OK. SO YOU'RE NOT AN EXPERT ON TROLLS. IS IT TIME TO SELL THAT VINTAGE COLLECTION OF YOURS, OR THAT YARD SALE FIND? READ ON FOR SOME QUICK TIPS FOR EVALUATING AND LISTING YOUR TROLLS....

PART TWO - THE MODERN TROLLS [THE 80'S AND 90'S TROLLS]

          First, a word, once again, on what this article is NOT. This is not a collector's guide to the wonderful world and history of trolls, and troll appreciation. Several excellent books have been written on that subject, and the reader may wish to consult such examples as the TROLL Identification & Price Guide by Debra Clark, Hobby House Press, Inc.,  for a more thorough treatment. [You may find it disappointing to rely on the dollar values in these guides for our purposes, however, since ebay auction values have not been reflective of the Guide values]. The trolls in this article are the more familiar and popular trolls of the 1980's and 1990's [and in Part One, the popular trolls of the1960's and 1970's], and such things as Nyform Trolls and troll animals will be discussed separately, if at all.

The purpose of this guide is to assist potential sellers in the listing and valuation of their trolls. Because relative values fluctuate, a dollar amount is not usually assigned to any particular type of troll, although in some instances, recent ebay trends and auction results have been commented upon. Where possible, the more and less desirable criteria have been highlighted and the reader may wish to incorporate the more favorable attributes which apply, into listing titles and headers.

In the world of trolls, newer, like bigger, is not necessarily better. Compared to the trolls of the early 1960's and 1970's, the trolls of the 1980's and 1990's are generally bigger, more plentiful, and hence have not generated the interest [yet] that their older counterparts have - at least, what interest there is, has not, for the most part, translated into higher sales. And there are many more styles and makers to choose from.

Size and style - In addition to 3 inch, 5 inch and 9 inch, hard plastic trolls, soft-bodied trolls were made by Russ and others, in 8 inch to 15 inch versions, similar in size and feel to Cabbage Patch Kids, sporting a variety of costumes,  team outfits and jammies. In addition, some of these soft-bodied trolls have velvety plush skin, and almost  feel like throw pillows. It is also possible to find larger trolls of this era, ranging up to about 17 inches, particularly with some DAM trolls. These will command a relatively high price, particularly if they are marked, "Made in Denmark", rather than China. Clothing seems to be a key feature of this era as well, with most every manufacturer offering trolls with stylish all-occasion or specialty outfits (birthday, wedding, party, beach, Christmas, Trolls of the World, Easter, Save-the-Planet, etc.). Some, like the the Magic Trolls, have molded on clothing in vibrant pastels. Tiny trolls, pencil toppers, earrings, necklaces, charms and baby trolls can also be found in sizes from about 1/2 inch to 1 or 2 inches.

Hair - Modern trolls all seem to have synthetic hair in bright primary and pastel colors, and the thickness and quality does not seem to vary hugely from maker to maker.

Eyes - Eyes are generally plastic or glass and come in a wider range of colors. While many of the DAM or Norfin trolls tend to have amber, brown or black eyes, trolls made by UNEEDA WISH-NIK, RUSS, TNT, MAGIC, APPLAUSE, BRIGHT, SOMA, ACE NOVELTY, and those marked simply, "Made in Korea" or "China" often feature lovely pastel eyes in pink, blue, green, or yellow. Unlike the trolls of the 1960's and 70's where eye color may add to value, eye color for these trolls does not seem to influence value.

Country of Origin - Many of these modern trolls have been made in China or Korea as indicated by the markings on their feet.  Norfin or DAM trolls seem to have been made both in DENMARK and in China, and those marked "Denmark" will usually be more attractive to bidders. In many cases, the only difference in these trolls is the marking, so one cannot tell from looking at it's little Dam picture, whether it was made in China or Denmark. Where possible, the seller will do well to include a photo of the incised maker's mark if the troll was made in Denmark. This can usually be found on the back of the neck, or back, or on a foot. If that is not practical, featuring the words MADE IN DENMARK, or just DENMARK, in the title will usually increase interest.

Popular Makers - Norfin, which continued the THOMAS DAM line, makes some of the most popular trolls in 3 inch, 5 inch, 9 inch, and up to 17 inch sizes. The smallest of these [aside from the pencil toppers] come in one-piece felt outfits, with translucent bodies and assorted hair colors. They are quite lovely and again, were made in both China and Denmark. The relatively small number that were made in Denmark usually sell for several dollars or more, apiece. When listing these trolls for sale, it may be helpful to include the  NORFIN and/or DAM name in the title, and, if applicable, made in DENMARK.

The larger trolls in the 5 inch and 9 inch sizes can be found in a wide range of costumes and outfits, including the very popular Storybook themes. UNEEDA WISH-NIK which  reissued its earlier trolls in the popular 3 inch 5 inch and 7 inch sizes, generally made its trolls with the double horseshoe mark on both feet. [ These trolls may sometime be found in pairs - such as his and her cave creatures or kids. Supposedly the males have pointed ears and the females have rounded ears, but I have seen a few of indeterminate gender - even for a troll].

Russ Trolls were made in great numbers, apparently, and are notable for their wonderfully imaginative costumes and sizes. Popularly found in the 5 inch size are the RUSS "TROLLS OF THE WORLD" and Troll occupations. Russ also makes a seemingly endless line of holiday, birthday and graduation trolls in sizes from 1 inch to 10 inches, making them about as scarce as zucchinis in August. And sometimes, about as hard to unload.

Baby trolls - If you are fortunate enough to have a seated or lying DAM baby troll in your collection [ These often have short spikey hair], then you have one of the more desirable leaders of the pack. These babies usually have painted on eyes, some complete with "whites", no clothes, and occasionally their original " Adopt a Norfin" tag. They may sell for as much as $10 to $20 each on a good month, depending on the preference of the moment as to hair color, and condition. Russ, and others, possibly, made a line of 2 inch baby trolls, commonly standing or crawling. These however, have not generated the interest of the baby Norfins, which are generally marked.

Some Favorites - While it seems that the interest in these modern trolls is about lukewarm overall, this may offer prospective buyers some great "investment"opportunities. Two or three catagories in particular are worth musing over.  Treasure Trolls - so named because of  the good luck jewels in their bellies and made by ACE Novelty - are particularly well-crafted and lovable. They come in 3 and 5 inch sizes, as well as larger soft-bodied versions, and may someday earn their place among the more sought-after troll collectibles. They do not seem to have been made in quite the numbers as their counterparts, but do have some very nice accessories and companion collectibles in the pattern and fabric arenas. Similarly, Magic Trolls which were also made in more limited production, have a fabulous line of little accessories, including a beauty shop and some cute little companion riding animals, as well as some larger play dolls. Although they are not yet widely appreciated, their fanciful accessories and well-crafted molded-on clothing could generate more doll-house lovers' interest as time passes.

Also of  note are the TRACEY and TRAVIS Trolls. These are taller, jointed doll-shaped trolls or, if you will, "puberty trolls" which are dressed rather smartly and stand about 10 to 12 inches tall. Each of these, if fully dressed, may command up to several dollars apiece as of this writing, and are commonly sought after by collectors. Since these also, were not produced in the huge quantities of their RUSS cousins, the demand is likely to outstrip the supply, making them a troll investment worth considering. If you have such a troll, including that information in your title is always a good idea.

There have been some Russ trolls, either original or "re-dressed" which feature a topic so popular, that they sell for $100 or more. In early March of this year, a Russ troll in a bathrobe with coldcream and curlers sold for about $150!  But that one truly seemed to be the exception rather than the rule.[ I bought a very cute DAM  "spa" troll last year, done up with an herbal "masque", robe, bath rug and kitten, and every bit as cute, for a modest $15, and all of the proceeds went to MissionFish, as I recall - ebay's nonprofit affiliate/clearinghouse/thingy -- so go figure].

So, if you find yourself with a lovely collection of late model RUSS, SOMA, TNT, CALIFORNIA BURGER KING, BRIGHT and/or unsigned TROLLS to sell, the most practical title tag for them is probably: HUGE LOT OF TROLLS FOR SALE! CHEAP!!  Enjoy these little guys -at least they don't break! - and keep on listing! Thanks for reading.