But, I Love Dolls from Garage Sales . . .!

From Denise's Blog on about; I have everything from the sublime to the ridiculous in my collection, high end, low end, and everything in between, and I have fun, even with my "wrecks" and "misfit dolls:" A Humorous Look At Doll Condition So you grab a doll at a garage sale... By Denise Van Patten, About.com Guide .See More About:doll conditiondoll valuegarage salesbuying dolls One of the hardest things for a new doll collector to learn about is doll condition and how it effects the value of a doll. Additionally, it really helps to learn the various terminology that is used by doll collectors to describe various doll conditions. Yet it is true that the topic can be a bit dry; maybe even a tad boring. So, lets liven things up. Play along with me now. You have just ran into the dreiveway on a property at the opening of a massive garage sale--a garage sale swarmed by way too many participants, thanks to cable television shows about finding treasure among trash, like American Picker, Storage Wars and Pawn Stars. You spy what looks like a box of dolls hiding under a folding table. You grab it, and huddle in the corner looking over your find--a box of vintage dolls! The first doll you pull out is in... 1. Partial Condition The first doll you pull out of the box is...well, not complete. She is missing a leg. Oh, and an arm. She is nude, and looks stepped on in a few places. A doll like this isn't much use, and doesn't have much value. This condition is alternatively known as "Dog Chew Toy." However, look closely before you toss the doll aside. Perhaps she has a good limb that could be a replacement for a bad limb for a doll at home. Or, although the doll body is trashed, perhaps the doll is rare and the head is good. In any event, this doll missing major parts doesn't even add up to a doll in poor condition. Ads Collectors Stores Search Businesses At Local.com For Collectors Stores Near You! Local.com MasterPiece Dolls Offering a large selection at great prices. Secure ordering & layaway! www.samanthasdolls.com Robert Tonner Dolls 2010 Collection, Many Retired Dolls Layaways, Discounts, Secure Site www.twodaydreamers.com 2. Poor Condition The second doll you pull out of the box at least isn't missing any major parts! Hmm...but on a closer inspection, you see that she is missing about half her eyelashes. And her hair has been drastically cut. Her face paint has worn away in places, her dress in tatters and her eyes are stuck. This doll is in poor condition; a condition that only a mother could love, and indeed, the child that was the mother to this doll loved her rather well. Unless this doll is the rarest of the rare, it will have very little value. Disappointed, you throw the doll aside and reach for the next doll in the box. 3. Fair Condition This doll is also well loved. You figure that with lots of love and attention, she might be made presentable. She has all her hair, although its matted and dirty and in need of a wash and set. She has part of her original outfit, but not all of it, and again, it needs help--a few stitches for tears and a wash. There is lots of surface dirt, but it should come off with attention. If the doll is plastic, it might have some dings and scratches. If the doll is composition, it probably has some crazing and cracking. The doll is in fair condition; not up to the standards of most collectors, and a definite project for someone who wants a bargain and doesn't ming quite a bit of elbow grease. This person isn't you, so, sadly, you also toss this doll aside. 4. Good Condition The next doll is, well, OK. No major flaws, but she is played with. She has all of her original costume, but it is somewhat faded and needs freshening up. She is, however, missing a shoe. Her hair is all there, but really messy. She has a few minor flaws, maybe a lazy eye, maybe a mark on her back. This doll is in good condition. If she were a hard-to-find or rare doll, you would definitely buy her. But, she is a very common Barbie doll, so, again, you throw her on the reject pile and move on. 5. Excellent Condition Ooh...now we are talking! The next doll out of the box looks vey nice! All her clothes are there, there are two shoes, hair is in the original set. Her face paint looks fresh and has not rubbed off. She has been played with, but carefully. The doll has tight joints and holds a good pose. She doesn't look as good as the day she came out of the doll shop, and she doesn't have her box or tags, but she is a good doll that most doll collectors would accept for their collection. This doll is in excellent condition. Since she is a somewhat hard-to-find early 1950s hard plastic doll, you decide to inquire about the price. This doll goes into the keeper pile! 6. Mint Condition As you take the next doll out of the box, you marvel at how the dolls just keep getting better and better. This doll does look like the day she came out of the store--she has her hair in her original set, the outift is crisp and fresh and bright and complete, her face is bright. This is the type of doll that all collectors look for! This doll is in mint condition! And, since she is an early composition doll, you put her in your purchase pile too! 7. MOC Condition The next doll is just as mint as the last doll, with the added feature of being still attached to the original card the doll was sold on! The doll was originally sold in a plastic bubble on a card--you prefer dolls in boxes, but this small Liddle Kiddle doll was never sold that way. This condition is MOC, also known as "mint on card". 8. MIB Condition Towards the bottom of the box is a lovely, completely mint doll, in her original box! She, again, is just as mint as the last two dolls. She is a ponytail barbie doll, sold in lift-off cover boxes. Again, you are thrilled to find this MIB doll, also known as "mint in box." Ads Rare Coins Value Buy Exceptional, Rare U.S. Coins Online. PCGS & NGC. Est. 1975 Coins.BlanchardOnline.com Ashton-Drake Galleries™ Collectible Dolls - Official Site! Limited-Edition Exclusive Dolls www.AshtonDrake.com 9. NRFB Condition The next doll is a slightly later Twist And Turn Barbie doll that comes in a factory sealed box! You can see that not only was this doll never played with, but she was never out of the box at all--in fact, you are dancing up and down, because the doll looks like the day she came out of the store. You are holding a NRFB doll, also known as never removed from box. You now jealously guard your pile at the garage sale from others trying to take some of these great dolls away from you. You reach into the box to take out the final doll... 10. Mint, Pristine, All-Original, Original Hang Tag The final doll blows you away. Not only has this amazing early Madame Alexander doll never been out of her original box, but she is as pristine mint as you have ever seen this particular doll to be. She has all original packaging, and hang tags. The doll looks like it just came off the factory line! No store shelf wear and tear on the box of this doll! This doll condition is called the Jackpot condition! You grab your dolls and run to the table to check out, hoping you can argue the homeowner down to about $10 each! 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