| When you think of antique dolls images of fine | | | | 1959-boxed doll sold for over three-thousand dollars |
| porcelain and frilly dresses may come to mind. | | | | on ebay. Two thousand and six seen the world |
| However, bright red yarn hair, cotton body, and | | | | record at Christie's in London when a 1965 Barbi in |
| button eyes have also entered the collecting and | | | | midnight red fetched a whopping $17,000! The Barbi |
| antique scene. If you had not guessed already, we | | | | doll is highly collected with the most sought after |
| are referring to the Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls. | | | | ones being pre-1973 or vintage. |
| Soft and lovable these are easily the most | | | | If your collecting tastes run more on the elegant |
| recognized dolls on the planet. Writer Johnny Gruelle, | | | | side, you will not want to overlook the cream of the |
| for his daughter Marcella, created Anne in 1915. He | | | | crop that is Madam Alexander dolls. These dolls have |
| came up with her name from a combination of two | | | | come to represent the highest standards in the |
| poem titles, The Raggedy Man and Little Orphan | | | | making of collectible dolls. Beatrice Alexander started |
| Annie. | | | | the company in 1923. Unlike other dolls of the era, |
| Sadly his daughter Marcella died at age 12 after being | | | | movie stars and various literary characters inspired |
| given small pox vaccination at school. Her parents | | | | hers'. The first dolls were made of cloth with faces |
| blamed the vaccination so Gruelle became an | | | | of pressed heavy felt. Harder to find are the dolls of |
| opponent and Anne was used as a symbol by the | | | | the early 30's these were made of composite that |
| anti-vaccination movement. Through out the years | | | | does not fair well over time. If you find one of these |
| the Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls have been | | | | in mint condition, you are probably going to pay a |
| manufactured by many companies, Georgene and | | | | mint for it. Madam Alexander's creations are opulent |
| Voland to name a couple. Dolls from either of these | | | | and beautiful a jewel in any collectors crown. |
| can set you back a cool $3000. | | | | Antique dolls are dolls that are old, rare, or unique in |
| Equally as recognizable is the Barbie doll, debuting | | | | some way. Companies will try to establish a demand |
| 1959 she was the American adaptation of the | | | | by releasing only small amounts of particular dolls, |
| German doll Bild Lilli. Ruth Handler had approached | | | | thus making them rare to begin with. When making |
| Mattel with the idea of a more grown up doll but | | | | your choices carefully consider not only how much |
| was rejected. When she was visiting Germany, she | | | | you can invest but also the dolls intrinsic worth to |
| came across the Lilli doll and promptly bought three | | | | you. The collecting of antique dolls is indeed as much |
| to bring back with her. With help from an engineer, | | | | about the memories the dolls inspire as the financial |
| Ruth redesigned the doll and named her Barbi, after | | | | gain that is possible. Many collectors focus on dolls |
| her daughter Barbara. Barbi has seen many changes | | | | from their childhood that bring back lazy summer |
| over the years but one thing never changes and that | | | | afternoons playing on the living room floor. |
| is her popularity and collectibility. In 2004, a mint | | | | |