I would suggest first looking at the dolls.  What comes to your mind first when you think of a nice doll?

There are types and materials as baby, fashion, girl, boy, year, series, vinyl, composition, china, bisque, porcelain, rubber, hard plastic, silicone, clay, wire, cloth, ceramic, wood, tin, paper, straw dolls.  Would you like an old or new doll in a box?  Would you like a vintage doll in original dress or clothes.

What I like;  I like baby or fashion dolls.  I go for a doll that is dressed in original clothes or clothes that are made for the doll.  I settle for more than that.  It is all about looking closely and reading what the seller has to say and show.

Most dolls that are on eBay have stood the test of time.  I don't fix a doll unless I am in the mood.  It is a job that takes some kind of experience.  I like to repaint them, mend clothes and I can use glue pretty well.  Remember to use the right kind of glue for the material. 

A one time or long time owner usually is a sign of a nice doll.  Some reproduction dolls are very nice.

Here are other FACTS.  Does the doll have a good form with COLOR that is natural or original?  The FINGERS and toes should not be broken, bent, crushed in or chewed or you should know that they are not mint.  Is the doll clean or washable with soap and water?  Cloth BODIES should be spot cleaned gently.  Keep your dolls clean.

Dolls should have EYES that are in good, clear, clean condition.  What do the eyes look like open and closed?  What kind of JOINTS are used on this doll.  Joints can be disk, ball joint, tie on, sewed on, wired, string, plastic, nylon, wood button, spring, hook, turned, metal pin and this;  I am only observing the parts of a joint. OK?  

What condition are the eye LASHES and the eye brows?  Does the doll have a WIG that is loose or glued on?  Are there hair plugs missing?  Flat hair is normal in an older doll and can be worked with until it looks better.  Never use heat on doll hair just use the towel to dry it.  I take the wig off of a composition doll before I wash it.  I would never expose a composition doll to that amount of water.

Along the way I learned that some dolls have feet to SHOW OFF, some have hair to show off, some make poses when there are armature plastic or wire inside of the dolls.  Hands can be the dolls strong point.  Eyes and teeth always are a sign of a well made doll.  I like human HAIR.  Granted- 1910 hair does make me think hard about it.  You might be surprised to know how well human hair wigs last.  They need cleaning just like yours.  Always wash wigs by hand very carefully.  I had one wig go from brown to strawberry blonde.  You may smell the dirt in the hair or clothes. 

Now don't I sound like a real mommy?  I never knew that doll SHOES could fit until I became a collector.  Rule is measure the doll's foot and add 1/8" to get the right shoe size.  You know how to measure for the doll wig, right?

The EARRINGS of the doll might turn the doll's ears green when metal parts are there?  Does the doll SMELL like mold, mildew, mouth balls, dirt, or cigerette smoke or other ODOR stains?  Some types of stuffing in cloth bodies have their own smell.  They may take on the smell of something they were stored near.  You need to know that if you care.  It maybe important to other doll buyers.

You will pay for the POSTAGE to mail it.  The size and weight of doll should be observed.  Read other reviews about how a doll should be PACKED and shipped.  It concerns your doll's glass eyes.

Ink MARKS and deep scrapes and cracks are not good.  Spots on clothes may never come out.  Some people use a little Biz to hand wash.  Pre-soaking helps when clothes are seldom washed.

APPRECIATION for all decades of dolls is a lesson in doll collecting.  Dolls have been made very differently.  The KID LEATHER or oil cloth leatherette doll usually has a hinge construction.  Tin eyes and rocker eyes are used on older dolls.  Some dolls have open mouths with felt tongues and real baby teeth so I was told.  Modern dolls are more often open mouths that are molded open.  Drink and wet dolls have holes for water to flow in and out.  Many of us remember that doll experience.  One more to mention is the fingers and eyes.  Fingers are often with much detail as open, closed or with detailed nails.  Eyes can be stationary.  Dolls eyes maybe molded closed to appear sleeping. 

Does the doll have a COMPANY TAG, doll name or number or year on the neck, back or leg?  Some dolls come WITH a special necklace or bracelet or toy or accessories.  Show me the doll's UNDERWEAR or diaper!

Dolls were made real by giving them a FUNCTION.  I had a talking baby brother doll when a child, a tall walking doll, cup holding doll.  My daughter had a roller skating doll and a vocal doll.  The function of a doll should be known and understood so that you know if all parts are working and present.  It would be a thrill and challenge to restore.  Some old mama dolls have forced air or whistle type criers that no longer work.  You understand the hard spot.  Are the wires and battery box still present?  What is that lever for in the old doll's side?  Tumbelina is worth that big back side button.  Puppet dolls are for the gifted.  The function is there.  Simple dolls are fine with me.

Is the doll popular or just a charmer?  I always buy a doll that will hold its VALUE.  How much money will I want to put into the doll to make it what I like?  What should the price of a rare doll be?

Is the doll turning a color that is not appealing?    How long will it take me to find what I need to fix my doll for display?  Dolls that are not SHOWN are a sad story.  There are great doll parts like heads out there.  They are more breakable so take care.  One whole doll SITTING is safer than a head sitting on a shelf.  When a head only is knocked- it will fly and most likely be damaged. 

Will your nerves and patience take it or do you need a new doll or mint doll?  We all go through those times.  Just think where the art of doll making has taken us.  The handmade dolls in good condition and clean are nice.  I like USA dolls but Germany, Japan, France, Spain and Canada are also doll makers. 

*Caution:  Is it true that dolls were filled with asbestos type filling in the 1950's and 1960's?  One company beginning of an "I" rubber and cloth body maybe in question.  I don't know.  I am just going by an old warning that is about as old as I am.  Collectors need to know.  I am not going to be part of the collector group and let it slide by me or you.

I have bought dolls that I just can't part with once I give them my personal touch.  That is why some of us are doll collectors!    A doll is a vessel to capture those wonderful emotions that hold us captive for a time.  A doll is a memory that seldom do we recall. 

*edited on 08-03-07.