Old/antique dolls - what can we do with them?

[RustyBear]

When my mum died 10 years ago, she left all her dolls to DD. We thought this was just her gorgeous collection of Barbie-type dolls which she had redressed in Victorian costumes, and a dressed Jumeau doll which is very carefully stored

But now my brothers have been helping my Dad empty his loft ready for reinsulating and have found box after box of dolls which my mum had obviously bought to restore/dress. Some of them are obviously antiques, mostly in pieces, some are 'rosebud' type 50's or 60's dolls and some are Barbies or Barbie clones dating anywhere from the 60's to the 90's. There are also lots of small china heads & limbs which presumably would need a cloth body made, but I have no idea if they are originals or reproductions.

DD, being an impecunious student would like to sell all or most of them, but we really have no idea where to start -we don't know whether to just shove them on eBay with a picture & as good a description as we can and hope for the best or try a car boot sale or to try to identify & value them.

Does anyone know of anywhere that would value stuff, possibly starting from a photo, or have any advice about what to do with all this stuff?

You could ask local auction house to value them and pick out the good ones to put in a specialist doll / toy sale.
The rest would do fine on eBay if you can take good photos. (use macro button for close ups) Just make sure they are in the correct section ie antique doll pre 1920s (even the 1950s ones are better in this section as the vintage section is flooded with rubbish). Familiarise yourself with the terms used to describe them by going through this section on eBay to see what keywords are used.

Find a local "dolls hospital" (although not many left)

Find a local dolls house & collectable toys fayre (I think these are fairly common)

attend local auction house free valuation day.

I dont now anything about vintage toys, but my friend bought a teddy for 10p at a car boot & managed to sell it to a local antique shop for £50, who then went on to sell it for £150!!!

I am very sentimental & would rather they went to "a good home" than make me lots of £££££ but at the same time, I would want something back for the time & money that (your Mum) the collector had invested on their behalf.

Thanks both of you- that's given me a good starting point- at least one of the dolls has a mark on the back of it's head which I googled - a complete dressed one went for around £700. DD's in in pieces & in need of restoration, but I think the local auction house might be a better place than eBay for that one.