Arizona State Fair Entry--Just a few of the girls

My collecting attention is mostly on dolls in the image of Diana, Princess of Wales.  I have been collecting them since 1983. 

To see photos of dolls that I have in my collection, visit my Collection web pages.>

I first published these in 1998 and have tried to keep them up-to-date, but occasionally I do get a bit behind due to my schedule.

In 1998, Panorama (the same British television news documentary programme that interviewed Diana in 1995) visited my home in Arizona for an interview and to film my then nascent Princess Diana doll collection of 18 dolls.  The segment was for an episode called “The Diana Dividend” about the growing Diana collectibles industry and the Diana Memorial Fund’s lawsuit against the Franklin Mint. (The Fund lost, the Mint filed a retaliation suit a few years later and I now have many more Franklin Mint Diana dolls.)

In 1999, I started the Princess Diana Doll Club on Yahoo, the oldest, largest and best internet community for collectors of Princess Diana Dolls.  The Club practices "membership by approval" and due to experience gained over the years, prospective members need to apply per instructions provided when asking to join.

 In 2002, I entered a small portion of my collection in the Arizona State Fair in the Collection division of the Hobby department.  My entry took First Prize as well as the Department rosette. 

In February 2005, the BBC's "Money Programme" visited my house for the same purpose. They borrowed a couple of dozen dolls after the taping was over to take to their studio in order to set up special shots with the dolls on plinths, which looked really nice on the final show, but the buggers broke one.  (They did have it repaired, but even so...)  The show aired in May 2005.

Arizona State Fair Prizes

Although I am keenly aware of current market values, I am not willing to provide appraisals or estimates of what dolls might fetch at auction or private sale.  This is not because I am unfriendly, don't wish to be helpful or don't know; it's mostly to avoid liability issues if I say your doll might sell for more than it does (or less than someone else's does!) or even if you find someone with a differing opinion and you feel angry with me.  Appraisals are subjective.

It is also because I am somewhat busy and I find that the internet has created a whole culture of instant gratification junkies who have the most bizarre ideas of how much time and effort they can expect complete strangers to provide for free.  (If I knocked on your door and stated that my lawn needs mowing and I expect you to show up and do it or called you to say that my house is messy with a description of what I expected you to do about it, what would you say?  Exactly.  But people have no problem writing to me in email and asking me to perform appraisals of their collectibles without any consideration of the time required in a demanding, expectant and off-hand manner.  I find this presumptuous and somewhat rude.)  I have thus decided to ignore emails of this type.

I do not mind discussing or identifying your dolls (or mine,) but please do not approach me asking for a valuation wrapped up in different language.  (i.e., "What is fair value/market value/a good price/the going rate for such-and-such an item?" or "How much is it worth?"  These are all ways of asking for an appraisal.)  I can provide facts like original price, NOT what it sells for now.  Unless, of course, you are proposing to mow my lawn or scrub my toilets in exchange, since those are the things that will suffer while I prepare your information. ;^)