by Rick Badman

Created on: October 27, 2008   Last Updated: March 15, 2012

In order to find collectible dolls at garage sales, you need to do your homework first. Find out if the people involved with the sale have a lot of children who are girls. You might find out about the sale items in the newspaper or pennysaver for the area if it lists garage sales. If collectible dolls is advertised prominently, that should mean the people or person involved is proud of the collection. If more details are given like what types of dolls specifically are for sale, you can get a better idea what is available and if you might be interested. Personally knowing who is having the sale can help too.

Most people cruise neighborhoods seeking out garage sales. If a sale is in an upper class neighborhood, which should be rare since garage sales are often associated with middle class and lower classed people, the items should be of higher quality. If the house where the sale is held is large like a Victorian mansion and the yards are huge, the chances are there were generations of children who played in those yards. If an old woman is the one holding the sale and she might have female children helping her out, more than likely there will be dolls for sale.

If you stop by to look at what is available, see how the dolls, if there are any there, are placed for display. If they are in their original packaging, their value will be higher. If the dolls are the old style doll babies that little girls used to love, they might be in "loved-to-death" condition. Expect some wear and maybe doll clothing that isn't in the greatest shape. But as long as the dolls aren't broken, they will be worth something.

Old dolls like those that are made from thick rubber, or hard materials that look and feel like hard rubber, or porcelain are durable and worth collecting if they aren't in bad shape. The stuffed dolls like those made from cloth or rubberized cloth should be in good shape before buying them. If a Raggedy Ann or Andy looks too new, very likely it was bought just for the sale. Just because the doll is dirty or faded doesn't mean it is old. Girls who own dolls they love don't want them to get dirty. They may even wash them, if they think the dolls need a bath. This will reduce their monetary value but not their sentimental value.

Another good place to find collectible dolls should be where older people from Europe live. If there are any dolls on display, very likely they will be ones made in Europe which could increase their value. Metal knights, princes and princesses,

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