Collectible Gothic and Dead Dolls
Doll collecting no longer has to be a hobby exclusively for older ladies, conservative mothers or young girls. Mezco Toys has a full line of dolls created with a Gothic sensibility in mind. The Living Dead Dolls are horror characters come to life, for the benefit of the more "unique" doll collector.
Function
Living Dead Dolls are for collectors and doll enthusiasts who are looking for something different than the traditional porcelain dolls or Barbie dolls.
Features
Every Living Dead Doll comes with its own death certificate, much as the Cabbage Patch Dolls come with their own adoption certificates. They also may come with special accessories, such as bouquets of dead flowers, bloody knives or even miniature coffins.
History
The Living Dead Doll line was created in 1998 by Damien Glonek and originally sold exclusively through his "Unearthly Possessions" storefront. Within a short time, his designs were bought by the toy retailer Mezco and began to be mass-produced in 2000. They were released for sale to the public in 2001 via Mezco's outlets. Sales of the original Living Dead Dolls were strong, and steadily increased. By 2001, several series had been released of the original doll form, and a "mini" series was also released. In 2002, collectible items like etched glassware became available as well.
Types
Sixteen series of the original style of doll have been released since 1998. Exclusive limited-edition dolls and special "2-Packs" (like the "Died and Doom" bridal pair) have also been made available to the public. A series of minis in a convenient keychain size have also been released, as well as a series of dolls that take the form of baby dolls but still bear the signature Gothic mark of the Living Dead Dolls. Two series of dolls have been released under the name "Fashion Victims"; and while looking a lot like the original series of dolls, these are taller and dressed more like fashion models. Two more collectible series of dolls have been released by Mezco, including a set of rag dolls and a set of 18-inch porcelain dolls.
Considerations
Living Dead Dolls are only available for a limited time and are made in limited quantities, behooving any collector to keep track of stores that carry the dolls, how often they receive new dolls and how quickly they sell out. It is also a good idea to get on any mailing lists released by Mezco or selected retailers that announce when new dolls will be released. New dolls begin selling at $25 to $30, but once they are no longer being manufactured, they may fetch two to three times as much. Auction websites like eBay offer Living Dead Dolls on a frequent basis, but the selection will depend on what collectors are willing to sell.
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