During my time on E-Bay, I have bought some breakable items which, alas!,  have indeed arrived ...well...broken!   When the total amount of broken dolls came to more than three, I decided not to just undress them and sadly throw the doll away, but to keep each one for some kind of future use...These were mainly Princess Diana dolls, and I felt that, perhaps some talented OOAK (One Of A Kind) doll designer might wish to "take these broken dreams and make them fly" (to paraphrase one of my top 1000 favorite Beatles songs).

    So, I have decided to redress my dolls when the clothing was fine but the original doll was not. I had been calling my re-dressed dolls OOAK dolls, until one E-bayer told me in no uncertain terms that, unless a doll is re-painted, it can NOT be called "One Of A Kind." So, now, when I sell a re-dressed doll, I will be calling her "Unique" rather than OOAK. That, I hope, will make doll lovers (of which I am one) very happy. So, you might see a "Unique" Marilyn Monroe doll wearing a Princess Diana gown, or a Princess Diana doll wearing a Marilyn gown, or a Jackie O gown...etc.  Most of these re-dresed dolls and ensembles will be in PERFECT condition, but some of them will have perfect clothing  on clearly marked broken dolls...No worries...I WILL include clear pictures of any damage right in my ads, so no one will be hurt or unpleasantly surprised. I don't think I will be selling any damaged clothing...unless a buyer is looking to "re-vamp" a damaged dress...I have clung to a few of those which have arrived with a tear or two...But I will do this ONLY if someone directly ASKS me to list such an item. (For example, I have a pair of "Marilyn" long white gloves with some slight "pulls" which make them imperfect and, hence, unsuitable for selling...UNLESS someone wishes to buy them!)

    If the PERFECT gown fits...and another PERFECT doll can wear it and look great in it, then I am all for re-dressing my dolls, perhaps re-doing the hairstyle (then it does come close to being an OOAK, but I'll still call mine "Unique" out of respect for those who take the time to re-paint the faces) and selling them to those who cherish new combinations and configurations. I always clearly indicate what doll is wearing what ensemble so the buyers know the origin of my re-creations...

    But now I am going to sell my broken dolls so that a talented artist can use it and make of it a beautiful new creation. I am considering selling dolls with broken legs wearing perfect long gowns...but if I do this, my ad will show clear pictures of any breakage. Otherwise, my "Unique" dolls will be in PERFECT condition, as will the ensembles which they will be wearing.

    I had written my other Guide on How To Pack Porcelain Dolls so that perhaps a reader might avoid breakage during shipping...I do realize that breakage can still happen, but leaving the legs untied to a secure backing kind of invites breakage...I have found...But Postal Football can at times thwart even the most careful of packaging...

     So...Why am I writing such a Guide? Well, I strongly believe that doll owners want real and detailed Truth in advertising, and I am not the only one who now looks at items labeled as OOAK, only to find just a re-dressed doll. Thus, I am proposing a new name for recycled, re-dressed dolls: namely "Unique." Many people use the term "rare" to describe a doll or item that they are selling, so I will not use that term, unless I, indeed, have a rare doll. I do have a few of those, too. But I feel that the term "Unique" for describing a redressed doll, perfect or broken, will not be offensive to doll lovers...But, if it is, at least I have written this Guide to explain what I mean by the term "Unique."

    I have noticed that some people sell wigs and doll parts to those who wish to create OOAK dolls to sell later. I applaud their efforts. And it has taken me a while to join this list of sellers, but I really do wish to never have to throw away another broken doll. So, if you see me selling an obviously broken doll, or a selection of great doll dresses, but without shoes, etc., or a doll head, or a doll without earrings, it is with the idea of keeping the original doll somehow "alive" and useful to doll artists and doll lovers.

    The phoenix shall arise from its ashes! (I hope!)

    In the case of Princess Diana dolls, I remember the first broken porcelain doll I got in the mail:
         The seller was upset with me for some reason for letting her know that the doll arrived broken... she did not want to envision the Princess Diana doll with broken legs. Well, neither did I! So, if it is OK with Princess Diana doll lovers, I am hereby letting them know that, as I do also adore the Princess' works and her memory, and I also did adore her when she was alive and with us, I would do nothing to harm her memory! Thus, I will be selling what parts I have "rescued" from broken shipments to people who can make or find  something of beauty from them.

    It took me a long time to arrive at this juncture. I did not wish to think of deliberately selling any broken dolls, especially Princess Diana dolls, but if someone can "rescue" these parts, or enjoy the doll despite some clearly shown damage, then I will  be happy and the buyer will be too! And, I hope that other E-Bayers will understand what I am doing and why. I do not wish to offend other doll lovers!

    So, if other sellers wish to call their re-dressed dolls "Unique" then I will be happy. If they don't, then at least my buyers will not think me heartless, but they will know what I am about. AND they will also know that most all of my "Unique" dolls will be redressed dolls and ensembles which are in absolutely PERFECT condition, and NOT broken at all! But they will also know if anything is damaged right up front.

    I got a doll with a tiara which was missing several faux pearls, for example...Now, that tiara seems useless to me...but if someone else thinks of it as "Unique" and wants to work with it, then I would list it as such for that person or persons. Otherwise, it will stay with me.

    So... when I do decide to sell a broken doll, my ad will CLEARLY show the breakage, so everyone will be happy!

    If anyone reading this Guide wishes to send me a message, please do so! I enjoy corresponding with other doll lovers...and refining what I do on E-Bay!

    Hence, this Guide...