by Kristine Tucker

Created on: July 16, 2009   Last Updated: January 31, 2010

From baby dolls to Barbie dolls, doll collecting has been an important pastime for generations.  Finding these highly cherished collectibles is not always an easy or predictable pursuit, but the rewards can be well worth the effort.

Due to the intrinsic value of collectible dolls, they can often be found at reputable garage sales across most parts of the country. Collectible dolls come in all shapes and sizes, and the value is often dependent upon the condition and age of the doll.   For example, the original Barbie doll was manufactured in 1959, and soon became a best selling toy.  As a result, the older models of the Barbie doll are the most desirable, and they often come with the highest price tag.   So, are garage sales a good place to find these older, collectible dolls?  Listed below are several tips for finding these collectible dolls at garage sales and how to correctly assess and recognize their inherent value.

~Garage Sales: Bridge the Generations~

It is quite common to find collectible dolls, including Barbie dolls and baby dolls, at yard sales from every socio-economic class and in most neighborhoods. Dolls from all walks of life cross generations, so you can find them with children's items, collectibles, and vintage dolls. Recently, a lady at a local yard sale in West Virginia sold over a hundred pre-owned Barbie dolls within the first few minutes of her garage sale opening. One tip for finding these large lots of dolls at a garage sale is to research the list of items in your local newspaper or on the internet before you actually visit the garage sale.  Once you have done some preliminary research, you will get a better feel for the selection available to you.  Of course, collectible dolls that are still in their original packaging are the most valuable, so you will want to make that a vital piece of your collectible doll purchasing goals.  However, large lots of pre-owned dolls that have been opened can still be a good investment. A good way to know if a garage sale might have dolls is to research whether pre-teen girls' items or vintage items will be sold there.

~Garage Sales: Unsold Items are often Listed on Ebay~

A garage sale will usually have your best bargains for barbie doll purchases, but hundreds of dolls are listed on Ebay every week. If you find a garage sale that has a sorted selection of vintage dolls, ask the owner if he or she has other items listed online.  Of course, you will want

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