5 Types of Collectible Dolls to Sell on eBay

Collectibles sell well on eBay, and dolls are no exception. Here are five types of dolls that do especially well.

American Girl dolls are incredibly popular with children and adults. The wide variety of time periods and ethnicities available means that everyone can find a doll that’s just what they want. The dolls range from Josephina, who lives in New Mexico in the 1830s, to Addy, who is from the 1860s and just became free from slavery.

Madame Alexander dolls are also popular. They were created in 1923. The dolls are available in variety of ages and as a male or female. There are a multitude of costumes available as well, letting collectors dress them for any occasion. Madame Alexander also created dolls of famous individuals, such as Judy Garland.

Lifelike dolls do well on eBay too. They’re also known as living dolls, unliving dolls, and reborn babies. They are made by many different people and the process takes hours. Normal baby dolls have hair added, are given new eyes, have filling replaced to make them a realistic weight, and are painted to make them look as much like a real baby as possible.

Another type of doll that’s popular on eBay is the German doll. The best known creators are Simon and Halbig, Kestner, Kammer and Rienhart, Heubach, and Armand Marseille. Of these, J.D. Kestner is the most popular and is often referred to as the King of German Doll Makers. His company made dolls from 1820 to 1938. The dolls’ bodies were made from wood, leather, or composition. All German doll artists created dolls that were meant to look like their children. Because of that, most of the dolls had full cheeks and wore simple clothing. Some companies also specialized only in doll heads.

Last but not least, Barbie dolls are very popular on eBay – they are the bestselling doll e eBay, to be exact. Limited edition Barbies can be worth a great deal of money and be in high demand. There are collectors everywhere, so Barbies often sell internationally on eBay.

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Swarovski Ornaments are Hot on eBay

Today's post is contributed by Miriam Otto who writes the blog "The eBay Life!"

I love Swarovski crystal figurines and ornaments.They are gorgeous! They are so gorgeous that I collect them. (I'm a minimalist, so that's a big deal!)In fact, I was a "member" of the official Swarovski club.

Swarovski figurines are definitely hot on eBay. But how can you tell if a figurine is real? That's easy. Look for the frosted swan insignia. It is usually found on the bottom of any piece that is authentic.

In order to get the most money for Swarovskis when selling them on eBay, it is best to have the original box and certificate of authenticity. Each piece comes with a sturdy box, foam inserts, and a special certificate. I keep all of my boxes together in a safe place.

And where do you find Swarovski figurines? Most people love their collections and don't give them away, so estate sales are going to be your best bet. People who host estate sales often don't know what they have. I once found a Swarovski at the bottom of a box at an estate sale. It was a duck, and I ended up adding it to my collection. This specific piece had been retired, so it was no longer available for purchase from the manufacturer.

Swarovski commemorative Christmas ornaments are also hot sellers. A few years back I found a Swarovski Christmas ornament at a garage sale for a quarter! Swarovski releases a new one every year. The one I found was from 2005 and came with the original packaging. It is currently selling for between 50 and 60 dollars on eBay.

So the next time you’re at an estate sale, keep your eyes open for Swarovski figurines and ornaments. They are beautiful pieces that hold their value!

Miriam Otto is an eBay PowerSeller and adult school teacher from Northern California. She sells an average of 150 items per month. Her eBay store, Bluefrogshoes.com, features shoes in hard-to-find sizes. She also writes a blog called The eBay Life! which features a “score of the week.”

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Antiques and Collectibles Resource

If you are selling items from estate sales, live auctions, thrift stores, or garage sales, you will come across all sorts of items that may look valuable but you aren't sure about. On the other hand, you may have walked by items that have value, but you just don't know what can be resold for a profit online. The amount of "stuff" out there is overwhelming.

To be the most successful selling online, you must continually educate yourself on the types of items that have value. As I tell my clients, "This is like getting a college degree - but the work never ends. You have to study every day. Read, ask questions, talk to other sellers, and continue to expand your knowledge." Antiques and collectibles are a HUGE niche. One great resource is the Kovels guide and website.

Kovels Antiques, started by Ralph and Terry Kovel, has been the antiques and collectibles experts for over half a century. They have written over 100 books about antiques and collecting, have a weekly column that appears on over 150 newspapers, and have been on numerous television shows including two series - "Flea Market Finds with the Kovels" for HGTV", and "Collector's Journal with Ralph and Terry Kovel" on the Discovery Channel.

On the Kovels website, you will find a plethora of information about antiques and collecting. It is worth spending some time there every day if you really want to break into this niche. The site provides a price guide with hundreds (maybe thousands) of items, a section on identifying marks, directory for auctions and appraisal services, discussion forums, and a free weekly newsletter. If you find an item and don't know its value or just want to learn more about it, visit the Kovels website.

You can also order the 2011 Kovels' Price Guide on Amazon:


I have a Kovels' guide in my family room and pick it up a few times a week to flip through. The information is really endless and you will only learn by continuing to study.

Have a great day on eBay!

Florence Ceramics Figurines

Today's post is contributed by Amy Kagey who is a regular contributor on the eBay Seller's Facebook group. Amy is always finding the most amazing stuff!

The Florence Ceramics Company made beautiful collectible figurines that can still be found at garage sales and estate sales. It was founded by Florence Ward in Pasadena, Ca. in 1939 and it continued into the '60's. Florence began creating the figurines at home as a hobby to help herself cope with the loss of her son. She displayed them in her garage and soon began getting orders from high-end department stores and jewelry stores. She moved her business then into a large factory.

Florence Ceramics figurines are primarily Victorian ladies and gentlemen, as well as some children and famous historical figures. Some identifying features of Florence figurines are merry, usually brown eyes with brown painted lashes, gold trim and extended arms with articulated fingers. Many of her figurines are decorated with lots of lace that was dipped in slip and fired. The intricate details of the fingers and lace leave these collectibles very prone to damage. Almost all of these figurines have their names hand-written in cursive on the bottoms and most have a Florence Ceramics circle-shaped stamp.

In the 1960s the Lefton Company copied many of Florence Ward's designs and used overseas workers to reproduce them. They were then sold more cheaply in the US. Florence Ceramics won several copyright infringement battles against Lefton but the Lefton Company simply modified their figures and continued to sell them. These cheaper-made imitations were the downfall of the Florence Ceramics Company.

Some Florence figurines are:

Scarlett, Melanie and Rhett from Gone with the Wind
Napoleon and Josephine
Bride
Cinderella
a VERY collectible series of mermaids

I always buy Florence figurines when I see them, even if damaged and have started a small collection of my own. Florence figurines will still sell on Ebay even if damaged and some people buy them and repair them. They are very lovely examples of California pottery with great attention to detail. You can visit Amy's eBay store here.

Vintage Paint By Number Paintings on eBay

A picture is worth a thousand words, or maybe dollars on eBay. Well, not quite a thousand dollars but collectors are hunting for PBNs (Paint By Numbers) art. Yes, that’s right, the old, vintage (and sometimes ugly) kits you probably painted as a child. The kits were first developed in the 1950’s and contained a printed, numbered canvas and oil paints packaged in gelatin capsules with corresponding numbers. The popular companies were CraftMaster and Picture Craft. In the 1980’s collectors began scouting out the artwork and kits of these companies. Some galleries even had PBN shows and in 2001 the Smithsonian Museum held an exhibit which fueled the collecting even more.

Like many other collectibles, originals or firsts seem to draw the most interest by collectors. In this case, the 36 original designs of CraftMaster artist, Dan Robbins are truly considered fine art by some in the art world. The pieces of Adam Grant, another CraftMaster artist can bring anywhere from $40 to hundreds of dollars for first generation pieces. "Love Ballet", an 18" x 24" ballet scene, and "Ballet Intermission", 12" x 16", are two of his most popular first generation CraftMasters. His super CraftMaster masterpiece, "The Red Shoes", which measures 27" x 36" can bring close to $800.

Collecting today is often subject specific. There are collectors of cats, dogs, cows, flowers, birds, --almost anything is probably collected by somebody! Some '60s vintage pictures can be bought for two or three dollars. Thrift stores are still good sources, as are yard sales and flea markets but antique store owners often think they have a rare piece and are starting to raise prices. Limited edition series such as Dracula, the Mummy and Frankenstein are becoming more popular. Even unopened kits in mint condition sell very well.

What makes these folk art paintings unique and appealing? Experts think a desire to relive the memories of the past has created the appeal for vintage PBN paintings. It has a nostalgic feel.PBNs gave the average person the opportunity to experience art without having any artistic experience. Every piece is different even if there are millions of the same sets out there. Every person brought their own individual expression to how they painted them.Some painted outside the lines, changed the colors, added images, or painted over what they didn’t like so no two will ever be the same.

Here are a few recently completed PBNs on eBay:

Cowgirl PBN - Sold for $149.99

George Washington PBN - Sold for $87.72

Vintage Paint by Number - Sold for $76

There are all kinds of neat little profitable niche markets like this hiding on eBay. And who ever would have thought a simple hobby would produce such sought after art?

Collectible McCoy Cookie Jar Sells for $241 on eBay

Dawn sent in her success story:

We bought this cookie jar for $2 at a church yard sale. We really had no idea what we had. Just knew McCoy Pottery was good. Here is the completed listing:



Dawn's price = $2
eBay selling price = $241.39
Profit before fees = $239.39

Outstanding! Those are the kind of sales we all hope for. Thanks for sharing, Dawn.

If you have a success story to share, send it in to me at eBaycoach @ yahoo.

For a FREE list of more items like this, click here for my list of thrift store finds to sell on eBay.

Vintage Perfume Bottles

Today's post is provided by Amy Kagey, our resident vintage perfume bottle expert on the eBay Mom's Facebook Group. Amy keeps us informed and always shares her great finds with the group. Here is Amy's advice:

It is always a good idea to look for perfume and even empty perfume bottles at garage sales, thrift stores and estate sales for resale purposes. Many people collect vintage perfumes and others are simply looking for their favorite perfume that has been discontinued. Other times, buyers are searching Ebay for designer fragrances so they can get a lower price.

I will usually purchase perfumes that aren't completely full, also, if they are collectible or sought after.

I look for:

1. Current designer brands (Chanel, Burberry, Armani, Dolce & Gabanna....)

2. Discontinued fragrances (Almost any discontinued perfume has a disappointed fan somewhere. Some older Mary Kay does well in this category.)

3. Older perfume bottles are very collectible, even if they are empty. These tend to be bottles from higher-end fragrances. Look for heavy, well-made bottles, unusual designs or figural bottles and anything marked France. Some very collectible bottles were made by Lalique, Tiffany, Baccarat, and Steuben.

I'm often asked about Avon bottles. Avon made many hundreds of styles of bottles, most labeled as collectible. I have found that most don't bring much money on Ebay at all. The exception to this are the newer high-end fragrances that Avon has been producing recently and some fragrances that were discontinued.

I have found perfumes to resell at garage sales, estate sales (check the bathrooms and dresser tops), thrift stores, auctions, and overstock stores. There is a great market out there for collectors and just people searching for their discontinued favorites. I hope this article will help you in your Ebay travels!

Thanks so much for sharing this information with us, Amy! Visit Amy's blog at Collectibles Online Sales, and her eBay store called Collectibilities.

Are you knowledgeable about a particular eBay niche, collectible, or vintage item? Submit your guest post for consideration to me at ebaycoach @ yahoo. My readers and I would love to hear from you!

Determining the Value of Antiques and Collectibles

Here is another application the eBay offers under the Applications tab. Terapeak Antiques and Collectibles research. This app provides access to the largest price guide in the world for sales information on antiques and collectibles. Users have access to pricing and pictures, which is ideal for identifying and placing a value on your items. How many times have you found what you know is a collectible, but can't find the name of the pattern, model, or year it was made? Terapeak Collectibles is the answer to that problem.

You can check out this application and sign up for a free 7-day trial. The cost of the program is $15.95 per month. Click here to find out more.

For more information on exactly what to buy to resell, check out my eBook about garage sale finds to sell on eBay.

Happy Selling!