WHERE TO FIND ALEXANDER DOLLS
There are lots of resources for finding Madame Alexander Dolls -
 | Doll Shops - Local retailers in your hometown, a town near you or on the internet. These shops offer personal service. |
| Big Retailers - FAO Schwarz, Neiman Marcus and others. |
| Doll Shows |
| Classified ads - Collector's United, Master Collector - also the Review published by MADC. |
| Online Auctions: eBay, Yahoo and Amazon.com auctions, among others. Thousands of dolls to choose from - 24 hours a day! |
| Garage Sales |
| Flea Markets |
| Antique Malls and Stores |
| Online Bulletin Boards |
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN PURCHASING DOLLS
When you find the dolls you are looking for, then what are you looking AT to help you decide whether or not to add the dolls to your collection? The number one thing you will be looking at is the condition of the doll. For any doll, the better the condition (mint is ideal) and the more original the doll and the clothing are, the more desirable the doll is. There are so many examples of played with dolls in all doll categories (except, obviously, art dolls) and dolls missing various parts of their outfits or accessories, that any doll that has managed to NOT be played with throughout the years is extremely sought-after. Original boxes, tags, and packing materials are also a plus (anything that helps the doll look like it did when it was on the shelf, for sale, in its heyday!). These types of dolls are hard to find, and often bring a premium over "book" value.
That said, not every collector can afford (nor does every collector want!) mint dolls. Many collectors enjoy fixing up dolls in poor condition, acquired inexpensively. Others LIKE well-loved dolls, and admire them simply as the playthings of past times (and admire their "patina" much as one might enjoy the well-worn look on an old pine country desk).
If you are a "serious" collector with many types of dolls in a particular category in your collection, you will also consider the rarity of a piece. If you are a collector of art dolls, the artistry of a piece will be of highest importance. If you collect antique porcelain, the quality of the bisque and the painting of the face will be extremely important.
