At FNE-Online.com we have gone almost literally to the ends of the earth to find you the best deals and the widest selection of antique dolls (pre-1930), vintage dolls, as well as antique & vintage doll clothes. If you would like to get started in the hobby of Antique Doll collecting you might want to read the article we have reprinted below. If you are already collecting dolls you can either read the article or just dive right in by looking on these pages for the rare doll you have been looking for.
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Collecting antique dolls is a hobby that a great deal of women grow into or would like to if they had the time or and the money. A collection of antique dolls in a beautiful display case is a very attractive asset, but collecting antique dolls is not as easy as it may seem.
Well, to delineate that properly, it depends what you would like the antique dolls for. As with any hobby that has the potential to make the collector money, it is not easy to get it right, but if you merely want to enjoy your collection you will have an easier time of it.
Millions of women collect old dolls, but it is doubtful that many of them actually earn any money out of their hobby, because you have to study and the professional competition is fierce. It is the same as collecting coins or stamps: you can have a beautiful collection of beautiful commemorative stamps or coins that is worthless in monetary terms, because there were too many of that sort or that year manufactured, whereas you could have a collection of a dozen drab stamps worth a million.
Therefore, if you would like to start a collection of antique dolls, the first thing to do is visit the library and get out some books on the topic. If there are no illustrations, you can probably find some photos on the Net in order to afford identification easier.
One of the first items you need to acquaint yourself with is the names of the most well-known manufacturers of dolls in the 150 years of the Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries. Learn the names of the firms, the names of the dolls and an average price.
If you come across what you think is a good deal at a car boot or yard sale, do not be put off by a shabby appearance. Many dolls lead a tough life, but they can be repaired fairly easily and there are many dolls' hospitals if you require expert help, advice or specialist parts like eyes or buttons. The original clothing can be repaired or replaced and the doll would still be valuable if it is rare, popular or sought after.
You know, some things are not especially rare but are still costly because they capture the imagination of a great deal of individuals. Baby Boomer toys from the Fifties and Early Sixties will probably acquire this status once the Boomers retire and maybe begin a collection.
Look out for antiques fairs to help you acquire more first hand knowledge. There are frequently specialized antiques fairs in fairly large towns and one sort of fair is antique toys, in which the section on antique dolls is sure to feature fairly prominently. It is very helpful to be able to see the dolls 'in the flesh' so to speak in order to know what you should be looking out for when browsing.
Books, photos and the Net are useful resources, but there is no replacement for hands-on experience and talking with collectors and dealers who are fanatical about collecting antique dolls.
Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on several topics, but is now involved with Silver Cross Dolls Prams. If you would like to know more, please visit our web site at Doll Prams.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Owen_Jones
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5570568
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We think that you will find something here you are looking for. We have bisque dolls, German dolls, China dolls, Porcelain dolls, French dolls, leather dolls and arms, legs, feet, heads and other parts to complete a doll you have that is missing pieces. We also have a broad range of doll clothes on these pages for your antique dolls.
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