Garage Sale Gold: Cartoon And Character Dolls Of The '80s and '90s

Many experienced estate sale junkies and doll collectors dismiss dolls and toys from the 1980s and 1990s, particularly the mass produced character kind.  I've received many a side long glance, and have heard comments like "who would buy that?" and "what junk!"

Well, even though '80s and '90s items may have been inexpensive when new and even though they are only 20 to 30 years old, some of the items have intense collector interest and substantial value.  Here are some examples:

• A rare Masters of the Universe Tytus manufactured by Mattel Italy in 1987 sold for $4,500 on EBay on July 4, 2012.
• A 1983 Strawberry Shortcake Berry Happy Home with furniture but not complete, in used condition, sold for $950 on EBay on July 28, 2012.
• A Mattel My Child Genevieve doll (kind of like a Cabbage Patch) sold from 1987 sold for $696.50 on EBay on June 28, 2012.
• Speaking of Cabbage Patch Dolls, a 1987 CPK Iddy Budds doll sold for $231.37 on July 21, 2012.
• On August 2, 2012, a 1991 Krang’s Android Body Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle action figure sold for $262.50.
• On Amazon, Knickerbocker's 6" Annie doll from 1982 goes for $99 in new condition.
• Also on Amazon, the Sugar Plum Fairy Barbie doll from the Nutcracker, dating to the late '90s, goes for $69.

If you collect dolls (oops, I mean dolls and action figures) for fun, profit, or to capture a moment in time through an iconic object, do not ignore items from this era.  Here are some photos of some of our recent finds in this category: