.dining & entertainment—

Planning I The Perfect Wedding ... Our Bridal & I Fashion ShdW at 3 p.m., Sunday, February I 9, in the Crystal Room. Fashions by Wine I Barrel Boutique. Inquire About Our Special Cenngs Banquets Parties - Weduings Gift Certificates • Perfect for all occasions 884-7000 J ^ rX MCW uuuti \H v M0T cakes *<-** 7 cmrrfD ieef IMEIS 4 LOX FLOUNDER FRANCHISE ■KM# SrUFKEO CAPON > f ■■HErAl short mis SEAFOOD SALAD hf^M IA^ FRENCH TOAST M f V oesserts Mr- ^gfy^-' A/1 much /; --ALdHi af Only^^B Bcrfst^L flOOiJ With Complimentarv

Antiques

The first time I visited Cape May City, I noticed by the side of the road a sign proclaiming a "Doll Hospital." Here, I thought, is a town that takes its dolls seriously. Aside from feeling personally welcome (get it? ), I also realized that wherever doll collecting is taken seriously, there is usually a good market for all types of antiques and collectibles. Dolls are without a doubt the most popular of all the collectibles. The recent madness over the Cabbage Patch Dolls is evidence of what a rage they can become. THERE IS much method in this madness, however. Serious collectors know that the value of a popular doll can increase very rapidly. A good example of this phenomenon is the ever popular Barbie Doll. Back in 1959, Mattel bought the rights to a German sexappeal doll called lili, renamed her Barbie, and added a high-powered publicity campaign Less than ten years later, Mattel had sold over 80 million of them. The Barbie with the bubble cut hairdo brought back in 1962 foi under $6 now has a bool value over $150. THERE ARE few thingj you can buy that will in crease by such an incredi ble percentage in fewer than 25 years. How can an item manufactured in such great numbers still be valuable? Unlike many other things, the very popularity of a doll can add to its value. It becomes a sort of symbol of its times. Japanese import dolls were popular during Victorian times, and Kewpie dolls were given away in mass quantities at carnivals and county fairs. Both these dolls are very valuable today. THE FACT IS. also, and there aren't all that many valuable dolls up for sale on the market, at least, not at any one time. Collectors value dolls which have been played with, feeling that it gives a sort of live to a doll to know that it once lived in the imagination of a child. But unfortunately, many of the dolls which have been played with are broken now, and have either been discarded or are otherwise uncollectible. FURTHER diminishing the number of dolls up for sale is the fact that many doll owners tend to hold on to their dolls either to make a collection for themselves or to hand down to their own children or other young relatives. The really serious collectors are adults, however, and they are in it for the money. New York auction houses attract a good number of big investors. These people are looking for those 18th Century and mid-19th Century French bisque dolls with names like Bru, Marque, Jumeau, Huret and Thuiller. German bisque dolls are also valuable with names like Steiner and Heubach Kopplsdorf. DOLLS WHICH are signed or marked are easily identifiable and draw a

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premium. Look for these marks on the limbs, body or on the head either on the back of the neck or under the wig. Here's a small price list to give you an idea of what kind of money we are talking about: French bisque, balljointed, silk dress $2,100. French bisque, puchinelle, silk $1,800. Bru, nursing baby$5,800. Heubach Kopplsdorf, bisque, pouty boy $2,100. Shirley Temple, Baby-Takes-a-Bow. 22 in — $850. Moriura Brothers, Japanese bisque $275. Ideal, Deanna Durbin $385. THESE ARE book values, and can fluctuate, usually us, depending on the market demand. There are a great many more trade names, too. Check the price books in the library for more specific information. If you're really interested in collecting, there

By Arthur H. Schwerdt

are other books you should consult. I'll have a small suggested reading list in my next article. ALSO NEXT week, we'll discuss the more human side of doll collecting including tips for the casual collector (there are thousands of them), and a mention of the market for broken dolls and doll parts. (Arthur Schwerdt, coowner of The August Farmhouse. on Route 9 in Swainton, invites questions do this newspaper.) Daughters Set Mon. Bus Trip SEA ISLE CITY - Court 1655, Catholic Daughters of America, plan a bus trip Monday to Harrah's Marina hotel-casino. The bus departs 3:30 p.m. from the foot of the bridge on John F. Kennedy Boulevard and returns by 10:30 p.m. The $10 cost includes a buffet dinner, $10 in coin and $5 deferred. Call Cass Magee, regent, for information at 263-4296 or 263-8757.

Rock, Roll Concert At LCM ERMA — For its second annual mid-winter rock-n-roll concert. Lower Cape May Regional High School will feature the group Backstreets, 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Feb. 13 in the high school gymnasium. The series was inaugurated last year with a performance by The Hooters. Backstreets combines a unique sense of emotion with great vocals and musical talent to produce interpretations of the music and energy of Bruce Springsteen. THE CONCERT is offered for LCMRHS students only and is sponsored jointly this year by the school store and the Octagon Club. Tickets for the performance are being sold in the school store prior to the event. Backstreets has emerged as one of the In-state area's most poouW'attflfctions over th^radt year. The group performs two shows consisting entirely of songs written and recorded by "The Boss" from his early days in Asbury Park up to and including his latest album "The River."

ANNOUNCES THE GRAND OPENING FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH v> >\ '* Gala Ovprnight* \ \ valentine celebration » v Saturday, February 15th ' \ MUSIC BY II^^BLACK TYE IGROUP OF 7) APPEARING FEBRUARY 14 & 15 J $125.00 PER COUPLE (PARTY ONLY — $70.00 PER COUPLE) Check-in After 2:00 P.M. on February 15, 1986 ENJOY EXCELLENT ACCOMMODATIONS • INDOOt POOL GALA VALENTINE CELEBRATION 7:50 SEATING FOR DINNER • OPEN BAR 9 - 1 A.M. FULL COURSE BANQUET DINNER (PRIME RIB) • SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH • EARLY RISERS COFFEE • 9-11 BREAKFAST BUFFET • LATE CHECKOUT TIL 6 P.M. •REMEMBER. DON'T DRINK & DRIVE! ENJOY! Ocean Front at Rochester Adjacent to Wildwooa Crest 729-6QOO -