On Saturday, Sarah and I had big plans to attend the Michigan Modernism Expo, but on the way there we saw a sign that said “AUCTION TODAY.” Sarah turned her car around so fast that I assumed we were driving on two wheels momentarily.

It turns out that the auction was already in progress, and had been for about an hour. This was slightly devastating because everything left at the auction looked really good, so I assume the items we missed were also really good.

The auction was nearly all dolls, which was fine with us. Last time we went to a doll auction, Sarah cleaned up. And twice I have had crazy luck with dolls. First with a lot of dolls that included a German “dream baby” and the second time with an Arranbee doll with Armand Marseille head that I sold for $250.

Both of us blew our lids with excitement when we saw this Sasha doll still in the box. Since we learned about these dolls, we have both wanted one. Remember my fantasy about buying a mini ipad and moccasin boots for the Sasha doll version of me?

This was a “Sasha baby” and not really a “Sasha doll,” but you’ve got to start somewhere right? Because I am such a good friend, it was decided that Sarah would get to bid on this. Unfortunately it sold for like $90, and she didn’t get it :(

We also zeroed in on some Storybook Nancy Ann dolls. Somehow Sarah caught on to these being potentially valuable, and I started researching on my phone to confirm that.

So it turns out that some Nancy Ann dolls ARE mega valuable.

And others, not so much.

I figured out that the bisque dolls in general were the more collectible. The later plastic versions seemed pretty worthless. And it was important that all of the limbs be jointed. Other than that, it seemed like a crapshoot.

Only one of the Nancy Ann dolls at this auction was bisque and jointed, so I took a chance on her. And it seems like my dumb doll luck may have struck again.

Apparently silver shoes on a Nancy Ann doll are very rare. In addition, she has what are called “molded socks.” See those bumps above her ankles? Most of the dolls were smooth, but some had these socks, which were often painted white. In some dolls, like mine, the sock marks are there, but the white socks never got painted on.

Of course, I didn’t know any of this, but when I listed her on ebay, a kind Nancy Ann fan messaged me to tell me all about her. So cool!

I should mention one non-doll item at this auction that sold for some mega bucks. It was this weird mirror sculpture thing. I took a photo of it when we first got to the auction thinking it would make a good “hard to resist” item.

Well, the joke was on me, because this thing was made by Curtis Jere, the moniker of two famous mid century artists. It ended up selling for $700!!

You know what didn’t sell for $700? This box of doll heads:

[Editor’s Note: Sarah ended up buying these!]

-Erin