Collecting vintage dolls is a great hobby and one of the best ways to keep your childhood reminiscences alive. It's a really good way to conserve history too, since stunning vintage dolls span many centuries. Believe it or not, the first known doll was made up of rags.

After that, they were made with porcelain and, later, bisque dolls were created. Eventually, dolls were made using composite, vinyl, celluloid, china and plastic. You now have a wide variety to choose from in building your collection whether you prefer vintage dolls or the modern dolls made using the various newer materials.

There are so many vintage dolls available in the market these days, how do you know which is the better collectible? First, you should know that scarcity sometimes may put one doll ahead of another in the collectible bracket. Popularity is another factor which can make the doll a collectible. Barbie is a classic example as these dolls are always very popular with collectors with the more scarce ones being the most valuable.

There are many collectors who gather a particular type of doll due to their craftsmanship while others keep their focus on the clothing of the doll or materials that were used in the manufacturing of the doll. For example, a collector who gathers porcelain dolls has his focus mainly on the makers who manufactured these wonderful dolls during the 1800's.

The main characteristic for vintage dolls is the overall appearance of the doll. The price that the doll will bring relies mainly on this. An example of this would be that a nice looking antique Barbie doll would bring in a much higher price than a not-so-good-looking doll. Another factor that affects the dolls value is whether or not the doll is sold with its original clothing or packaging. A doll that comes with all of its original clothing and packaging is worth so much more.

Of course, more than any other factor, you should focus collecting those dolls which have some personal appeal to you. Your individuality and interests should be seen in your collection, not those of other people. Initially, try to collect a few different types of a particular line of dolls such as Liddle Kiddles, Betty Boop, or G.I. Joe. If you aim to assemble too broad a variety early on, you may become quickly frustrated as you will end up adding ones to your collection that really don't fit well as you build you collection. But even if you do end up with some you no longer want, never fear. It's easy to now sell these to a fellow collector who would be thrilled to acquire them using eBay.

Discover the amazing world of vintage dolls at The Vintage Doll Shoppe, the net's one-stop resource for vintage doll collecting. Browse a huge selection of rare dolls for sale including bisque dolls, composition, celluloid, china, tin/metal, wooden, and other antique dolls. We share our latest interesting finds in The Doll House, our blog devoted to vintage dolls. While visiting, enjoy our collection of videos showcasing antique doll collections, restoration tip videos, vintage commercials, and much more!