About Anne Hoffmann Expertise As a modest collector of appropriately vintage age, I'm good at identifying American vintage dolls (largely late 1940's-1970's) and have the interest and resources to research particularly challenging identifications. I would hesitate to make specific value estimates, however, as markets fluctuate and I am not a professional appraiser. I can recommend at-home repair methods and resources for particular repair instructions and supplies. I can differentiate repairs that will enhance or devalue the historical significance of your doll.
Experience For one, I am 58 and a life-long doll lover. I played with many of these dolls! I am an adult collector, hampered only by my inability to afford the high-end and rare collectibles. I do some doll identification for sellers on eBay and am in demand for local yard sale and church pricing of doll "finds". I like folks to be able to realize a good return for their offerings by correctly identifying their dolls for collectors. I am highly literate and like people as well as dolls! I was briefy a customer service associate for JC Penney (one of those "filler" jobs) and enjoyed resolving issues to customer satisfaction. I am retired and spend a lot of time studying dolls. On the down side, while having an excellent command of the English language, I am a poor typist.
Education/Credentials None for doll collecting. I was a draftsman and machine programmer for an architectural metal firm.
Question I have searched everywhere to find out how much the Cracker Barrel American Classics Rosemary porcelain doll is selling for. Can't find anything. Any ball park figures?
Also have a Lissi Fashion doll with a salmon orange/pink long sleeve dress with lace and a white satin bow in her hair. Hair is dark brown. Can't find her either. Wanto to sell them but have NO IDEA of pricing!
Thanks
Sandee
Answer The American Classics collection of porcelain dolls made for Cracker Barrel seem to have a current market value of about $40.00-$55.00 for discontinued issues, depending, of course, on height and condition. $55.00 would represent a mid-sized (25") doll in mint condition with box, identifiable as a Cracker Barrel collectible. A 36" doll MIB might command as much as $75.00. A realistic starting bid on eBay would be about $20.00 for the mid-sized dolls. These are not artist dolls, so value is to a collector of the specific series.
The Lissi doll requires more information to identify. The dolls made in West Germany by Lissi Batz are just some of the dolls called "Lissi". If you want, send your question again with some more identifiers: baby, child or lady doll; height; construction and material(s), i.e., vinyl or vinyl limbs and cloth body, etc.; markings (check head and back and limbs); hang tags and/or box; hair type (rooted or glued wig); condition. Are the clothes known to be original or not? Is the doll mechanical or a "soft" doll? With a little more to go on, I would be happy to assist in assigning a "ballpark" value for your doll.
