Melissa & Doug Fold and Go Mini Dollhouse
Take dollhouse fun with you wherever you go with the Melissa and Doug Fold and Go Dollhouse! This durable wooden house opens up fo...

Melissa & Doug Victorian Doll Family
Melissa & Doug Victorian Doll FamilyThis delightful family is looking for a good home. The family includes a mother, father, daugh...

Fisher Price Loving FamilyTM Grand Dollhouse Super Set (Caucasian Family)
The Grand Dollhouse is even grander when it comes with lots of furniture! This Super Set is complete with Living Room, Bathroom an...

KidKraft Majestic Dollhouse
Our Majestic Mansion is over 4' wide and four-and-a-half feet tall, giving young girls tons of space for taking care of their favo...

Calico Critters Townhome
This charming townhome has five rooms to house the Calico Critters family. With lots of adorable features, like lights that turn o...

Collecting Dolls House Dolls - A Hobby For Future Generations

Modern dollshouses have their origins in the well-known European "baby houses". These appeared in the 16th century in Europe and consisted of cabinet displays with multiple rooms that had beautiful architectural detailing. At that time, dollhouses, dolls house dolls, their furnishings and accessories were afforded only by rich families as the cost of such things could reach the price of a modest real house.

Little girls are more then enthusiastic when it comes to playing with dolls, dolls houses and dolls house furniture. It is a good idea for every family to design a plan of some kind in order to build or buy a dollhouse for their precious little girl. The effort put into building this magical house and the money spent while at it are nothing compared to the joy and happiness of your child while playing with it.  

When it comes to dolls houses, they can meet a wide range of preferences and styles from traditional to modern. The possibilities are infinite – almost the same as for real houses. Miniature houses are a very good idea for small playing areas as well as for little girls while walk-in houses are designed for bigger playing spaces and for older girls. For those who want to dazzle their daughter or granddaughter even more, there are a series of extras such as stables, a pool, a tennis court or a garden that can be added.

Not only the dolls houses, but also the dolls house dolls play an important role in 'playing house'. They must be the right size and must be flexible enough to be able to use the furnishings and move around. Take, for example, a doll that can't move its legs – her movements are quite limited which makes playing somewhat frustrating. The closer to reality the experience, the greater the fun will be. If chosen properly, the dolls can also be a really valuable collection object.

It is very important that the furnishings are as close to reality as possible. This doesn't mean that they have to be functional or look precisely the same, but a dolls house should never lack accessories such as bathroom and kitchen appliances. Such miniature accessories can be bought or ordered in toy shops and online and can match any kind of dolls house. They can be made of different materials from plastic to porcelain. Custom-made accessories are even better because they add a unique and personal touch to any collector's dream dolls house. 

As seen throughout history, not only little girls enjoy having a dolls house equipped with furnishings and dolls. Adults worldwide enjoy gathering collectibles and improving their childhood collections. Important people such as Colleen Moore who owned the Fairy Castle dedicated their life to enriching and embellishing their dollhouses. Therefore, think about it – what started as playing house could turn into a lifetime hobby for your child. In addition, think about the future generations of children (your grandchildren, for example) – they could also benefit from this wonderful activity instead of watching TV or playing on their PCs. 

Collecting dolls house dolls can be a hobby on it's own, with each set showing the fashions of the time they were bought. Social history and playtime rolled into one.

FBI Issues Warning for New Barbie Doll: Video Girl Barbie (Video)
The FBI issued a warning about a Barbie doll that may be used in child pornography cases. The doll itself is not a danger, but the FBI warns if law enforcement is working a case, and they find this . . .
Read more on Gather

	Melissa & Doug Brianna - 12" Doll Sale Price: $11.90
	Melissa & Doug Toys - 12" Doll. The perfect friend for your child! This is the ideal, sweet-smelling, first-born baby doll. Even the youngest mommy will love her sweet face and soft, cuddly body. Real moms will love her wipe-clean arms and legs! Jenna is "pretty in pink" from head to toe, in a removable, smocked onesie and matching cap...

	Little Mommy Play All Day Baby Sale Price: $20.00
	Fisher Price's Little Mommy Play All Day Baby brings imagination to life. This lively doll reacts to a variety of fun, playful positions and movements such as bouncing, flipping, dancing, and flying, with adorable sounds and phrases...

	Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Walk & Giggle Doll Sale Price: $39.99
	Get ready for interactive playtime with the Fisher Price Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Walk & Giggle Doll. Designed for children age three and older who enjoy playing "mommy," this life-like doll features a repertoire of more than 60 phrases, songs, and sounds...

	Melissa & Doug Wooden Family Doll Set Sale Price: $11.90
	Multi-generational, colorfully dressed figures are wire-framed, so they can pose in many ways, and make a great addition to any dollhouse. Inspire young imaginations for hours of pretend play!

	Kids Preferred Baby Kira Doll Sale Price: $10.49
	Kids Preferred 11" Kira Doll Kira is made with softest plush and lovely floral embroideries. She is 11 inches and loves to snuggle! Recommended Ages: 0 months & up

	Madame Alexander, 18" Too Cute In Boots, Favorite Friends Collection Sale Price: $32.39
	Madame Alexander Too Cute In Boots Introducing Madame Alexander's 18" play dolls dressed in the latest fashions. They have fun to style rooted hair and eyes with long lashes that open and close. Articulation at the neck, shoulders and hips allows for multiple poses...

	BABYDOLL Magic DOLL Bottles SET Of Two MILK & Juice girls toy Sale Price: $3.99
	A set of two magic refill baby doll bottles. Includes a 5 inch milk and 4.5 inch tall juice bottle.

	Melissa & Doug Natalie - 12" Doll Sale Price: $9.99
	Melissa & Doug Toys - 12" Doll. The perfect friend for your child! This is the ideal, sweet-smelling, first-born baby doll. Even the youngest mommy will love her sweet face and soft, cuddly body. Real moms will love her wipe-clean arms and legs! Jenna is "pretty in pink" from head to toe, in a removable, smocked onesie and matching cap...

	Melissa & Doug Victoria - 14" Ballerina Doll Sale Price: $17.86
	The Melissa and Doug Mine to Love 14in Victoria Ballerina Doll is ready to take center stage! This adorable doll stands tall and features posable arms and legs for every dance move. Victoria is dressed in a removable pink leotard, fluffy tutu, and ballet slippers...

	Manhattan Toy Stella Doll Sale Price: $24.95

The past 25 years have seen tremendous changes in the collectible doll industry. Until that time, collectors only had antique dolls, or newer childrenâ??s dolls to add to their collections. As there were relatively few â??new collectiblesâ? to purchase, the market on these â??played with dollsâ? and antiques was vibrant and exciting.

There were many doll shows scattered all over the country, and a visit to one would find three types of dolls available, antique dolls, rescued discarded play dolls, and booths featuring doll makers wares. Doll makers were many, with their work ranging from dreadful to stunning.

Flea markets also found doll sellers, usually of the â??discarded child doll typeâ?, and many collectors searched regularly for collectible dolls. At the time, dolls being grabbed up were from the Chatty Cathy family, Chrissie and Velvet family, Patti Playpal types , Vogue, and of course Barbie.

With the emergence of the â??Ashton Drake Galleryâ? dolls, followed by many mass produced porcelain dolls by many other companies, all offering limited editions, artist renderings and much media advertising, many collectors changed direction and began to purchase these new dolls.

This new collector market was huge for a number of years. People scrambled to complete sets of dolls and to find dolls by certain doll artists. The market on older vinyl â??designed for play dollsâ? softened considerably during this period.

Home based porcelain doll studios, where you could take classes teaching you how to make your own dolls, also became very popular during this time.

A quarter of a century later, many dolls that were so popular, have now come onto the secondary market. Due to the market being so flooded at the time of production, and so many collectors jumping onto the bandwagon, the secondary market is now flooded with these dolls. The value on many has plummeted as a result, particularly Ashton Drake Dolls.

Other collectible porcelain dolls that were mass produced are for the most part worth only a fraction of what was paid for them initially. The biggest reason for this is the fact that these dolls are still being produced, the quality has improved a great deal, and the prices have gone down. What reason would anyone have for purchasing an older one!

The market on genuine antique dolls continues to be strong, and investments made seem to be sound. As the years pass, it is harder and harder to find antique dolls unless they are coming directly from another collectorâ??s private collection. This keeps the prices high. Unlike modern dolls, there are only so many antiques to go around!

	Melissa & Doug Brianna - 12" Doll Sale Price: $11.90
	Melissa & Doug Toys - 12" Doll. The perfect friend for your child! This is the ideal, sweet-smelling, first-born baby doll. Even the youngest mommy will love her sweet face and soft, cuddly body. Real moms will love her wipe-clean arms and legs! Jenna is "pretty in pink" from head to toe, in a removable, smocked onesie and matching cap...

	Little Mommy Play All Day Baby Sale Price: $20.00
	Fisher Price's Little Mommy Play All Day Baby brings imagination to life. This lively doll reacts to a variety of fun, playful positions and movements such as bouncing, flipping, dancing, and flying, with adorable sounds and phrases...

	Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Walk & Giggle Doll Sale Price: $39.99
	Get ready for interactive playtime with the Fisher Price Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Walk & Giggle Doll. Designed for children age three and older who enjoy playing "mommy," this life-like doll features a repertoire of more than 60 phrases, songs, and sounds...

	Melissa & Doug Wooden Family Doll Set Sale Price: $11.90
	Multi-generational, colorfully dressed figures are wire-framed, so they can pose in many ways, and make a great addition to any dollhouse. Inspire young imaginations for hours of pretend play!

	Kids Preferred Baby Kira Doll Sale Price: $10.49
	Kids Preferred 11" Kira Doll Kira is made with softest plush and lovely floral embroideries. She is 11 inches and loves to snuggle! Recommended Ages: 0 months & up

	Madame Alexander, 18" Too Cute In Boots, Favorite Friends Collection Sale Price: $32.39
	Madame Alexander Too Cute In Boots Introducing Madame Alexander's 18" play dolls dressed in the latest fashions. They have fun to style rooted hair and eyes with long lashes that open and close. Articulation at the neck, shoulders and hips allows for multiple poses...

	BABYDOLL Magic DOLL Bottles SET Of Two MILK & Juice girls toy Sale Price: $3.99
	A set of two magic refill baby doll bottles. Includes a 5 inch milk and 4.5 inch tall juice bottle.

	Melissa & Doug Natalie - 12" Doll Sale Price: $9.99
	Melissa & Doug Toys - 12" Doll. The perfect friend for your child! This is the ideal, sweet-smelling, first-born baby doll. Even the youngest mommy will love her sweet face and soft, cuddly body. Real moms will love her wipe-clean arms and legs! Jenna is "pretty in pink" from head to toe, in a removable, smocked onesie and matching cap...

	Melissa & Doug Victoria - 14" Ballerina Doll Sale Price: $17.86
	The Melissa and Doug Mine to Love 14in Victoria Ballerina Doll is ready to take center stage! This adorable doll stands tall and features posable arms and legs for every dance move. Victoria is dressed in a removable pink leotard, fluffy tutu, and ballet slippers...

	Manhattan Toy Stella Doll Sale Price: $24.95

Not all doll collectors make a conscious decision to become doll collectors at the start of our collection. We may purchase our first collectible doll simply because we found a particular collectible doll simply irresistible. Deep down all of us have our own reasons, most probably subconsciously, for purchasing that first collectible doll. Passion, warmth and excitement will, in all likelihood influence your decision to start a doll collection.

There are some doll collections that bring out the child in us whereas others have an uncanny way of bringing out the mother in us.

We can be the perfect mother to these children who never throw tantrums, never get sick, no dirty clothes to wash and no pajama drill. We can cuddle them if and when we so desire and in busy times we can leave them to sleep peacefully. We can buy new clothes and accessories for them when our budget allows, but if we don't at least they won't mind.

There are as many different collectible dolls as there are doll collectors. Toy dolls that you purchase at the local store are not classified as collectible dolls. They may be extremely cute and have priceless value for the children who play with them, but they will not increase in value, other than sentimental value. At the other extreme there are one-of-a-kind dolls created by world renowned doll artists. The waiting periods for these dolls are understandably extremely long and the purchaser would expect to pay thousands for this piece of artwork. These dolls are obviously beyond the reach of the average doll collector. In the middle of the two are a vast number of collectible dolls, created by renowned doll artists that are available on the market at prices that would be affordable for most budgets, and these are the dolls that are responsible for the growing popularity in doll collecting.

If you are new to the exciting world of doll collecting you will be amazed at the selection of dolls available for doll collectors today. If you have decided to venture into doll collecting then it may be that your biggest stumbling block will be in deciding what particular type or which particular artist/artists dolls you wish to include in your collection. Nowadays with the use of Internet access to the various doll collections is literally only an Internet connection away.

Guidelines for newcomers to the world of doll collecting:-

• Get as much information as you possibly can - from the Internet, bookstores, libraries and specialized magazines.
• Make sure that information you use to base your decision on is factual and knowledgeable.
• Research previous work of any doll artist and their selling platforms before making a final decision.
• Determine whether the dolls are issued with a Certificate of Authenticity.
• Reputable doll galleries will only sell dolls of exceptional quality.

Make sure, above all else, that whatever type of collectible doll you decide upon for your collection that you would welcome the idea of owning not one, but a whole collection of these dolls.

As long as you love each doll that you buy you will love doll collecting. Doll collecting is a passionate pastime and choosing what type of doll to buy is a personal choice that should come from the heart. If you cannot walk past a baby doll without feeling it has your name written all over it, then buy baby dolls. If your passions for dolls dates back to childhood memories of playing with wooden dolls and you have a sentimental attachment to these dolls then collect these dolls. Do not let anyone influence you in your choice of dolls as a doll collection brings responsibilities and you do at least want to enjoy fulfilling these duties.

Collect within your budgetary limits.

Most serious doll collectors would love to own a whole collection of OOAK (one of a kind) collectible dolls. Very few of us can afford to own even one. Decide what you can afford to buy and start a collection in this price class. There is nothing to prevent you from upgrading your collection at a later stage should your financial position improve.

It is Quality and not Quantity that counts.

You will be adding more value to your collection by purchasing one quality doll per year than adding a number of mediocre dolls. Doll collections can so easily get too big to really appreciate and doll collecting is a marathon not a sprint. Be selective and appreciate each doll when you do manage to buy it.

Do sufficient research.

Making an informed decision always gives us confidence in our actions. Read as much as possible about a particular type of doll and get as much background information on the doll artists whose dolls hold a particular attraction for you.

Do not let price guides rule your decisions.

The Blue Book is every collector's Bible, but this book is a point of reference only as there are numerous factors that can influence the value of a doll. Always use your own judgment in conjunction with price guides.

Buy from a reputable dealer.

This is of particular importance when purchasing antique dolls. Member of NADDA (National Antique Doll Dealers Association) must adhere to a strict code of ethics and membership requirements include at least five years experience in buying and selling antique dolls. All dolls must be guaranteed as to age, attribution, and physical condition in writing upon purchase. With modern new collectible dolls a reputable dealer will have a good after sales record and be knowledgeable about market trends.

Join a doll club.

Doll clubs are a great way of expanding your knowledge of the doll collecting world and a great way to share your ideas and aspirations. There is so much to learn from other doll collectors and these clubs often organize doll shows and other events that can bring a new dimension to your doll collecting.

Realize that you may want to upgrade your collection at some time.

Tastes change as we develop new ideas and are exposed to different types of dolls. Never feel guilty about wanting to change the direction of your collection. The money you get from the sale of your collection can be used towards your new-found doll collecting interests.

Enjoy yourself!

Remember that doll collecting is a pastime and it is meant to be enjoyed. Never let your doll collecting habits get in the way of family and friends and treasure the dolls that you are lucky enough to acquire. Always appreciate the doll friends you meet along the way even more than the dolls and you will find that you will always enjoy yourself.

Happy doll collecting!

	Melissa & Doug Brianna - 12" Doll Sale Price: $11.90
	Melissa & Doug Toys - 12" Doll. The perfect friend for your child! This is the ideal, sweet-smelling, first-born baby doll. Even the youngest mommy will love her sweet face and soft, cuddly body. Real moms will love her wipe-clean arms and legs! Jenna is "pretty in pink" from head to toe, in a removable, smocked onesie and matching cap...

	Little Mommy Play All Day Baby Sale Price: $20.00
	Fisher Price's Little Mommy Play All Day Baby brings imagination to life. This lively doll reacts to a variety of fun, playful positions and movements such as bouncing, flipping, dancing, and flying, with adorable sounds and phrases...

	Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Walk & Giggle Doll Sale Price: $39.99
	Get ready for interactive playtime with the Fisher Price Little Mommy Real Loving Baby Walk & Giggle Doll. Designed for children age three and older who enjoy playing "mommy," this life-like doll features a repertoire of more than 60 phrases, songs, and sounds...

	Melissa & Doug Wooden Family Doll Set Sale Price: $11.90
	Multi-generational, colorfully dressed figures are wire-framed, so they can pose in many ways, and make a great addition to any dollhouse. Inspire young imaginations for hours of pretend play!

	Kids Preferred Baby Kira Doll Sale Price: $10.49
	Kids Preferred 11" Kira Doll Kira is made with softest plush and lovely floral embroideries. She is 11 inches and loves to snuggle! Recommended Ages: 0 months & up

	Madame Alexander, 18" Too Cute In Boots, Favorite Friends Collection Sale Price: $32.39
	Madame Alexander Too Cute In Boots Introducing Madame Alexander's 18" play dolls dressed in the latest fashions. They have fun to style rooted hair and eyes with long lashes that open and close. Articulation at the neck, shoulders and hips allows for multiple poses...

	BABYDOLL Magic DOLL Bottles SET Of Two MILK & Juice girls toy Sale Price: $3.99
	A set of two magic refill baby doll bottles. Includes a 5 inch milk and 4.5 inch tall juice bottle.

	Melissa & Doug Natalie - 12" Doll Sale Price: $9.99
	Melissa & Doug Toys - 12" Doll. The perfect friend for your child! This is the ideal, sweet-smelling, first-born baby doll. Even the youngest mommy will love her sweet face and soft, cuddly body. Real moms will love her wipe-clean arms and legs! Jenna is "pretty in pink" from head to toe, in a removable, smocked onesie and matching cap...

	Melissa & Doug Victoria - 14" Ballerina Doll Sale Price: $17.86
	The Melissa and Doug Mine to Love 14in Victoria Ballerina Doll is ready to take center stage! This adorable doll stands tall and features posable arms and legs for every dance move. Victoria is dressed in a removable pink leotard, fluffy tutu, and ballet slippers...

	Manhattan Toy Stella Doll Sale Price: $24.95