General Tips on Collecting Dawn

If you're serious about collecting Dawn, you'll need an identification book. Joedi Johnson has one for sale at her site Dawn and Her World. The guide is invaluable for identifying dolls, outfits, and accessories, as well as their relative value.

Dawn Dolls were only produced for three years, and so it can be hard to find surviving dolls. However, there are not impossible to find. Here are some places you can look:

• Garage sales and flea markets
• Antique/Collectible shops
• Vintage toy stores
• Toy auctions
• Doll shows
• Local and online classified ads
• Internet auction sites (particularly eBay)
• Online collectors and doll dealers
• Ads on newsgroups

I've purchased most my Dawn dolls over the Internet, buying from eBay, posters on newsgroups, other Dawn collectors, and online classified ads. This is not the cheapest way to collect these dolls (especially not eBay, where prices can rise astronomically) but it allowed me to assemble a decent-sized collection fairly quickly.

I have also found Dawn dolls at Antique/Collectible stores and some at doll shows. It's really hit-or-miss as to whether you'll find Dawn at any one location. The thrill of the hunt is sometimes its own reward.

Remember that collecting Dawn dolls takes patience and a sense of adventure. But it doesn't need to be a lonely pursuit. By connecting with other collectors, you can learn a lot about current prices, new sources, and things to watch out for. You can meet other collectors through the Dawn newsgroup, Yahoo! Club, and websites (see Dawn's Internet Community). Collecting is much more fun when you have a community to share your finds with, so please do join in the fun!