There are all kinds of doll collectors in the world. Some people choose to collect one certain type of doll, based on some favorite they had as a child. Other people, fell in love with one doll or another for very individual reasons. If you ask a doll collector why they started collecting, you might get a different answer from each person. The common bond among doll collectors is that they truly enjoy their hobby and often take great pride in building and showing off their collections. Owning a doll collection that is worth a substantial amount of money is often just an afterthought.
One of the biggest places online for dolls to get bought and sold, is eBay. A quick glance at the completed auction listings on the site, will show that there are hundreds of different types and styles of dolls that get bought, sold, and collected every day. The prices paid for these dolls can sometimes reach into the thousands of dollars.
One classic doll that is very popular among specialized collectors, is the Shirley Temple doll. Shirley temple was incredibly popular in her heyday, and her dolls have stayed popular ever since they were first released by the ideal company. Vintage Shirley Temple dolls are an example of a doll that can be worth quite a bit of money. An original doll, with its box, can sell for over $1000. Re-released Shirley Temple dolls also sell well on eBay, but they are not nearly as valuable as the original, vintage dolls.
One vintage doll that everybody knows has a lot of value, is the Barbie doll. Mint condition examples of Barbie sometimes sell for several thousand dollars at auction. A little known fact, is that vintage Barbie accessories also sell very well and for substantial amounts of money. If you ever come across any of these in your attic or at a garage sale, it might be worth your time to list it on eBay for sale. You might be surprised to see what some people are willing to pay to add what you have to their collection.