Factors Influencing Value

Many factors influence the final value of a doll. The following books were used as references for the information below: 200 Years of Dolls: Identification and Price Guide by Dawn Herlocher, Blue Book; Dolls & Values by Jan Foulke; Collectors's Guide to Toys, Games & Puzzles by Harry Rinker; Doll Collecting for Fun and Profit by Milderd and Colleen Sealey; Doll Fashion Anthology and Price Guide by A. Glenn Mandeville; and The Knopf Collector's Guides to American Antiques: Toys by Blair Whitton.

Condition:
This is probably the most important factor affecting value. Mint condition, or like new/unplayed with, is the most desirable; however, most items have some wear and tear. Determining whether an item has acceptable wear and tear can be difficult. With antique dolls, having no signs of wear is not really expected. However, newer dolls must be all original and in excellent condition to have much value. Sometimes even small flaws can substantially affect value. Buyers and sellers should look carefully at the condition of the doll and its accessories. (Is the hair perfect? Are the clothes unstained and without tears? Are there any chips or cracks?)

Since condition is so important, several systems for grading the quality of a collectible item have evolved. One scaling system rates dolls from perfect (Mint in Box) to poor. Another scale uses a rating system from C10 (mint) to C4 (played with). See the section below on how to list your item for full description of the scale. Price guides often give the value for a mint doll so it is helpful to know how much to reduce the price for flaws such as minor cracks and major cracks. Price adjustments for these types of problems can decrease the value from 20% to 80% off the mint value. A good price guide can help you make these determinations. Keep in mind that prices listed in price guides are a combination of the average of what dealers charge when they sell dolls, as well as the judgment of the author of the price guide. According to some collectors, a collector who sells cannot usually expect to get more than 50% to 70% of that amount.

Restoration:
The value of an item that has been restored or repainted can be higher, lower or the same as similar dolls, depending on the item and the quality of the workmanship. An item that has been restored or repainted can increase or decrease the value of the item, depending on the item and the quality of the workmanship. Typically, collectors prefer to buy "as is." Cautious restoration consists only of careful cleaning.

When considering a doll that has been restored, it is helpful to know what was done to the doll and who did the work (conservation work is done by licensed, trained professionals; however, repairs or restoration can be done by anyone and the quality of the work will vary). Most antique dolls have had some type of restoration done at some time in their past, and it can be difficult or impossible to know what has been repaired. The best indication of the quality of restoration work is the way the doll looks. Poorly done repairs, such as careless painting or a poorly fixed finger, are often obvious to the eye. Generally, novice collectors should be cautious before buying a restored item and even more careful about attempting a repair on their own. A cleaning effort gone awry can destroy an item's value.

Completeness:
An original item contains all the pieces from the original production line. If a doll is missing part of its original outfit, the value will be less. A doll can be complete with all original accessories and still be in terrible shape. A doll in mint condition must be in perfect condition, in addition to being complete and original. If you are not sure if the doll you are interested in is complete, look for other examples that have been listed for sale and compare descriptions, or check a reference book for more information. Items to look for include: original box, clothes, shoes, and accessories.

Original box:
Because almost everyone throws out the box when they receive a present, boxes for dolls can be worth as much as the doll itself, in some cases. Since they are rare, especially with older dolls, you can see why dolls that are Mint in Box can be the most valuable. If you are paying for a MIB doll, make sure that you will receive the proper box that matches the doll. A lot of dolls are offered for sale in boxes that they didn't come in (this is called "empty box selling"). Empty box selling lowers a doll's value. For example, if you bought a Ginny® Ballerina in a Ginny® Cowboy box, the value would be less.

Rarity:
When there are very few dolls of a certain type available in good condition (because of age or limited production runs) these dolls become highly sought after and thus, more expensive. Doing research to understand what makes a doll uncommon will help you choose wisely.

Age:
Often early examples or first editions are more desirable than later versions. Attribution and identification marks: Information that clearly identifies the manufacturer, country of origin, and date will help determine value. Marks such as these help establish authenticity and make the doll more valuable for collectors seeking dolls from specific manufacturers or eras. The maker's mark is often imprinted on the doll's body, so you may want to examine the doll's back, neck or other areas to find identifying marks.

Authenticity:
Determining authenticity is a learned skill. Looking for identification marks and certain classic features of a doll will help, but learning to spot a fake can be difficult. If you are interested in an expensive doll, you may want to ask the seller for a written statement guaranteeing the doll is as it is represented. Inexperienced collectors should be wary of rare dolls offered at bargain prices.

Research:
Often, the more you know about your doll, the higher its value. If you can include information such as designer, manufacturer, year it was made, how many were made, etc., the more interesting and enticing the item will be at auction. Research can pay off!

Beauty and workmanship:
Beauty is subjective, but workmanship can be judged as you look at the quality of fine details such as eyes, eyelashes, eyebrows, and doll proportions.

Popularity/appeal:
The value of a doll can go up when a lot of people are interested in it, because of current events, trends, fads, etc. Especially in an auction, value will be determined by how much a buyer or buyers want the item on that particular day. Fads and sudden mass appeal can dramatically change prices. Fads can turn into a respected collecting area or they may be short-lived. The risk with fads is that the sudden sharp rise in prices may be matched by a sudden equally sharp downturn in prices when interest fades.

Celebrity association:
A doll that belonged to or that was signed by a celebrity can be worth more than a doll that does not have these associations. The important questions here are what proof of association with the prominent person exists, and will this person be important 50 years from now? Or equally important, does this association add value for you, the collector?

Cross-market appeal:
Cross-collectibles are collectibles that appeal to more than one collector group (that is, sports and dolls, or celebrity and dolls). Cross-market appeal increases the number of people interested in the item and competition can drive the price upward. Different groups will place different values on the same item, so it is to your benefit to brainstorm on which collector groups might be interested. Often you will think of at least 3 to 4 groups!

Regional appeal:
Dolls and other collectibles are often most valuable in the area they were produced. People who feel a local connection to a doll may be more likely to pay a higher price because of their local interest and sentimental value.