I have grown so tired of seeing someone trying to sell a popular composition doll that looks as though it has been run over by a mack truck or has been BADLY repainted for the full value of the doll. I am sure other collectors and compo doll restoration artists out there share my grief in this matter. I am going to give you (buyer or seller) an idea on how to price a composition doll. First lets say the doll you have is a popular one (marked or not) but for the purpose of example we are going to use Effanbee Bubbles as well as Ideal Shirley Temple. Both of these dolls came in various sizes and both came with tagged clothing. They are easily found in reference books and reference books give a value on the doll. What some people do not consider is that the condition of the doll in the book is far better than the one they are selling.

The value given for a doll can vary slightly or greatly depending on which reference book you are using. I am going to be referencing from Ursula Mertz's book Volume 1 & 2. In my Encyclopedia of Composition Dolls 1900 - 1950 by Ursula Mertz a 22" Bubbles doll is valued at $500 but on ebay that value drops to about $250. Now the one in the book (pink cover pg. 183) is in PRISTINE, ALL ORIGINAL condition with All Original clothes. If you have a naked 22" Bubbles with flaking paint over 50% or more of the composition parts, a ripped torso that is also rather dirty, it's missing its teeth and one finger and some maniac has tried repainting it's hair with a paint brush and used primary Yellow (bright yellow) paint, your doll is worth about $50 to $75, not $500 as is the one in perfect all original condition. Overall condition is the biggest factor. If you had a 22" Bubbles in near perfect condition with only minor flaws like crazing (not open cracks) but it has no clothes it is worth around $200 (ebay value). You deduct around 20% for lack of original clothes, 15% if original clothes are present but in bad condition, and again 20% for original clothes that are shattered. Deduct 10% for minor flaws, 20% for not so minor flaws and 50% or more for really bad condition. So let's do the math; let's say we are selling a Bubbles doll on ebay (valued at the lower price of $250 because ebay is where people shop for bargains) that is 22" tall but it is in bad shape -50% = $125 but someone has done a very bad repainting job on all the composition parts or just the head -%30 = $87.50 and it is dressed in modern clothing or nothing at all -20% = $70. If the doll is dressed in appropriate clothing of the same vintage as the doll add back 25%.

The same is true for a Shirley Temple doll but Shirley is a little bit different. She has markings on her back AND her head, if marking on back is not present deduct 20%, if the marking on her head is not present deduct 50% (wow, that's a lot but the head is what makes her Ideal's version of Shirley Temple and with out the head she is just another compo doll). The clothing for Shirley Temple is more valuable, too. If her clothes are gone or are not original (it is important for a Shirley Temple to have her original clothes) deduct 25%. Deductions for condition are the same as they are for Bubbles above as well as other dolls.

Original condition that is pristine (no cracks, chips, flakes or even crazing and no fading of paint color) ADD 25%. Restored condition that is very well done and/or pristine add 25% - 35%. Original wig in excellent condition, if applicable, - no bald spots, not grimy to the touch and in original set without being matted up add 10%.