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 Hello, I would like some idea what I can sell my Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. doll for ??? My doll is in good condition with all original parts.
Answer I am assuming you mean the 1999 Hasbro G. I. Joe series Colonel Buzz Aldrin doll, rather than the figurines or the bobblehead figure. If so, this is a hard-to-find quality doll of an historical figure, so one would think it worth more than the prices it is actually being offered at currently.
Rarity is not the primary indicator of secondary market values, however. The main factor in any market is demand. The problem for doll representations of historical figures is that dolls are manufactured largely as toys. Most children today have no real frame of reference for the heroes of the 1969 moon landing. The appeal would be much greater to adult collectors and history buffs.
Also, the doll is a recent issue, having none of the cachet of a doll contemporary to the event. Mattel produced a box outfit, MR ASTRONAUT #1415, for Ken in 1965, but didn't seem to jump on the moon-landing bandwagon, an interesting marketing oversight.
Of the references I can find for the Hasbro doll, there is a MIB offering on a British online store at 69 GBP, which is approximately 141 USD. A single listing on ebay, the useful all-purpose secondary market value tool, has a starting bid for a MIB doll of $29.99. I recommend watching this auction to see what kind of interest, if any, it generates.
Your doll seems to be in gently played-with condition, but complete. Since it is a hard-to-find item, you could reasonably offer it for $30.00- $45 on today's market. You might just want to hold on to it, though, until it becomes truly vintage-a long wait to be sure, or until it is old enough for today's children to have grown up to be potential collectors and history buffs.
