7. Keeping Your Dolls in Boxes
Obviously, this doesn't apply to most antique doll collectors. But...especially for collectors of modern dolls, don't just leave your dolls in boxes for "investment" sake. If you're only interested in investing, you should buy some real estate. Play with your dolls--debox, fold, spindle and mutilate. Redress them. Play with their hair. Enjoy your collection! Nothing is as sad as a collector with 200 dolls--all in boxes, either in a case or stored in a closet, and not one single doll to play with!
8. Being Afraid of Live Doll Auctions
Whether you're an antique or modern doll collector, don't be afraid of doll auctions. They will seem intimidating at first--buying dolls with live competition, and having to think, quick, on your feet, can intimidate even the most seasoned collector. However, you can find amazing dolls of all types at auctions. Before you're ready to buy at one, attend a few and get the feel for the market, the bidding, and reviewing the dolls at preview--whether the auctions are held at a local estate sale auction house or a specialty doll auction house. Eventually, you'll jump into the fray and you'll be glad you did!
9. Being An Antique Doll (Or Modern Doll) Snob
I can't tell you how often modern doll collectors look suspiciously at antique doll collectors and vice-versa. I collect both, so I'm sensitive to the snubs of each. Don't be a doll snob--even if you don't want to collect in the other universe of dolls, you should still respect it and even explore it as your collecting continues.
10. Living and Breathing by Price Guides
Price Guides are essential to collecting (heck, I have one on this site and I'm writing one!). You'll need to have a few to help guide your collecting and to help you appraise your collection. But...don't become a slave to your price guides. If you see a truly mint, all-original vintage or antique doll, that doll can be priceless--one of a kind, that you might literally never see again. So....don't decide not to buy the doll just because its being sold over "book value." Conversely, don't jump at dolls you see that are way under book value--sure, they might be a good bargain, but the doll market is volatile right now, and the market might have changed since the book was written. Or...the doll is being offered way under book value because it has serious flaws in condition or otherwise. So, when you use price guides, start with the price guide for reference, and then think it through further.
Those are my Top 10 Mistakes Of Doll Collecting Newbies. I hope they help you know what to avoid, so you can get off to a great start. If you have other mistakes you'd like to share with our readers, e-mail them to me with the subject line "Top Mistakes for Newbies," to [Email=collectdolls.guide@about.com] collectdolls.about.com[/Email].
