Diana Doll

Diana Doll

Ashton Drake Marketplace

27 years ago, my shop was one of the first shops to get onboard when the Bradford Exchange decided to open a “Dealer Division” in Canada. I am sure there was no one who had looked in a magazine in 1980, and not seen “Matthew”. People who had never owned a doll, or even considered owning a doll, were falling in love with the idea of doll collecting as well as falling in love with Matthew. Yes there were dolls before Matthew, but in my mind, he was the one that really blew the doll market wide open.

These new collectors, then wanted to complete the earlier dolls in the set, and prices on the premier issue “Jason” went crazy. I remember people paying up to $2500. to have the first issue in the Picture Perfect Babies Collection, Jason, and hundreds to obtain Heather and Jennifer as well.

So where did it all go wrong? Today’s market on these and other older Ashton Drake Dolls, is so soft I would not dream of selling.

It is my opinion that Ashton Drake Galleries simply made too many dolls. From their original 2-3 different series back in the early days, to having so many different sets of dolls it was nearly impossible for collectors to know what doll belonged in what series.

I heard over and over as sales dwindled that there is “only so much room in my house for dolls”.

Many other collectors had entered the marketplace to simply purchase dolls as an investment, and as the market continued to be flooded with new dolls and new series of dolls, these collectors changed their buying habits. These dolls have never been displayed, and have been carefully stored for the past 20 years. Add their numbers to those sold to private collectors and you will begin to see the larger picture.

For myself as a dealer, the final blow came when I received an informal letter in the mail, saying my sales were no longer high enough to qualify for dealer status, and I would not be able to purchase dolls for resale in the future. This was the quality of customer service given to a retailer of their product for over 20 years and having sold hundreds of their dolls over the years and generating thousands of dollars in revenue for them. For a company struggling to maintain a collector base, this business decision by the Dealer Division alienated a large portion of their small retailer foundation.

Now you have collectors tiring of the product and upset because their “investment” did not work out, and you also have your retailers upset over being treated so poorly.

I have many lovely dolls in my own collection. I am a Diana Effner fan, but have others as well. I am not planning to sell, so their retail value is of little importance to me, but I certainly would call this the end of an era for a once flourishing company.

I hope that in the future these dolls will once again be recognized as the quality collectible that they are, and once again be sought after and treasured.

About the Author

For more useful information on doll collecting, visit http://www.eloradollhouse.com . Jayne Cremasco has been a doll retailer and appraiser for over 25 years and now offers a wealth of information online.

Let Diana Rest in Peace!?

OK first of all I know this doesn't really help - starting a conversation about people who start conversations about it but....

Princess Diana died over a decade ago now, I know she was thought of as a good person and did so much work for charity and good causes in general. I think she was someone to look up to as she used her power and publicity to bring attention to causes that needed it. She completely exploited the media for good. But she was only a human being and a such should be allowed to rest in peace instead of having her memory dragged through the eternal purgatory that people would like to.

Think about her sons, princes Harry and William, do you think they would be happy about people continually talking about their mother as if she were not human? As if she had been 'murdered' by some kind of conspiracy? Would you like people to collect dolls and plates with your dead mother's face on?!

I'm with you.

and for pete's sake she was not a bloody legend ... but she's certainly becoming mythical.

She was a flawed Human being ... as we all are.. .she , through marriage gained famed .. and she didn't work a nine to five job like the rest of us... and she had royal duties to perform... she carried out charitable works .. BUT in her shoes wouldn't you do the same ?

She was an adulter.. as was her husband .. she wasn't a saint .. she was HUMAN.

Yes Let her rest in peace!!

diana doll and jennifer dark