Sheer Trash Roadshow: More Five Dollar Finds

My mother shudders with horror and disbelief when I tell her about my paint-by-number picture collection. She can't imagine that anyone could find this genre appealing, let alone collectible.

Well, Big fat "Hah!" 

Paint-by-number is hot and, if you can find terrific subjects like these, well worth snapping up if you can do so. I was thrilled (and privately stunned--but I've learned to keep a poker face where good junking is concerned) to obtain these two large, framed paint-by-number beauties for five dollars apiece on my latest outing.

Gorgeous fantasy horse painting with super colors my camera can't quite catch!

Dream-like deer painting by the same hobbyist.

While my first, best impulse when I find things like this is to put them up for sale in my animal charity shop, MyPalPeppy, what usually happens instead is that I have to keep them for awhile before I can bear to part with them. In this case, they will probably replace this paint-by-number trio I have hanging in my bedroom right now:

Some of my readers will already have seen my livingroom wall of kitsch:

But moving right along. 

A flea market yielded this unusual five-buck treasure:

Not only is this a nearly life-sized framed Irish Setter picture, let me turn it at an angle so you can see that it's a 3-dimensional picture:

It's really uncanny, it's so realistic. My photos aren't capturing it particularly well, but it's striking. Made in Florence, Italy in 1978, I need to readjust it into its frame where's it come loose--a quick fix.  I've never come across anything like it before.

In yesterday's post, I shared the photo of the four Barbies I obtained for $5 each:

I told you I would get back to you with more information once I spoke to my personal and exclusive Barbie expert. (That would be my daughter! Isn't she gorgeous?)

I received her report yesterday, along with the expected bid for me to hand over the dolls she wants for her own ever-burgeoning collection.

Okay, let's start with the longer-haired dolls on each end. These are commonly called "Marlo Flip" Barbies, in reference to the popular television show of the era starring Marlo Thomas. Officially, these dolls are the "Twist 'N Turn Flip" Barbie, and they were manufactured from 1969-1971. The blonde flip Barbie is the more collectible of the two here.

Madeline suggests I take this blonde doll and dress her in the yellow crystal pleated pants outfit the other one is currently wearing. This outfit, Lemon Kick, is highly sought-after and, had it been MIB (mint in box/bag) would be worth up to $110. Even so, it's in jolly good condition and, she believes, will fetch a great price on eBay when offered in this desirable combination. (This outfit was also re-issued recently so be careful; the tag should inform you if it's the reproduction.) The brown flip Barbie, then, with homemade outfit should fall into the $20-40 price range.

http://www.fashion-doll-guide.com/image-files/that-girl.jpg

As I suspected, the bubble-cut Barbie is a case of a mismatched head and body. All bubblecuts, I am informed, had the molded eyelashes. None had rooted eyelashes. The body, with its bendable legs, is marked "1958 Mattel Inc." which identifies it as the body of Miss Barbie, the earliest bendable-leg model. Miss Barbie came with wigs and also had sleep eyes--the only Barbie with that feature. She was introduced in 1963/64 but used the 1958 body. The blonde bubble-cut doll I have is probably worth about $50.

http://www.fashion-doll-guide.com/image-files/vintage-barbie-doll-miss-barbie.jpg

The Francie (in the blue outfit, and my personal favorite) was introduced in 1966. She was "mod" whereas Barbie was always sophisticated and glamorous. Francie was the first of the Barbie line to have the rooted eyelashes. She also had a slimmer, more youthful figure. Francies were around for several years, so they're less collectible than many of the other Barbies, but I can probably get about $20 for her.

Photo & Collection by Madeline Dukes. https://sphotos-b-sea.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/163266_679918036688_4705108_n.jpg

One of Madeline's Barbie displays.

Madeline has been collecting Barbies since I bought her both vintage Skipper and vintage Pepper when she was ten years old. I thought you might enjoy seeing a few photos of her collection. Or should I say, part of her collection? I doubt the entire thing could fit in one photo! I'm not even sure it fits into one room.