So Many Doll Blogs, So Little Time

I don't know where to start, I hav so much to say. I withstood the heat, and nearly melted, to try a new experience; I got to an estate sale super early and got a number, and nearly melted in the awful heat. I came back, and was nearly beat out by dealers and other interested people, but got in right away. I've never done this, but my friend D, who priced the dolls at this sale, called me at work earlier in the week, at about 8 am, and said I had to go!! If he says I have to go, then I really have to go to a sale! For about half an hour, I chatted with a friend. I was the first one there earlier, or thought so, but I got in with the first ten people. It helps to read; the door sign said ring for a number. Duh; I waited until someone else went ahead, but it didn't matter. When it was time to go in, we were lined up in numerical order. I sent another friend, M, to get another number at another sale about five miles down the road in the next city. He already had some goodies there for me.

At my doll sale, very near home, I headed for the dolls, and picked up what I wanted right away, and didn't put them down. I avoided a debate over whether a Dream Baby's hands were original; they were old Japanese stone bisque hands, probably from a small jointed doll, but not original to the Dream Baby. She was insisiting, not my problem. The owner had been a dealer and repaired dolls, so I stick with my original point that the arms were old, but not original. The baby was 75.00. The dolls were below book price, way below, some were a little expensive. All the better for me; dealers would shy away, because justifiably, they wanted to make a profit. I won't be selling, at least not till I'm 1000 or kaput. I came away with a large Kestner Hilda type baby, about 24 in., with original factory outfit, wig, and body. She has a faint hairline, but the doll was like, 90% off book value. She is wonderful. Then, I got a Queen Louise head, and an A and M 370 on its body, no eyes, wig, and lovely period dress for $50.00. I wish I had bought her 28 in. 390 sisiter, but she was over my price limit for one doll. I went back to place a bid, but she, and the 30 in Handwerck I passed up because I had one, were gone. Next, I picked up a brown bisque Native American doll head, very nice, either Heuback Kopplesdorf or A and M [There was a family and business connection b/t the firms]. I also bought the legs and arms for the doll. I went back later, and bought a gorgeous little Heuback Kopplesdorf girl and put a bid on a Nippon doll, 18 inches. The HK girl had a pink velvet vintage outfit, and wooden hands. The Nippon girl, marked RES in sort of a diamond, was very cool. The next day, the dolls were 20% off; a few more had gone, as well as part and wigs, but the Nippon was there. I bought her anyway; 20% was close to my bid. A large Minerva with wig and glass eyes was still there; she was sort of high.

Saturday, I got up and went to stand in line again! My husband says once a philosopher, twice a pervert. What does that make me? There was a rush to the dolls; three went to dealers before I could act, but they were duplicates of dolls I have. I bought a great HK painted bisque head, another Nippon head, a 370 head, the Minerva, now all at half off, and a great doll house sized HP German doll, who jus spoke to me.

All in all, I paid less than a reasonable price for the German Hilda Type. I am posting photos of similar dolls here. I hate waiting and standing in line, but the early bird did get the worm here, and it goes to show that antique German and Japanese bisques are still sought after, as are parts and wigs. I have a lot of the former, so laid off this time, but they were not exactly cheap, either. The wigs, most in need of restyling, began at 20.00 and several were vintage synthetic, but they went. I also bought some nice figurines and miniatures, and a mud figure for my friend M. I found vintage doll dishes, several minis including a great little kiln, and vintage shiny bright ornaments in their boxes at the second sale, but there, a low brow Esther china head, bout 11 ins, went for $75.00. Again, a little pricey for what I have. There was a Revlon type Effanbee for 20.00 and a Crissy with shoes for 25. Not bad; had I not already indulged, I might have brought them home. Happy Dolling, and more later about model RRs and other hobbyists.