Doll collecting is a fascinating hobby. The antique composition dolls are just wonderful. I've had original and restored of these but have to admit I much prefer the beautifully restored ones as for me the visual is most important. Oldbird36 from the USA does the most amazing work I've seen (thanks Mark for my exquisite treasures I have bought from you) and I highly recommend his work to anybody who wants restored dolls. Poope (french for doll) and Littlecoppertop are also restorers who do a beautiful job with the dolls.

I have had and sold so many dolls I have lost count now. My photos are all I have of them (heaven forbid my computer ever crashes) to remind me of what I once had in my possession. If I had a huge house I doubt I would have parted with most of them but the reality is a tiny home which can only accomodate a certain amount of dolls alongside the humans abiding here. None of whom share my fascination I must add. My husband tries to pretend the dolls don't exist and once when he said a deprecating remark about not ANOTHER doll arriving I arranged all 10 of my 36 inch playpal dolls so they were staring at him while he watched tv.  After that he refrained from negative comments!

As a seller it is really important to me that my doll is described truthfully. I know the disappointment of receiving a doll with major flaws not described in the listing. The few I have received with flaws I have resold with the flaws described and have lost most of what I paid for them. When I am tempted now to buy a doll I have made it a rule I must sell one of my collection. Since I am down to dolls that have cost me a lot and which I absolutely love having in my possession, it has to be a really special doll for me to even consider buying it. Rules are meant to be broken I know, especially for a libran like me, but I don't have the room to display any more so this rule of mine is reasonably easy to keep. I post as soon as possible after payment is complete. I work so this can mean next day excepting weekends naturally. Although there was the odd occassion when I would post a parcel then get home and a payment had come through so had to go back to the post office. Luckily the post office is close by! Also I was on early shift so I was able to do it. My postage stars still went down a fraction but I put that down to the flawed system which ebay have introduced with no education provided for buyers! I charge for post what Australia Post charge me and never charge for boxes, packaging, sticky tape etc. Still the star went down!

For anybody who wants to start doll collecting I would recommend gathering all the information possible and being really particular about the dolls bought. I wasted so much of my hard earned money on dolls which I shouldn't have bothered with. Until I discovered composition dolls and then my real passion for collecting fired right up! They are just beautiful when the restoration is done properly. It's a very expensive hobby but also really satisfying one when that gorgeous doll is in your possession and displayed for all who enter your home to see. Though some people don't see what I see in them (usually the male variety) they are still a subject of great interest for many visitors.