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OPDAG often
receives questions from members about selling paper dolls from
their collection of new and old paper dolls. Using the Overstreet
Comic Book Price Guide as our guide to rates, we have adapted
them to paper dolls (PDs) and recommend these guidelines:
CONDITION
You must
be scrupulously honest in your assessment of the condition of
your PDs. Nothing makes a buyer unhappier than receiving PDs
in worse condition than advertised.
PRISTINE MINT: Package unopened, seals unbroken, perfect
in every way. Book unopened. No aging. No antiques will fit this
category.
MINT: Like new, uncut. In original package, unmarred in
any way. Virtually no antiques will fit this category.
NEAR MINT: Almost perfect, uncut, may show slight wear
and minor defects at close inspection. Books have been carefully
opened, no cracks at binding, no corner bends. Box tape may be
removed, and staples carefully removed from a topper, but PDs
must be nearly perfect. Most, if not all, old PDs in wonderful
condition will fit no better than this category. Brings 90% to
100% of Mint Value.
VERY FINE: Slight wear, uncut, perhaps a wrinkle or crease
at staple (if a book) or lack of surface luster from handling.
No yellowing or brittleness. Die cut PDs must be flat, no bent
tabs, in original box (if box was part of original). Books have
been opened, but undamaged, uncreased, no corner bends. Brings
80% to 95% of Mint value.
FINE: Uncut, flat, clean, no creases or folds. May show
some color flaking, minor aging (yellowing, not cracking), very
minor corner bends on sheets or pages, but not on doll or costumes.
Brings 70-90% of Mint value.
VERY GOOD: Although some hand-cut PDs may be in Very Fine
condition, we don't feel that any hand-cut PD should be classified
above Very Good. Unless of course that it was originally a die
cut piece. Must be very neatly cut. Can show some lack of luster,
some aging (but not soiled), some signs of wear, bent tabs (but
not torn), minor corner bends not affecting the PD, no missing
parts. Brings 60%-70% of Mint value.
GOOD: Used, cut or uncut. Complete (no parts missing on
PD though original book or box may be gone) some bends or minor
tears, good repairs (no tape), some aging, but not brittle. Brings
50% to 60% of Mint value.
FAIR: Well used, original book/packaging missing, some
soiling, few parts missing, serious folding, broken hands/feet,
bent neck, obvious aging (minor molds, yellowing, flaking, brittleness),
but basically there, and still enjoyable. Repairs may have resulted
in minor damage (cellophane tape yellowing). Brings 50% to 70%
of Good value (or 20% to 30% of Mint).
POOR: Much damage, incomplete, very soiled or age-damaged.
Unsuitable for collection purposes, reference only. Careful about
storing these with your better pieces as acids and molds can
spread. These are good for freebie boxes and for temporary substitutes
in a collection.
RESEARCH
After analyzing
condition, you must do your research to determine what price
you need from each item. Several publishers offer PD reference
books: Dover, Hobby House and Collector Books. Ruth Morrison
did a quite thorough reference directory about 8 years ago. Mary
Young's books can be most helpful here, though she does not have
up-to-date listings for all kinds of PDS.
PRICING
You may
want to figure a mark-up based on the price you paid. If you
got a good deal, and can double your investment without making
the price ridiculous, then do so. Otherwise, keep your retail
prices at or under current values. Going to paper doll conventions
and large parties can also help you figure your values. Do not
expect authors and dealers to give you free appraisals, unless
you are prepared to take an offer from them to buy your collection.
If a dealer buys for resale, or a collector buys your entire
collection, you should expect to earn about half of the retail
value.
METHODS
OF SELLING
You type
the list and have copies done on a copier or at a print shop.
Advertise list in PD newsletters. You may charge a modest fee
to cover your expenses. Tell how many items and what kinds in
your ad, i.e."150 commercial sets 1940s -60s. Large assortment,
books, cut, old, new."
LISTING
If you have
many commercially published items, list by publisher plus title,
code number and publishing date. If the artist is well-known,
you may want to categorize them this way as well. Collectors
will be familiar with published PDs as they can reference the
items from their own books for pictures, so you can simply list
by number, title, condition and price.
If you have original art for sale, you may want to be prepared
to send photos or reduced color copies for a fee. For selling
limited edition artist prints, you may want to do a B&W illustrated
catalogue-style listing so buyers can see what they are ordering.
SAMPLE
LISTINGS
(These
are made up. Do not try to buy from anyone):
Condition codes:
Pristine Mint=PM. Mint=M. Near Mint=NM. Very Fine=VF. Fine=FN.
Very Good=VG. Good=G. Fair=F. Poor=P.
LISTING BY PUBLISHER
Publisher / Date / Type / Title / Cond. / Price
Dover (Tierney) / 1985 / book / "M. Monroe" / M / $6
Hobby House / 1990 / book / "PD History" / VF / $10
Saalfield / 1947 / book / "Baby Jane" / F / $20
Tuck / ca.1900 / die cut / "Lady Louise" / G / $35
LISTING BY ARTIST
Name / Date / Title / Size / Color / Cond. / Price
Johnson, Judy / 1994 / "Dancing" / 8.5 x11 sheet /
B&W / M / $3
Stall, Pat / 1982 / "Patsy Doll" / 8.5 x11 sheet /
color / VF / $25
Vanderpool, Sandra / 1995 Con. souv. Calam.Jane / 3 pg set, 8.5x11
ea. / color / M / $15
SPECIAL - Original Art Paper Dolls (Handmades)
Name Date Description Cond. Price
Hoffman, Susan / 1986 / 11 x 14 framed / "Nursery Teddy"
/ M / $150
Holden, Queen / 1938 / Baby Ann / 16 x 20 panel / F / $400
This article appeared in OPDAG News, Issue #46, Winter 1996
Judy Johnson is a founding member of the Original Paper Doll
Artists Guild, writes for several national magazines and is a
paper doll artist whose books have been published by Dover and
B. Shackman. She is also the primary artist for Magicloth Paper
Dolls. For a catalog of her paper dolls and paper goodies, send
$2 to: Judy's Place, P.O. Box 216, Skandia, MI 49885, or visit
her papergoodies website.
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