Downsizing Your Doll Collection
Steps to help make the transition easier.
A reader asked me a question the other day that made me think it was worth expanding on. This reader said that she was at the point in life where she was looking to start thinning out her collection and was curious if I had any tips on where to start. I replied to her comment but thought I’d also share some of that advice here in its own standalone post.
The process of weeding your doll collection can be stressful in more ways than one. Beyond the physical toll and time it might take to go through a collection, it can also be quite emotional. How do you choose which doll is worth keeping versus parting with, especially if you have happy memories attached to each of them? Ultimately, how you decide to slim down your collection is personal, so these tips may not work for you and that’s okay, but maybe they’ll help make something that can be quite daunting a little easier.
Step 1: Evaluate Your Collection
When you live around a large collection, it can be easy to forget just how large it is. Our eyes naturally catch our favorite dolls and skim over the ones that stand out less. It doesn’t mean we love them less, but it’s natural for our brains to prioritize things above others. That is why it’s very important to take some time to look, and I mean really look, at your collection.
Start a list, write them down, take photos, whatever you need to do to start organizing your collection on paper. And beyond noting basic analytical info, like the name and maker, go further. Think emotionally about each doll for a moment. Is the doll you’re looking at something you can’t part with? Is it something that has a special memory attached to it? Or maybe it’s something you are less attached to—something you bought on a whim or were gifted, but could part with without too much attachment. While taking inventory, also consider if an item is something you plan on passing on to a family member as part of your final wishes. Has a loved one mentioned they have always admired a certain doll or did they maybe gift you something that you cherish? Make a note of it.
If this seems like too Herculean a task, use technology to help get you started. You can easily use resources like ChatGPT, Claude or your favorite free AI provider by taking pictures of your dolls, uploading them to an AI chatbot and asking it to create a starter Excel spreadsheet for you. You'll have to edit it, of course, but it might save you quite a bit of time.
Step 2: Think about Your Motivation
What is motivating you to sell? What do you want to get out of selling your collection? What are the circumstances that make this the right time? The reason you’re thinning out your collection can be big—like moving into a smaller home or needing to make money to supplement your retirement, or small, like making space for a loved one moving into your home or just needing room for new dolls. Whatever the reason, consider your goal. The biggest question to ask yourself is: do I want, or expect, to make as much money off my dolls as possible, or are other avenues, like donating, selling cheaply or giving dolls to like-minded collectors more your style? There is no right or wrong answer here. You should know the answer, however, before moving forward with selling your collection.
Step 3: How Much Work Do You Want To Do?
You know what you can't part with. You know what you expect to get out of selling your collection. Now it's time to think about how much work you, specifically, want to put into it. For those that want to take the hands-off approach, consider shopping around for an auction house.
A few tips from me—do not choose the first auction house you see, even if you have heard through the grapevine that it’s amazing. Talk to the auction house. Read the contract front to back until you understand all your rights, as well as the auction house's. Ask the auction house for references, but also check with your favorite doll collecting Facebook group or club to see what their experiences have been. Do your due diligence because once your items are out of your possession, even if they are still yours until sold, you have less control. So be sure to know everything before delivering your dolls to an auction house.
That’s not to deter you from taking this method. For folks that don’t have the time, means or energy to sell a collection—particularly a large one—piecemeal, an auction house is a great idea. It’s hands-off and you can potentially sell items in bulk all in one big sale, with guaranteed exposure for your items, in exchange for whatever commission the auction house charges, without having to do any of the shipping.
Auction houses aren’t for everyone, and for the patient, selling your collection on your own may be the right path. You have ultimate control, for the most part, which is nice. And if you're strategic, you might be able to get away with having no extra fees taken from your earnings. The most common ways to do this are through eBay, Mercari, Whatnot, Facebook Marketplace or Facebook groups with like-minded collectors. You can also consider renting a table at a local doll show or hobby fair and selling your dolls in person to eliminate shipping. If you do decide to go the DIY method, just note that the doll market can be fickle. I’ve heard Madame Alexander collectors chat back and forth about dolls that once commanded far more than they do now. The prices you have in mind may not reflect the current market, and there's not much anyone can do about that.
Figuring out your path may be stressful, but whatever you choose, as long as you do the right research, should make the process a little easier. And if it is too much, consider taking a different route or bringing in a trusted friend to help you out.
Step 4: Start Weeding
You’ve percolated on everything this post has touched on so far. Now it’s time to roll up those shirtsleeves and start actively working with your collection. Going back to your inventory, what items did you mark down as not worth keeping, but also not worth selling? Create a bin for donations. Whether they go to a thrift store, doll club or your favorite organization, start setting them aside. Once you’ve set aside the donation items, look at your collection again and begin selling. Remember, there’s no shame in keeping something from your collection. If you love it, it can stay! But there are probably things in your collection that you have less attachment to, and those are the items you should consider selling first.
Final Thoughts
Full disclosure, I have not parted with anything from my collection, aside from two awful-looking Barbies I received at the National Barbie Doll Collectors Convention when it was in Chicago. (The dolls were that bad!) So, when reading this, know that these steps are guidelines, not rules. They’re the way I would begin to thin my collection if I were doing so. Hopefully they will be helpful to you if you’re at this stage in your collecting journey.
Do you have a tip I didn’t mention here? Share it in the comments.