One of the most collectibles is the Barbie doll. Through the years, not much has changed except for may be the outfits and the accessories truly making it a classic.

Barbie was invented by Ruth Handler and was introduced in a toy fair in New York City. Naturally, it was an instant success.

Just to give you an idea of what Barbie has done, she has had over 80 jobs from being a fashion model to even a president. There was even a version to promote the Olympics that was released to the market in 1975 and 2000.

There are those who say that Barbie was sometimes controversial. One example is when the company decided to make the doll join the army. She served as a medic during Operating Desert Storm in 92 that had to go through the approval of the military to make sure the uniforms were authentic. To promote the quest for space, the company even made the astronaut version with the last in 1994.

So you could say that Barbie has been through a lot for almost 50 years. So how much do collectible Barbie dolls sell for? If you happen to have one that has never been opened, there is a chance you could sell this to someone for $2,500. If you have one of the first that came out especially in 1959, you could get a check worth $10,000.

The next question once you have it is how do you take care of it? Here are some tips that you should follow to keep you collectible Barbie dolls in good condition.

First, never store this in the attic or basement. This is because although they are safe in a box, the temperatures in these places change which could ruin the doll. Also, the Barbie doll should be placed face down because if this is left on their backs, the eyes could fall off after some time.

Since most people want to show this to the world, be sure to dust them regularly. This is because if you don’t do anything about it, you may be forced to wash it and lower its resale value.

Another thing you have to do is keep your collectible Barbie dolls away from other children or pets. If left out in the open, this can be bitten or mangled. In short, destroyed and you wouldn’t want that to happen when you want make a profit later on.

Also, do not keep your collectible Barbie container. If you want to, go ahead but be very careful because the slightest moisture that enters the air tight plastic container may cause mildew or molds to grow. This can be prevented of course by putting a few small holes so moisture will be able to evaporate.

The most important tip is never expose your collectible Barbie doll to direct sunlight or any bright light as this will make the color of her skin and the outfit made.

So how do you sell your Barbie collectible doll? You can attend a convention, offer this to a specialty store or offer this to the highest bidder online. Don’t forget that you can make some money by also selling the accessories since Barbie had a lot to offer like her cars and pets. Just check on the market value of what you have and then look for potential buyers.

Ever enjoyed a movie and want to take something home with you as a souvenir? Well some manufacturers have done that by creating action figures like for Star Wars and Aliens. One timeless classic that also has collectible dolls is the Wizard of Oz.

One company that makes this is the Tonner Doll Company. They have all the characters there like Glinda, the Wicked Witch of the West, Dorothy, Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Cowardly Lion. Each Wizard of Oz collectible doll is sold separately and is priced at $124.99.

Each character is made from hard plastic with jointing elbows, hips, knees, neck and shoulders so you can change their poses. They also have interchangeable clothes so you can put something new for them to wear.

In fact, when they first released in the market, it sold like hot cakes making it difficult for others to see or even buy them. Aside from the main characters, there are also collectible dolls with different outfits set in different locations.

There is a doll that goes out to lunch, off to a party, strolling around Emerald City and or course the basics.

You should take note though that the Wizard of Oz Collectible Dolls does not resemble any of the characters that played in the movie or even in the musical. This is just the artist’s way of portraying these characters.

Two other companies have also made their own versions of the Wizard of Oz. These are namely Madame Alexander and Barbie.

If you compare the prices of all three, Barbie is offering this at the most affordable price of less than $30 a piece. Although they are 4 inches shorter, they are still great collector’s item for anyone who loves to bring a part of the movies home.

Once you start your Wizard of Oz Collectible Doll collection, be sure you know how to take care of them so that this could still be saleable in the future. This should be stored in a climate controlled environment because changes from hot to cold or vice versa could damage the doll. An ideal place to put them would be in a chest of drawers or a trunk.

It is also best to keep them in their original packaging or air tight container so moisture does not develop. If these will be stored, this should be wrapped using acid free tissue. If there are any metals, place this somewhere else as it can discolor the plastic.

Probably the only advantage of hard plastic dolls is that you can clean the body using almost any soap detergent just as long as it does not have any ingredients that include ammonia, bleach or chlorine.

Oxygen 10 can also be used to remove stains that are not close to any painted surfaces by moistening a cotton ball. After letting it dry for a few hours, wash it with water and mild soap then rinse well.

One important thing you must remember about any doll is never get it exposed to sunlight. This will make the fabric fade which will also decrease the value of your collectible.

The Wizard of Oz Collectible Doll is must have for those who have been touched by the movie or the play. It has a different message for each of us and one line that perhaps everyone will remember is that “there is no place like home.”

Collectible doll figurines are an interesting hobby. This is because it can add personality to your home which many would think that is impossible.

A collectible doll figurine is much different than an action figure because it is made of different materials aside from plastic. They can’t move or anything and is placed in part of the room which serves as a focal point.

Some of the more popular collectible doll figurines to get are animals, mythical figures, themed, holiday and those that have religious importance. In fact, most collectors stick to just one type.

One brand that is sought after by many collectors is Royal Doulton Figurines. This company started business way back in the 1800’s and the price of their items range from less than a hundred dollars to those over two thousand dollars.

Another famous manufacturer of collectible doll figurines is Precious Moments. Most of the figures made here are based on the illustrations of Sam Butcher. When you go into a store, you can hardly miss it because they are always children with tear drop shaped eyes that have heartfelt and inspirational messages.

So how do you start this collectible doll figurine hobby? Well, you can buy your very first by looking for it online and then finding others by looking for a wholesale supplier. Once you have a lot, you can already show it off for display and pass it off to the next generation.

But if you have plenty in stock and want to buy others, you should use various mediums to auction, swap or sell these off to potential buyers. A few other places where you can find collectible doll figurines are at an antique store, garage sale and flea market. You just have to look carefully so you do not miss out on the opportunity to add something you new to your collection.

If you want to learn more about collectible doll figurines, there are books and related information on the web the can help. You should also visit a specialty store; ask family and friends who are into this hobby to share with you a few tips so you know what you are getting yourself into.

These resources will teach you how to negotiate with sellers and the current price of collectible doll figurines that you plan to buy or sell so that you won’t feel short changed or fooled.

When shopping for collectible doll figurines, be careful so you only buy genuine items. There are a lot of copycat manufacturers around so see if it has a signature label and if you are still in doubt, ask someone for assistance.

You should also inspect it for cracks or any other damage so you don’t waste your time running back to the store and getting a replacement.

The nice thing about collectible doll figurines is that you don’t have to keep it inside a box when this is placed on display. It may not look like much when you just have two or three pieces but as that collection grows you will enjoy looking at them more because each piece is a work of art.

In fact, collectible doll figurines are also ideal gifts to give especially if it personifies the recipient. Who knows, it’s possible that the first one you gave may also get them into this very popular hobby.

Isn’t it funny that some of the toys you had before are worth a lot of money right now? You are probably kicking yourself for not taking care of it back then but hey, you didn’t know that this would happen in the future and such is the case with collectible dolls.

How is this possible? Well, we have to back to the basic rule of economics which is supply and demand. Some companies don’t make these collectible dolls anymore so you have to buy it from someone who has kept this for years.

Take for instance the Barbie doll. There was a time that dolls manufactured in 1959 could fetch for close to $10,000 but that figure has gone down now to just around $2,500.

But not all collectible dolls made back then are worth a lot of money now. One example is the Mike Hazard, Double Agent. If the doll or others like it did not make a huge impact on the market, then nobody will even think about buying it. They would rather spend their money elsewhere on something that has better resale value should they decide to sell it again in the future.

So, how can you increase the value of your collectible doll? If you were smart, you should have kept the original packaging. This will also protect it from dirt and dust.

If it has some tape, you should remove it because this will discolor the fabric. The same goes if there is any metal present because in time, it does rust.

If you are tired of playing with it or simply grew tired, make sure that this is stored properly by putting in a layer of acid free tissue in between the doll and its clothing. This will help stop the fabric colors from bleeding into the toy’s body. If it does have inset eyes, you better store it face down.

Most collectible dolls leak sawdust. If this is happening to what you have, you should put a few drops of glue in the hole where it is coming from. But if the hole where the sawdust is coming from is too big, you better patch it up. This should be checked regularly so you are sure that the problem has been contained.

Should you own a doll that sleeps or closes its eyes, this should be cleaned using a mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water. The proper way of doing it is laying the collectible doll on its back holding one of the eyes open and putting in enough solution to clean it. The same should be done with the other eye several times then turn it over so the mixture will drain out. After a few minutes, make it stand up straight and dry the eyes using a piece of cloth.

You must never change anything in the doll especially its structure because you do not know to what extent the damage it can do. If you screw up big time, this will greatly depreciate its value and nobody will probably want to buy it from you. If what you have is made of wood, don’t get it wet as this too causes stains.

So where can you find these collectible dolls? Try the local toy store, specialty shops and online. You will surely find what you want there and get a good bargain so you can resell this later on.

Dolls are probably something you grew up with as a child. But some are not able to let go and carry this into adulthood. There is nothing wrong with that because you can make a few bucks when you are able to buy discounted collectible dolls from a reputable supplier.

One of the best places to look for discounted collectible dolls is the Internet. This is because there are hundreds of sites available and you can compare and even haggle with some of the owners to get a good price if you buy these in bulk.

In fact, you can even use this medium to sell what you have to potential buyers and use your profits to buy new items.

Before you shop for discounted collectible dolls, you have to know which products are in demand right now. This will assure you that you are able to make a profit from you buy and here are a few.

The number one on the list which has been around for close to 50 years is Barbie. Together with Ken and the accessories that this girl has, you can be sure that people who played with these years ago would love to own them again.

Another favorite is Previous Moments that was released in to the market in the 1970’s. From simple drawings, their products diversified which soon included miniature collectible dolls. You can’t play with them or change their clothes but they are nice to have as décor for any room.

If you are into Charlie Brown, then perhaps you should get the collectible dolls by Madame Alexander. Since 1923, this company has been dolls of all shapes, sizes, colors and designs. Since the outfits are interchangeable, you can make one doll appear in different time periods.

Who cannot forget the Cabbage Patch Kids? What makes this collectible doll unique is that you don’t buy them but rather adopt them. You just have to visit their website because you can’t find this anywhere else.

Who said dolls are not better than the real thing? Lee Middleton dolls are so life like that at times, people mistake for it like a real baby in distress. New collections are added each month so you just have to find out what the market wants and sell this to interested buyers.

Surely, everyone has heard of Hasbro. This toy company gave us GI Joe, Transformers, Star Wars and a host of other action figures which caters not only to girls but boys as well. There are so many to choose from that you can already open your own specialty store.

One doll that is giving Barbie a run for her money is Bratz. Although very new in the market, sales have increased over the past 4 years. Since you already know how to take care of collectible dolls, can you imagine how much you can sell this for in the next 20 or 30 years?

Lastly, there is American Girl dolls. What make this unique from the rest is that they are ethnically diverse.

Each of these discounted collectible dolls has something to offer to the consumer. You just have to do some shopping, work on your pricing and take care of them properly so you can get a return on your investment.

If you want to know what are the newest dolls available from a toy company, the best thing for you to do is check out the collectible doll catalog. You can see most of these online or even brochures which are sometimes given out to customers in the store.

But what prompts manufacturers to introduce these changes? Well, this is usually based from the input of dealers and the feedback of customers and collectors. This gives management the opportunity to listen to what the people want and not just what they think is saleable.

After all, how one product sells depends on customer satisfaction and if this not achieved, then this means that the company will not be able to make a profit.

One way of attracting more people to buy the collectible doll is by changing the packaging. Although it is just a cardboard box, how it is presented is sometimes the deciding factor when the person is choosing between two different dolls.

Another option is to change the logo. Let’s say the company has been around for many years. In order to boost sales, they have to come up with something unique like a limited edition series. This can be released annually that will be added revenue as there will still be the regular items that people can buy.

But what if you do not want to designate one doll as a collector’s or limited edition? For that, some companies are using a color coded system. This is good especially for the collectors so they know how valuable is one doll compared to another.

Take for example Barbie which has implemented this color coded system into 4 groups namely pink, gold, silver and platinum.

The Pink doll comprises of their Dolls of the World, the Princess Collection and “I Love Lucy.” A significant number of these will be produced so there is plenty for it to go around.

The Silver on the other hand includes the Birthday Wishes line. The reason why it is silver is because the packaging is silver trimmed. Unlike the first one mentioned, not more than 50,000 of these units will be produced so if you count how many people there are in the world, this could fetch a certain amount of money to a the collector.

The Gold line will carry the Fashion Model Collection and the Model of the Moment. Collectors will still be able to find it given that the company plans to produce 25,000 of these and make this available worldwide. Because of the small number, this will only be available in higher end stores.

Lastly is Platinum and this will be a bit challenging to find because the company will only make a thousand of these for the public. This will cost a bit more than the others but you can just imagine how much people will be paying for it when you auction this off or put it up for sale.

The color coded system implemented by Mattel has been done for the past 2 years. If you are not a collector and just flip through the pages of the collectible doll catalog or see it online, it wouldn’t matter to you. But for those who think they can make a profit, such a distinction is important. After all, toys such as these and others like it also follow the law of supply and demand.

Collecting dolls is an exciting hobby. The problem is that you will be spending a lot of money acquiring them. But this should not stop you from appreciating them. In fact, another hobby you can do is shoot pictures of old collectible dolls and then just put these in an album.

But why shoot pictures? Aside from being much cheaper, this is easier to store and compile. With a digital camera in hand, you can attend a toy fair, a convention or any other event to shoot them and then upload it into your computer to have this developed.

If you don’t have time to shoot pictures, you can visit various websites online and right click using your mouse to save these images on your hard drive. You should take note that some sites will charge a fee so be prepared to pay when you are required to.

Those who collect pictures of these dolls feel that it is just like owning the real thing. Some have even made websites of their own to show what they have. Sometimes, collectors will even ask pictures from them so this can be used to help sell or trade one item for another.

Given that the price of pictures are not that far off from each other compared to the year that a doll was made, you can snap as many as you like.

But for them to be of great value to anyone, you should shoot only those that are significant. Some examples are the year that a particular brand was introduced into the market, the various collections available and special dates commemorating the doll.

Just like the collecting the real thing, hobbyists are advised to stick to just one particular brand because it is hard to stay updated when new collections are added each month. Don’t forget the old ones as well because in terms of value, these are the ones that people would love to see since the company who introduced it is most likely not making that anymore.

The greatest benefit perhaps of getting pictures of collectible dolls is that you become an authority figure on that subject. Although no one will become a historian of dolls, it is something worth sharing to those who have cannot tell the difference between dolls that was made 3 decades ago to the one that is available now.

This also makes you a very sociable person so whenever there is a big event coming up, you will be sent an invitation or even called up personally so you can bring your camera and take pictures for yourself.

When you have already hundreds of pictures of collectible dolls, you will probably be spending more time arranging things to make sure everything is organized. This may teach you a thing or two about fashion or also something else.

The advantage of having a picture doll collection is that you don’t have to clean it unlike the real thing that has to be dusted regularly. The downside though is that you can’t do anything with them except maybe flip through the pages because you can’t change the clothes or comb the hair. But if this is a worthwhile hobby to you, carry on because the most important thing is that you are having fun.

Who knew that almost 50 years onwards that people will still look for collectible Barbie dolls? Chances are nobody but as history has shown, there are people who are willing to pay thousands of dollars just to have this in their collection.

In the Beginning, Barbie was just a fashion model. She had her own life and a body that many said is unrealistic to achieve which is in fact, true.

She worked a variety of jobs that people could relate and a few examples are a teacher, an artist, a nurse, a medic and a cheerleader. Accessories such as cars, houses and clothes were made and she was soon paired with her boyfriend then husband namely Ken with 6 kids. The Barbie series was such a big hit that no other toy ever came to close to it.

But in the 1970’s, Mattel changed its approach. If you were to compare the Barbie dolls made until the year 1967, you will notice a big difference and that dolls were not made of anymore of high quality.

Why? For the simple reason that they were made of plastic and the clothes she had were not that different anymore. Some say that Mattel focused more on making a profit instead of continuing what they started.

It wasn’t until the mid 80’s that they began to refocus and designed a new Barbie doll called Porcelain Rhapsody in Blue Barbie. This was soon followed afterwards with Happy Holiday Barbie two years later. To mark Mattel’s 35th year anniversary, they reproduced again the original Barbie doll that came out in 1959. Given that were only a handful made, it was very difficult to find one and its market value today is a little over $600.

Given that Barbie could fetch for hundreds of dollars, a lot of consumers bought off the shelves everything they could find and people were making a lot of money. In order to calm things down, the company increased the production and things began to normalize.

As a result, only a handful of Barbie collectible dolls and accessories are worth a lot of money. What was worth $10,000 like the 1959 Barbie doll isn’t worth that much but people are still willing to spend money in order to add this to their collection.

Now that you have your Barbie collectible doll, how do you take care of it? Collector’s are advised to leave it inside the original packaging and placed face down if this will not be displayed. If this is going to be place on a shelf, this should be dusted regularly.

If you are able to dust regularly, you can put your Barbie collectible doll in a plastic container. Just put some holes so moisture will not accumulate and instead evaporate. Also, do not expose this to direct sunlight as may affect the color of her clothing and skin.

For those hoping to find Barbie collectible dolls, the best place to find them is in a convention, specialty store, garage sales, pawnshops and online. You just have to search high and low but most importantly exercise patience because good things come to those who wait.

Barbie’s 50th birthday is coming next year. What does the company plan for her? We will just have to see. Who knows, this could be another Barbie collectible doll worth selling to the highest bidder 20 or 30 years from now.

Dolls come in different colors, sizes and shapes. If you find collecting dolls that measure 10 inches or difficult because there is not that much space in the house, perhaps you should only go for small collectible dolls.

But are small collectible dolls not as saleable as the bigger versions? Not necessarily because size is not an issue here but rather other factors that will be explained in this article.

First is the age of the doll. If you collectible doll was produced in 1960’s or even earlier, its value increases. The reason is because it is rare and old which means it is not something that people will not be able to find at the store. You have to remember that during the early days, no one ever thought of collecting dolls and this was just a toy to play with and thrown away when it is no longer in good condition.

Is the small collectible doll original? If the doll you possess is in good condition, then its resale value is also quite high. However if this was patched up, give it a second look because it may still be worth something to a prospective buyer in the future.

Before you buy a doll from someone, check on its quality. You should check it thoroughly and if there are problems, you can forget about it entirely or ask the seller for a discount.

Another factor that you should look for when shopping for a small collectible doll is the clothing. Is it original? Some say this will lower its value but this is not true because there are some collectors that can dress it in the same fabric when the doll was made and this makes it look good as new.

The body type also has influence on the doll’s value but this depends on who is looking at it. In general, if the body is still intact, then it will fetch for a high price. Equally so if this was repaired given that there are doll hospitals that can put everything back together again.

Lastly, small collectible dolls are more valuable if there are markings on it. Such things will tell you perhaps when it was produced. This can be found on maybe the shoulder plate, the back or maybe on the nape. This could either be in scripted or stamped.

If you put all of these things together, you will realize that there are a lot of things that determine the value of the small collectible doll. There are books on this subject so you can learn more about it. One of the biggest dangers is being fooled to buy a original when in fact this is a fake that can easily fool anyone especially for those who are new to this hobby.

Since there are a lot of small collectible dolls in the market, it is best you decide which one you want to focus on so it will be easy to ask a dealer if the item is available. Don’t forget to also check antique stores or even the flea market because you can get lucky sometimes and get a good bargain.

Soon, you will have your own small collectible doll collection. Some collectors just keep on adding while others trade or sell these to get something new. What you decide to do with it is up to you.

Collectible cloth dolls are not that different from rag dolls because they are made of the same fabric. While one is created from a selected the fabric, the other is made from scraps. Because they are easy to make, almost anyone can make one so you don’t have to necessarily buy it from the store.

In order to create your collectible cloth doll in your own image and likeness, you need to check first if all the materials are available. These include the fabric, the pattern, the sewing machine, thread, filling, yarn and buttons.

With everything ready, you may begin by drawing the face on paper. It is best to practice a few times to be able to get the right position and proportion.

As for the doll pattern, there are so many to choose from so for starters, get something simple from the craft store and if you succeed, it is time to find something more challenging by looking for more samples online.

You can also get tips and advice about how to make cloth dolls from such resources so why not take some time to read or learn from them.

With a pair of scissors, you will now cut the fabric pieces so you have the head, body and limbs. Various fabrics can be used to make this happen and a few examples are flesh, peach colored broadcloth, tan, percale or any tight weave cotton material.

Now it is time to piece everything together. For that, you begin by sewing all the darts on the body by working your way the wrong side out. Do not forget to leave an opening for the head and limbs then set this aside for a while.

You have drawn earlier the head on paper so it should be easy for you to embroider the face. You may use the buttons for the eyes and noses by sewing it and then using a marker to draw the lips. For those who don’t want to use buttons, you can also use the market to draw the eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. This gives you a freehand of creating unique facial features not common on cloth dolls.

Next, sew the limbs and the head as indicated by the pattern, stuff it and then close the openings. Get some yarn and then sew this on the head so your collectible cloth doll will have some hair.

As you can see, there is already the head, the body and the legs. The only thing you have to do now is put everything together. Once this is sewn into place, the finishing touch will be to dress up the doll. You can follow the instructions that usually come with most cloth doll patterns or make one up by using your imagination.

It is a great feeling to have completed your very first collectible cloth doll. She is just perfect because you were able to create something you wanted. From there, you can create more and then give this away as a gift or sell this to others.

Your collectible cloth doll will also get dirty after some time. You must never use water to clean it but instead rub cornstarch into the body and leave it for about 8 hours before you gently brush this off.