Illustrates, describes and lists the value of a variety of nesting dolls

If you want to learn about the history of dolls, caring for and storing your dolls, starting a collection, buying, selling, and collecting collectible dolls, doll knowledge for collectors, and joining the doll community, then check out HowExpert Guide to Doll Collecting. The first toy ever made was the doll! Today doll collecting is the world’s largest hobby. Dolls remind us of our favorite childhood moments, a time in history that we are most fond of, and even a beloved art style reflected through the doll. HowExpert Guide to Doll Collecting can lead you through the stages of doll collecting. Whether you are starting a collection or adding on to one, there is a wide variety of dolls to choose from. These include ceremonial dolls, bisque dolls, rag dolls, and paper dolls, to the beloved characters like Strawberry Shortcake, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Barbie. Finding that doll that brings out your love for collecting is the easy part. In this book, you will learn the proper care for dolls, doll lingo, how to spot a replica, and tips on keeping a logbook. We even took a peek at the history of haunted dolls. The tips in HowExpert Guide to Doll Collecting will show doll enthusiasts just what they need to know to become doll collectors. Check out HowExpert Guide to Doll Collecting for learning about the history of dolls, caring for and storing your dolls, starting a collection, buying, selling, and collecting collectible dolls, doll knowledge for collectors, and joining the doll community! About the Author Charlotte Hopkins is a freelance writer from Pennsylvania; she is an author of nine books, including her children’s books, featuring Pixie Trist and Bo, and her “365 Days” series. She wrote the book, From the Dark Tunnel, about surviving child abuse, under the pen name Tori Kannyn. She was also published three times in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, the Shadows & Light Anthology, and Authors for Haiti. She has released a line of journals and logbooks under “Kannyn Books.” She is also a collector of several items. Her first collection was keychains. She also collects penguins, wooden boxes, miniatures (including miniature books), journals, and pens. She just started collecting Magic 8 Balls and Pen Cups. She has a fondness for writing, photography, astrology, history, museums, and everything purple! HowExpert publishes how to guides by everyday experts.

In more than nine decades of Girl Scouting, a vast popular and material culture has given rise to a wealth of Girl Scout history collections. More than an identification guide to uniforms, insignia, and other Girl Scout objects, this work also documents when changes occurred and why new items were introduced. Placing these objects in context, this essential guide provides a discerning look at the history and development of the Girl Scout Movement in the United States. Scholars and aficionados of Girl Scout history, costume history, women's studies, popular culture, and dress will welcome this indispensable and definitive resource. This new, expanded edition, with hundreds of illustrations, photographs, and tables, is indisputably the go-to source for information on all Girl Scout uniforms, insignia, awards, and handbooks, as well as dolls, postcards, posters, calendars, and more--from the founding of the Girl Scouts in 1912 through the present day. "An invaluable resource to Girl Scout councils managing a history collection. And, beyond that . . . an informative and intriguing glimpse . . . into the evolution of a Movement that . . . today is the world's preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls." --Cynthia B. Thompson, chair, National Board of Directors, and Kathy Cloninger, national chief executive officer, GSUSA "An indispensable reference for collectors; a fascinating resource for anyone interested in Girl Scouting, this comprehensive guide to Girl Scout memorabilia is firmly grounded in the history of the Girl Scouts of the United States. Mary Degenhardt and Judith Kirsch show us what Girl Scouts wore and read, and explain how changes in uniforms, insignia, and publications reflect the evolution of Girl Scout programs and the expansion of opportunities for American girls. Reading this book is like walking through a fine museum where material culture brings the past to life." --Anastatia Sims, author of Negotiating Boundaries of Southern Womanhood

In today's crowded, competitive market, with rapidly escalating prices, it is more than ever important to seek professional advice. A Collector's Guide to Dolls has been devised by a Sotheby's auctioneer to provie expert guideance to the novice and experienced collector -- showing exactly how to get the best value for money while assembling a highly attractive, well-organized, well presented collection, and avoiding the many pitfalls that can trap the unwary trader. A Collector's Guide to Dolls will be a definitive source book and illustrated reference manual for both buyer and seller. Its aim is to furnish the general collector and the specialist with a broad historical overview, a complete vocabulary of terminology, a concise background to materials and design, and, most importantly, a precise awareness of what is, and is not, of value. Augmented by tips on restoration and display, A Collector's Guide to Dolls will be the indispensable work on the subject for all serious collectors.

Doll collecting is the second-largest collectibles market today, with over $650 million per year spent on the hobby and over 400,000 readers of three major doll magazines.