Doll Collectable
Collecting Whimsical Dolls
Copyright (c) 2010 Ian Campbell
Dolls are highly collectible as well as being a little girl’s favorite plaything. Sadly, the two are not really compatible as to keep value in your doll collection it needs to be in as good a condition as possible – ideally, in its original packaging.
The fantastical and whimsical are super-popular right now. Youngsters are delving into fantasy worlds in books and films like the Twilight series.
Whimsical dolls are just as imaginative, but come from a rather more innocent place from the dark worlds of vampires and even the conflict torn worlds of Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings – although, hobbits might fairly be described as whimsical creatures.
In fact, there’s even innocence to the construction of whimsical dolls, many of which are knitted and sewn or made of rags and which show a deliberate disregard for realism and take a child’s eye view of the world. While many fantasy products can have a darkness to them, whimsy is non-threatening and fun – far more likely to be pixies than trolls.
That doesn’t mean, however, that they are just for children, and collecting whimsical dolls can be a rewarding and even financially worthwhile hobby for any adult.
The usual rules for any collector apply: always keep your eyes open, in any store, yard sale or thrift store you might find just the whimsical doll you are looking for. Many are lovingly home-made for a child and although such an item will take many years to appreciate in value, you may be so charmed that you feel you have to pick it up.
Of course, while you can make you own dolls, there are companies who specialize in them. Take a stroll through eBay to find specialist shops and for a wonderful array of whimsical toys and collectibles.
Whimsical dolls tend to look towards the past and are the sort of thing any mother would have been able to put together for their children from rags and spare cloth.
Try auctions for older examples, keeping a particular eye out for job lots of children’s playthings. Antiques stores too – particularly those which major in the cottage chic look – are worth a look.
Of course, you can make your own, and popular collectible dolls are still made today and even aimed at adults. For example, Carold Linda Lewis, an artist from the North West, makes dolls based on the likes of Elvis and Dolly Parton and charges up to $150 a time.
About the Author
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Is $180.00 too much to pay for a collectible doll?
I have found a Mrs. Beasley doll and I want it badly. I had one when I was a little girl and I would love to have one again. It has been completely restored and the voice box has also been restored. I am so sentimental but I want to know if it’s foolish to pay that much for something that brings back childhood memories.
I paid 247.50 for Zip the Monkey, a stuffed toy like the one I had as a child. Sentimental Value. No, it’s not too much
Disney doll collection
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Barbie collection liquidation 125 New/Old stock pre 1998 dolls $6,999.89 |
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JONETTE STABBERT Handmade One Of A Kind Cloth Doll Collection From Amsterdam $5,500.00 |
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custom built lighted oak cabinets with built in doll collection $5,000.00 |
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HUGE Barbie Doll Collection Over 125 Barbie Dolls from 1988-2007 New in Boxes $4,999.99 |
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Cabbage Patch Doll Collection-85′ Porcelain-Certificate $3,665.00 |
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105 German Half Dolls Fabulous 50 Year Collection $3,500.00 |
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Collection of 19 Lee Middleton Dolls $3,000.00 |
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FULL SET DISNEY PRINCESS DESIGNER COLLECTION DOLLS ARIEL,BELLE,JASMINE,RAPUNZEL $2,931.30 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Max & Moritz – Wilhelm Busch Collection $2,500.00 |
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COLLECTION OF 16 PORCELAIN CABBAGE PATCH DOLLS BY XAVIER ROBERTS FOR APPLAUSE CO $2,200.00 |
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The Strong Museum Collection 18″ Mad Hatter Collectible Doll $179.99 |
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GROUP OF FIVE ANTIQUE DOLLS FROM MY COLLECTION BEAUTIFUL BIG GIRLS. MOA- LHK- $1,800.00 |
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1988 – 2009 HOLIDAY BARBIES LOT COLLECTION 23 DOLLS NEW $1,899.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – The Lullaby League from The Wizard of Oz $1,850.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – The Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland $1,850.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz $1,750.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz Collection $1,575.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Alice in Wonderland $1,475.00 |
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1988 – 1998 HOLIDAY BARBIES LOT COLLECTION 11 DOLLS NEW $1,299.00 |
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Little Rascals/Our Gang Ultimate Hamilton Doll Collection plus Bonus $1,200.00 |
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Disney Princess Designer 5 Doll Collection BRAND NEW only 4000 Worldwide $1,225.00 |
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ESTATE SALE! FROM PRIVATE COLLECTION OOAK “DEMETRIA” BY DOLL MAKER NORMA HUNT $1,200.00 |
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( 2 ) Tattoo TOKIDOKI & HARD ROCK CAFE Barbie Dolls HIGHLY Collectible! NEW HTF! $1,135.00 |
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7 Dolls from Alice in Wonderland by Faith Wick – Exquisite & Unique Collection $920.00 |
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Chantrell collectible Porcelain Doll Pat Thompson 1/12 $995.00 |
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Disney Designer Collection Dolls Cinderella Mulan Belle Limited Edition Sold Out $989.99 |
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Precious Moments Bridal Doll Set “Love Forever True” by Ashton-Drake Collection $1,000.00 |
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RARE ONE OF A KIND COLLECTIBLE CELEBRITY DOLL EARTHA KITT, NRFB $999.99 |
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Barbie 300+ pc collection – Dolls, furniture, cars, cloths & more – Make Offer $999.99 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – The March Hare $985.00 |
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Authentic Goebel Early Porcelain Tea Cozy Doll Complete Collection Handpainted $900.00 |
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Beautiful, Collectible Franklin Mint Czarina Alexandra Doll w/ Trunk Wardrobe $800.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Zinnia Fairy – The Flower Fairies Collection $825.00 |
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Precious Moments Blessings Baby Doll Set by Ashton-Drake Collection – Set of 4 $800.00 |
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Disney Designer Collection Dolls Cinderella & SnowWhite Limited Edition Sold Out $779.99 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Lavender Fairy – The Flower Fairies Collection $795.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Rose Fairy – The Flower Fairies Collection $795.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Hazel-Nut Fairy – Flower Fairies Collection $795.00 |
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Wonderful Antique Paris Doll_Marked SFBJ_22″ Tall_From My Own Private Collection $725.00 |
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Happy Holiday Barbie Doll collection of 10 dolls $750.00 |
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American Girl Mini 25th Birthday Anniversary Collectible Dolls Complete Set NEW $750.00 |
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VLASTA COLLECTIBLE DOLL — KATCHA — BY PAT THOMPSON $695.00 |
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Disney Princess Designer 3 First Dolls Collection BRAND NEW Limited Edition $725.00 |
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HERE IS PETER PLAYPAL TOTAL ORIG EVEN HAS HIS CAP.FROM MY COLLECTION. L@@K $695.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Heather Fairy – The Flower Fairies Collection $695.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Red Clover Fairy – Flower Fairies Collection $695.00 |
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Lieutenant Lollipop Nutcracker Doll by Katherine’s Collection! Merry Christmas! $693.00 |
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Elvis Presley World Doll Limited Edition Collection – Celebrity Series ~ RARE $599.99 |
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Collectible Russian 10 pc Handpainted Nesting Doll Roman Gods Matryoshka 9.5″ $629.00 |
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Baby Lieschen – Annette Himstedt – Vinyl Doll! Collectible! Super Adorable! $599.00 |
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NEW APHRODITE BARBIE DOLL GREEK GODESS FANTASY SERIES COLLECTABLE KEEPSAKE RARE $585.28 |
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WIZARD of OZ ANNALEE DOLL COLLECTION VERY RARE HARD TO FIND ALL!!! $599.00 |
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ARIEL DISNEY DESIGNER PRINCESS COLLECTION DOLL LIMITED EDITION SOLD OUT 8000 $599.00 |
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Vintage Doll & Troll Lot Collection 40 + Hundreds of Vintage Clothes RaRe DAM $589.99 |
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17 Collectable BARBIES Holiday/Celebration/ Wedding/Birthday $600.00 |
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collection of antique porcelain dollhouse dolls $599.90 |
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Barbie Doll Collection 1986-2005 $550.00 |
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HILDEGARD GUNZEL – SYLVIA-LOUISE COLLECTIBLE DOLL $550.00 |
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HILDEGARD GUNZEL – MARIE CAPRICE GORGEOUS COLLECTIBLE DOLL $550.00 |
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LOT OF 25 1993-96 NRFB COLLECTIBLE BARBIE DOLLS + BONUS $499.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Gardener Five from Alice in Wonderland $535.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Gardener Two from Alice in Wonderland $535.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Palmer Cox Brownies Collection – The Canadian $535.00 |
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R John Wright Collectible Dolls – Palmer Cox Brownies Collection – The Policeman $535.00 |
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Polly collectible resin doll by Pamela Erff $495.00 |
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RARE Marie Osmond Doll IRIS – Collectible Fairy 2008 $499.00 |
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ASHTON-DRAKE “BRIANNA”" SO TRULY REAL COLLECTIBLE DOLL. ARTIST SANDY FABER HTF $500.00 |
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Amish Blessings Porcelain Doll Collection $475.00 |
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Limited Edition Collectible KISS Dolls Set $425.00 |
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NIB MATTEL HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS COLLECTION GONE WITH THE WIND 5 DOLLS $500.00 |
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Gotz Puppenfabrik Collectible Doll by Heath “Babies From The Pacific Islands” $475.00 |
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Disney Princess Designer 2 Remaning Dolls Collection BRAND NEW Limited Edition $499.98 |
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My first Disney Princess Collection doll Lot 7 Mulan Snow White Aurora Ariel HTF $499.95 |
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2012 THE MERMAID Fantasy BARBIE Collectible Doll plus Dolphin Chariot NRFB! New $476.99 |
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VTG FRANKLIN HEIRLOOM COLLECTION LOT 7 PORCELAIN DOLLS QUEENS OF ENGLAND 1980-S $434.99 |
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WORLD GALLERY DOLLS AND COLLECTIBLES PORCELAIN BRIDE DOLL BY NORMA RAMBAUD 28″ T $475.00 |
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MULAN DISNEY DESIGNER PRINCESS COLLECTION DOLL LIMITED EDITION 6000 $455.00 |
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1980′s “Mickey Mouse” porcelain doll by Jerri is Mint In Box & very collectible! $450.00 |
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2 GREMLINS Collection Dolls – YEAR 1998 & 2000 – USED $399.00 |
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Takara Blythe Shop Limited Doll Frosty Floc Collectible Doll $450.00 |
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BARBIE DOLL LIMITED EDITION ROYAL JEWELS COLLECTION $410.00 |
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MADAME ALEXANDER DOLL COLLECTION 13 MIB WITH STANDS $400.00 |
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MINT! Vintage Marilyn Monroe Dolls Complete Collection by DSI circa 1993 NIB 6PC $405.00 |
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2010 BASICS DOLLS COLLECTION 002 set of 12 dolls $399.99 |
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Reborn Vinyl Collectible Baby Doll So Realistic. Teagan $400.00 |
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Madame Alexander First Lady Doll Collection – Series II Complete Set w/ Boxes $399.00 |
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MINT Wendy Lawton Doll Bianca & Bratwurst #17 Best Friends Collection NO RESERVE $395.00 |
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2010 Barbie Doll as Cleopatra–Collectible $400.00 |
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PULLIP DOLL TAEYANG hide 2012 COLLECTIBLE FASHION DOLL JAPAN X-JAPAN ROCKET DIVE $407.00 |
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20” JOKE GROBBEN GERMAN COLLECTOR DOLL BY GOTZ PRINCIPESSA COLLECTION ‘VIVIAN’ $375.99 |
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Antique RARE BLACK BABY DOLL VERY OLD COLLECTABLE $400.00 |
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COLLECTIBLE Limited Porcelain Carnival in Rio Madame Alexander 21″ Doll NRFB $385.00 |
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Hasbro iRobot MY REAL BABY Rare OOP HTF Collectible Doll NRFB NIB NEW $380.00 |
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Barbie Dolls, Gone With The Wind, Complete Collectible Set, New In Box $400.00 |
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The Gorham Doll Collection – “Cassandra” Precious as Pearls by Susan Stone Aiken $400.00 |
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Xavier Robert’s Cabbage Patch Kids Porcelain Collection 1984 LE 16in Doll COA $399.95 |
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PRE-ORDER MAY PULLIP DOLL P-053 VOCALOID MEIKO COLLECTIBLE FASHION DOLL GROOVE $399.00 |
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AMERICAN GIRL KANANI DOLL* NEW IN BOX *ACCESSORIES+2 OUTFITS* STARTER COLLECTION $399.00 |
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L@@K!! WOW!! MINT NIB BOB MACKIE 1992 EMPRESS BRIDE COLLECTIBLE BARBIE DOLL!! $350.00 |
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#1008 RARE NIB The Star Shine Collection Set of 4 Dolls $382.50 |
