June 2022

Dolls aren’t just for little girls! Vintage dolls are highly collectible and, in these times of economic uncertainty, a vintage doll makes a sound financial investment, not to mention bringing beauty and nostalgia to your home. Some dolls have great historical value.

If you are new to vintage doll collecting, you may wish to think about which particular type you find the most appealing, such as bisque dolls or dolls from a particular era. A shelf full of antique and modern, miniature and standard sized dolls will look a bit of a mish mash, whereas a small collection of similar size vintage dolls from the same period will compliment one another. You may be drawn to the dolls of your childhood on a nostalgic level, or the beauty of porcelain dolls. Perhaps the exclusivity of antique dolls appeals to you, or the quirkiness of the Kenner Blythe dolls. The key is to collect what you love. If you do decide later that you want to branch out (and you probably will!), you can always start another collection!

Here are some collector tips when buying a new doll for your collection.

1. Condition

Significant damage will affect the value of the doll greatly, and your enjoyment of it too. Even if the damage isn’t obvious at first glance, you will know it is there and it will niggle away. It is far better to pay more for damage free doll, than one who has very obviously been through the wars! Of course, antique dolls will almost certainly show signs of age. Perhaps their clothing will have yellowed a little or faded (you should never, under any circumstances, try to clean it). Dolls showing physical damage however, such as chips, cracks, and breaks in bisque dolls, should really be avoided. It’s always better to purchase one pristine specimen, than two in poor condition.

2. Authenticity

Many manufacturers got into the habit of marking their dolls, either somewhere on the body, or often on the back of the neck. A mark can be a good indication of authenticity. Some producers also marked the year of production – even the name of that line of doll. The serious collector may wish to invest in a book so that they may identify and value the dolls in their collection.

3. Scarcity

It often follows that the smaller the number produced, the more highly prized the doll.

4. Age

With porcelain dolls, antique dolls tend to be of much higher value than new examples, which can actually depreciate in value. Porcelain dolls from the Victorian era are still some of the most sought after.

5. Accessories

Dolls which come with their original hair and dressed in their original outfit, are more valuable. If they come with original accessories, for example jewellery or hats, so much the better.

6. Detail

As far as collecting antique dolls is concerned, the devil is in the detail! Bisque dolls may vary greatly in price depending on how the face is decorated. Closed mouthed specimens, oddly enough, tend to be much more valuable.

When it comes to Blythe dolls, if you buy from a well known name in the industry, such as the popular “This Is Blythe” company, you don’t have to worry about the quality, design, accessories or the condition. As you can see from thousands of This Is Blythe reviews online, they are very professional and have a huge customer base.

About 30 miles (48 km) north of Honolulu lies Haleiwa, a small seaside town that is home to many of Oahu’s famous North Shore beaches and maintains an old world charm to entice vacationers to Hawaii. Haleiwa was founded in 1832 by Protestant missionaries, Reverend John and Ursula Emerson. They helped establish a mission, a girls’ seminary and a Protestant church that still stands today (though it has hence been renamed “Queen Lili’uokalani Protestant Church” to honor the Hawaiian queen who visited Haleiwa and worshipped in the church).

The Westerners brought with them the concept of private land ownership, and soon a prosperous economy of private sugar and pineapple plantations began to boom in Haleiwa. In 1898, Benjamin Dillingham, a wealthy businessman with a broad-minded vision for the area’s future, opened a grand Victorian-style hotel, which he proudly called “Haleiwa Hotel,” meaning “House of the frigate bird.” Haleiwa became the last stop on the Oahu Railroad, which was one of Dillingham’s major projects, allowing crops to be transported from the North Shore to the rest of Oahu. Haleiwa Hotel soon became a red-hot getaway for prosperous Honolulu families who thirsted for vacations “in the country.” Both these early establishments – the railroad and Haleiwa Hotel, shaped the town into what it is today. The construction of the railroad and the thriving sugar plantations required laborers, which led to an influx of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Norwegian, Scotsmen and Filipino immigrants, who were contracted to work.

Over a hundred years later, Haleiwa still retains this multiethnic nature. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the racial make-up of Haleiwa today includes an admixture of whites, blacks, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, Latinos and those who are mixed with two or more races. The Haleiwa Hotel has long since been replaced with “Haleiwa Joe’s Restaurant,” but the initial existence of the hotel (as well as the business ventures undertaken by the immigrants who left the sugar plantations and went into business for themselves) did wonders to promote the town as a tourism destination and a business center.

Today, Haleiwa spans a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.6 km²) and has a population of around 2,250. It functions as the commercial capital of the North Shore and somehow manages to retain some of the ambiance of old plantation life. A small boat harbor is located on Waialua Bay, and two lovely local parks, Haleiwa Beach Park and Haleiwa Alii Beach Park, line the shore, drawing in scores of locals and out-of-towners.

There are quite a few North Shore Tours Oahu Hawaii visitors can take to explore Haleiwa and the town’s unconventional shops and ample surf stores. They can stand in a queue in front of Matsumoto’s and Aoki’s to sample Hawaii’s famous “shave ice.” Or they can visit Haleiwa’s unique art galleries, such as the North Shore Gallery, which features stunning seascapes painted by the famed Walfrido. The Haleiwa Surf Museum and Strong Current Shop are other local favorites, where tourists can purchase surfboards designed by local surf legends Mike Diffenderfer and Dick Brewer.

Vintage and Antique Dolls