliot. Elliot started making doll house furniture from scraps of wood left over from his picture frame business. He started the Handler doll furniture business from this idea.

Around this time Ruth noticed that her daughter Barbara and her friends liked to play with adult paper dolls and not child or baby dolls. The little girls preferred a doll they could look up to as a role model for growing up. Ruth got the idea that there could be big profit possibilities in making adult dolls. She talked over the idea with her husband but he decided that to start making the dolls would be very expensive.

Right after this Ruth went to Germany and purchased an adult doll called Lilli. This adult female doll was based on the heroine of a German comic. On her return to the USA she started redesigning the doll and worked with a doll clothes designer. Soon the Barbie doll came to be and was named after her little daughter Barbara.

Mattell patented the Barbie doll in 1958 and introduced it to the public in 1959. She very soon became one of the best known and most loved toys ever made. Barbies were sold all over the world in more than 150 countries.

Barbie soon became a very collectible doll and was eagerly sought after by adult collectors. Between 1959 and 1972 Barbie had seven distinct changes in her looks and design. All Barbies made up to 1972 are seen as vintage collectible dolls by their fans and are much sought after.

A 1959 Barbie in mint condition can be worth up to $8000 but you will frequently see them offered for a lot less. Later editions fetch lower prices of course.

You can usually purchase dolls made in the 1969 to 1972 period for just a few dollars. However you may still find some of the early dolls,even the rare 1959 edition,in such places as garage sales and flea markets. About 300,000 of the 1959 doll were made and many are still out there awaiting discovery

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Dolls have been around for many, many years. There are many kinds of dolls, some more suitable for collecting than others. Some commonly known dolls are Barbie dolls. Most little girls have a fondness for Barbies which is fun because of the many different Barbies that are put out. It seems that each year there is even more new dolls that were not available in previous years. Some Barbie dolls are made specifically for collecting while most of them are just for fun. Of course that doesn't mean they can't be collected, simply that the value will not match that of the dolls designed as collector pieces.

Baby dolls are also very popular among children. They are fun to carry around and play dress up with. Baby dolls can be acquired at most department stores for a low cost. Collecting dolls does not mean that they have to be expensive. A baby doll is a great keepsake long after it has been outgrown. They also make a great item to pass along to future generations.

Cabbage Patch dolls has been popular for several decades now. They come in a variety of little characters, in both male and female gender. Kids enjoy their big smiling faces as well as their soft bodies that make them perfect for a cuddle. Though Cabbage Patch dolls were the most popular in the 1980s, they are still sold today. American Girl is another well known brand of doll that is quickly becoming a favourite collectible. These types of dolls are often found for sale on auction sites like eBay as well as in stores.

Different types of ethnic dolls are a fan favourite among doll collectors of all ages. Every type of ethnicity from Native American to African dolls can be found full dressed in culturally accurate clothing. Collecting a doll from each ethnicity is a great way to celebrate diversity through your doll collection.

Miniature dolls are for miniature dollhouse collections. Miniatures are more popular than some people realize until it is something that they become interested in. Miniature dolls can be bought or even made at home if it's something that sounds intriguing to you. They are often that final piece of a fantastic dollhouse.

The type of doll you collect is entirely up to you but it's a good idea to make yourself aware of all that is out there as options. The best item to collect is the one you really love.

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It is difficult to purchase antique dolls over the internet. The modern dolls like the Barbie collection are easily available that are painted in a standard way, with standard manufactured clothing. Where as the antique dolls are unique with respect to their clothing and looks. Thus, it becomes necessary to have a personal look on the dolls before purchasing them. If you are a novice in case of antique dolls, then you must follow certain tips as follows;

The first thing that strikes the mind while starting to collect antique dolls is its condition. It is obvious that the body of the dolls can be worn out, with some patching work done. Replacement of body parts such as the eyes, wigs and other parts can be expensive and finding the appropriate clothing. Reproduction of clothes and shoes are widely available if an undressed doll is purchased. It is just that it is cheaper than the others are. For this, study of antique dolls in necessary, to properly shop for its accessories. Antique Doll Collector is a good magazine that has all the concerned details regarding the dolls and their dealers.

The prices for antique dolls have a good range, i.e. it can be purchased by anyone as the prices are equal to or less than current artist made dolls. Many of the German made dolls are in the range of $200 to $500.

While selecting antique dolls one should be careful of the hairline cracks and other imperfections. They can tend to increase in magnitude as days pass. It should be considered mainly if you have an expectation of re-selling it. However, minute damages are not visible when the dolls are at display. Therefore, before purchasing them a thorough scrutiny should follow.

Clothing, shoes and accessories are another section to concentrate. Try purchasing an original doll with its garments, shoes, hats and other stuffs. It can be expensive to look out for each accessory individually and it should suit the looks of the doll.

The inspection should cover all these tips along with some other important aspects such as
* Make use of lights and torch to inspect any cracks or damage. If possible, remove the wig and the pate and have a look at the head properly. Any dark patches may indicate restoration work, so avoid those dolls.
* Inspect the eyes if they have been reset. It should match the overall structure of the doll.
* See the integrity of the costumes, check for any moth holes on the fabric of the cloth.
* An important consideration for the overall value of the doll is, whether it has an appropriate body. The dealers very often keep changing the body parts to attract customers depending on their likings. So look out for it before buying the antique doll.
* Finally, just try to glance the overall doll and determine what its overall impression is. It can be considered by keeping the price tag in mind.

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