Unless you’re in Japan, or you get very lucky at a thrift store and find an original Blythe, you probably can’t buy these dolls in person. However, there are many options for purchasing Blythe online.The easiest thing to do if you want a genuine, new, in-box, Takara brand, stock clothing and accessories included Neo-Blythe doll is to go to Junie Moon. There you will find new release dolls, news of upcoming ones, and a collection of older stock (whose price you might notice slowly increasing, depending on demand and rarity).
Junie Moonie ships from Japan, and in fact has a brick and mortar store in Tokyo. Other options are the Hong Kong-based KGH Hobby, and C.C. Toys. The latter offers free shipping, but if you’re looking for a particular doll, it’s worth shopping around in order to get a sense of the best available price. In all three examples, the shipping is extremely fast.
Another Japanese storefront that offers international shipping is Mandarake. A modicum of caution might be advised there, since individual sellers are offering the dolls. However, the site is tied to the enormous brick and mortar toy store in Japan. Listings seem to be between new and used, as many items are listed as never removed from box but with damaged box. Many, however, are bonafide used.For international buyers, it is a little unsettling to check out, because the store doesn’t immediately tell you the shipping costs. I selected a Petite Blythe in box and a stock Blythe outfit for a regular-sized girl. The shipping cost there ended up being about $18, which is not bat at all for shipping from the US to Japan. Shipping also took less than a week, as was the case in all of the above mentioned stores.
Things to keep in mind are currency differences (just google the conversion, it will take one second), and shipping costs. For a full-sized Blythe in box, you are going to pay an average of $30, or it is going to be included in the cost of the doll with “free” shipping. Look around and compare prices to make sure you’re getting a good deal, but most of these sites come highly recommended.
There are many other websites where Blythe can be found, including the above mentioned Mandarake. Good old Ebay is a haven of used and new dolls with various prices. The fear of a counterfeit doll is always there — and models such as Simply Mango and Simply Guava are, or have been in the past, apparently popular offenders. However, even with a more expensive purchase such as Blythe, most people are not trying to rip you off. Confirm that the seller has perfect or very near perfect feedback. Ask any questions if you don’t feel right about the item. If it doesn’t feel right, look elsewhere.
Ebay also has customized dolls, Kenner dolls — with the fierce bidding wars and shockingly high prices expected –, and so-called “factory dolls.” Factory or TBL Blythe deserve a whole other section, but they are what they say, namely, not a real Takara release. Some customizers of Blythe use factory dolls, some use real releases, a trustworthy customizer will tell you what they used. (Someone re-selling a custom doll may or may not know the original base doll. In that case, it’s up to you, the buyer, to judge if you want it or not.)
Etsy is also a place to find Blythe, though mainly you find the arty, highly expensive ones. However, extra special customizers such as Dear Girl Face, and MissFreyaJ have stores, usually on Etsy. Again, the “fairness” of the price really depends on you, the buyer, and whether it’s the doll of your dreams or not. Some stores do layaway or payment plans, and it never hurts to ask if that’s an option. I can vouch for Dear Girl Face and Miss Freya’s dolls and customer service personally, but there are countless other artists out there.
Facebook groups are also a good resource for new and used Blythe. I’ve found several bargains in Dolly Adoption (not entirely Blythe, but heavily Blythe) and 100% Stock — Blythe Dolls and Adoptions. There are some seriously prolific collectors out there, and people are often seen selling off their less loved girls. As someone who doesn’t care about pristine dolls, I’ve also found the Facebook groups to be a great place to get a doll that’s traveled around a bit, but is still adorable. It’s also a good way to easily acquire a cross-section of Blythe face molds. (Yep, the difference may be fairly subtle, but since Blythe’s return in 2001, there have been several different molds released by Takara. Each have their fans and their detractors.)
In short, for a rare collector doll that is based in Japan, there are plenty of options for the US or other buyer.
It was created in 1972 and was initially only sold for one year in the United States by toy company Kenner (later purchased by Hasbro). In 2001, the Japanese toy company Takara began producing new editions of Blythe dolls.
Limited Editions and Exclusivity. The allure of Blythe dolls is significantly enhanced by their limited editions and exclusivity. These limited-edition dolls are often released in small quantities and feature unique designs, themes, or collaborations with artists and designers.
After being discontinued, Blythe dolls faded into obscurity for several decades. However, in the late 1990s, a photographer named Gina Garan discovered a Blythe doll in a thrift store and became fascinated by its unusual appearance.
I purchased a real and fake Blythe to compare the differences and noticed that the hair of the fake one is significantly better, with more texture, softer, no grease and more manageable. The real Blythe, on the other hand, has greasy hair that is so tangled even when brushed, and it looks so messy.
Factory dolls are allegedly dolls made of rejected parts from the official factories that produce Blythe. Rumour was that these parts were rejected or parts that were smuggled out of the factories by workers and then cobble together to make a Blythe.
Blythe is very popular from her high fashion sense, which makes her become a presenter or model for many magazines or advertising. Women from all around the world love Blythe because Blythe fashion always reflects the fashion trend at the moment.
These dolls, which are typically found on auction and sale sites, are often labelled as factory or TBL. These dolls are not made up from any factory parts and are counterfeit or fake Blythe dolls. The term TBL was coined by a collector and Blythe artist called Dr. Blythenstein.
The big head and the big eyes made the dolls too scary for little children to play with, and Blythe was ditched after just one year. But nearly 30 years later, a Blythe renaissance occurred. Gina Garan, a TV producer in New York, was given an old Blythe doll by a friend.
This fashion doll with a grapefruit-sized head and slender body was first released in the U.S. in 1972 for one year and reissued in Japan in 2001 as Neo Blythe.
Well, you know I love dolls with big eyes, and Blythe must have the biggest eyes in the doll world. And just a pull of her string changes both the color and direction of her eyes. Only the full size Blythe dolls have this eye mechanism.
Just as a rule of thumb, any doll labeled a TBL or "Taobao Blythe", means it's fake/counterfeit. Early on there were talks that some fakes were made with leftover Kenner parts that were apparently just sitting around in a warehouse somewhere for nearly 30 years, but whether that's true or not is up in the air.
Here are some of the arguments that I often get presented with that are pro-fakes: They are less expensive/more affordable. This is true – a decent fake can be had for as low as ~$40-50 USD while a legitimate Blythe doll may be as low as ~$100-125 USD.
Allison invented Blythe in the early 1970s while she was working for Marvin Glass, a prominent toy design company in Chicago. Blythe was manufactured by Kenner in 1972, but only for one year. After 27 years, Blythe was resurrected by CWC in a Christmas television commercial for Parco in Japan in late 1999.
Japanese dolls are an essential element of the nation's culture, there is even festival dedicated to them every spring! Known in Japanese as ningyo, or human form, they come in many shapes and sizes, and have just as many meanings and uses.
In recent years, Daruma dolls have become a popular souvenir from Japan for foreign visitors along with maneki-neko (beckoning cat) dolls, which are said to invite good luck. Various dolls have been made in Japan since ancient times.
He mastered unique traditional skills and style and has, up to the present day, lived a life dedicated to the making of dolls. His works, created with polished and superb skills, are praised for style – as the top creator in the world.
Hobby: Calligraphy, Rowing, Vacation, Geocaching, Web surfing, Electronics, Electronics
Introduction: My name is Msgr. Benton Quitzon, I am a comfortable, charming, thankful, happy, adventurous, handsome, precious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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