If you are a collector of vintage dolls, then you might want to check out the brand Madame Alexander. Known for making collectible dolls for over one hundred years, these dolls have different outfits and backgrounds that make them unique to each other. If you are interested in this collectible, or have some of them sitting in your garage, make sure to check out the value of Madame Alexander dolls down below.
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What Are Madame Alexander Dolls?
Madame Alexander dolls are created by the Madame Alexander Doll Company, an American manufacturer founded in 1923 by Beatrice Alexander in New York City. Madame Alexander created their first doll based on a licensed character, specifically Scarlett O’Hara from Gone With the Wind.
Currently, they have lines for baby dolls, regular dolls, and of course their vintage collectible dolls. They are not as well-known as American Girl or Barbie, but these dolls still occupy a large space in children’s toys and collectible worlds.
What is so Special About Madame Alexander Dolls?
Each doll is derived from a different place in history, culture, cinema, literature, or art, and they celebrate the world around us. You can learn a lot about the world just by exploring the worlds behind Madame Alexander dolls. Each collection is also designed with extreme detail and premium craftsmanship to inspire passion in collectors and girls who play with them.
Which Madame Alexander Dolls Are Valuable?
From under $20 to tens of thousands, there is a range of the value of Madame Alexander dolls. Vintage Madame Alexander dolls from specific eras or limited edition releases are considered the most sought after, and therefore the most expensive. Dolls from the 1940s and 1950s are the most coveted by doll collectors, but if we had to choose one time period it would be the 1950s.
In terms of limited edition items, the most popular releases include dolls representing Gone With the Wind characters and Little Women characters.
Factors That Determine Value
Several factors contribute to the value of Madame Alexander dolls. Listed below are the most important factors to determine their value:
Age and Era
The age of the doll refers to what year it was born, so the value will increase the older the doll is. Similarly, the era refers to what year the doll is based in, which could heavily influence the doll’s value. For instance, dolls that were made in the 1940s and 1950s are the most valuable.
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Rarity
Rarity concerns how many of a certain type of doll was made. If there were only five created, like the Madame Alexander Eloise Doll, then the price is going to skyrocket. But, if there’s a doll that has hundreds created, then the value will start to decrease.
Condition
Condition is a huge thing for collectors, especially with Madame Alexander dolls. These dolls cannot be damaged too much or they will completely lose their value. Collectors like when an item is preserved in its original packaging, to ensure that nobody has touched or damaged the collectible inside.
Outfit and Accessories
The last factor that could determine a Madame Alexander doll’s value is its outfit and accessories. Similar to the condition, you want to make sure the doll has all of the clothing and accessories it came with. But, there is also the idea of what the outfit and accessories are made out of. For instance, the doll could be wearing designer clothing or have Swarovski crystals sewn into the clothing. Any of these variables can also increase the value of the doll.
Top 2 Most Valuable Madame Alexander Dolls
Check out the two most valuable Madame Alexander dolls below:
“Pink Champagne” Portrait Lady Mystery Doll, $44,000
In the 1950s, Madame Alexander released six “Mystery Doll” models, which included the rare “Pink Champagne” doll. The doll is decked out in a peach-colored ensemble composed of an ecru lace gown, satin shoes, and a taffeta skirt, train, and petticoat slip. Accessories include pearl drop earrings and an embroidered purse made of tulle and brass. The doll sold at an Annapolis auction for $44,000.
Madame Alexander Eloise Doll, $5 million
Since there are only five of these dolls ever made, it makes sense that the Eloise doll would have such a large price tag. Decked out in designer clothes including a Christian Dior ensemble, Oscar De La Renta fur, and Katherine Baumann accessories, the clothing alone could increase the value of this doll. Though none of these have been sold so far at auction, the price tag is an estimate, partially based on the fact that Eloise is also adorned with nine-carat diamonds and Swarovski crystals.
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Value of Madame Alexander Dolls Over Time
The attention to detail and various backgrounds of the dolls are only part of the reason why collectors love Madame Alexander dolls. It helps that this company has been around for over a hundred years too, as it has been established in the vintage and collectible business, and those dolls from years past finally can earn some money.
If you collect dolls, we hope you enjoyed this article exploring the beauty and value of Madame Alexander dolls.
