How to buy a Blythe doll

Find out where to buy new and second-hand dolls while avoiding fakes and scammers

This post was last updated in December 2024.

I receive lots of emails from Blythe newbies who are curious about where and how they can buy their first doll. This is my extensive list of tips.

  1. Do your research and learn about Blythe
  2. Blythe shops
    1. Junie Moon the official retailer
    2. Official online retailers
    3. Facebook
    4. eBay
    5. Etsy
    6. Amazon
    7. Aliexpress, Temu and Shein
    8. Attend a meet-up or BlytheCon
  3. Fake versus authentic Blythe dolls
    1. Checklist for fake dolls
    2. More information about fake Blythe dolls
  4. This is Blythe
  5. Price and availability
  6. Postage and payment
  7. Customs and excise fees

Do your research and learn about Blythe

In June 2025 I joined the La Dolly Dispatch team to discuss finding an authentic Blythe doll.

There are several up-to-date resources available for you to learn about Blythe dolls including:

Blythe dolls have been released in three sizes since they were re-created in 2001.

  • Neo Blythe (28.5cm tall, eyes change 4 times by pulling string)
  • Middie Blythe (20cm tall, eyes move side to side)
  • Petite Blythe (11cm tall, sleep eyes)

If you are unsure about a listing, ask someone you know who collects, comment on this post, or contact La Dolly Dispatch on Instagram to check before buying.

Blythe shops

Junie Moon the official retailer

The official shop for Blythe is Junie Moon. Junie Moon is located in Japan. Buying direct from Junie Moon is the safest place to buy Blythe dolls. This ensures that you are not buying a fake doll. You can sign up for lotteries where they select people to buy their limited dolls, pre-order dolls, or purchase the dolls available in their online store. They have several retail stores in Japan that you can visit.

Official online retailers

Other places you can buy Blythe dolls

  • Mandarake – Japan (ships internationally – a mix of 2nd hand stock and custom dolls)
  • eBay (mostly fakes now but if you are careful you can find authentic dolls)
  • Facebook (a mix of fake and authentic dolls with lots of scammers)
  • Etsy (mostly custom dolls and some scammers)
  • Amazon (have only heard bad things, they package dolls poorly and there are lots of scammers)
  • Buy one in person at a Blythe meet-up or Blythecon.

Facebook

Never pay Friends and Family via Paypal or Direct Deposit via your bank to a stranger on Facebook.

There are several groups for buying and selling dolls on Facebook such as:

Each group has a list of rules so make sure you read it before participating.

Facebook is currently the least safe place to buy dolls. Facebook groups are rife with scammers who will pester you aggressively to make payments fast, using PayPal Friends and Family or a bank transfer. You will not be able to get your money back if you make payment in this way. Make sure you pay using PayPal Goods and Services and pay for registered postage or tracking. It is your responsibility as a buyer to pay for this. Most real sellers will put a note in the photo with their name and the date. Scammers can fake this using Photoshop so check the photos thoroughly. If you are unsure about a seller and don’t have anyone you can ask, message La Dolly Dispatch to get their opinion.

eBay

eBay is another source for buying Blythe dolls but beware, there are many scammers on eBay. Make sure you thoroughly check the seller’s eBay feedback and research the doll. I am happy to take a look at listings if you comment on this post. The price you pay on eBay for a doll is generally going to be higher than you would pay if you bought it directly from another doll collector due to the fees. You can find authentic Blythe dolls on eBay but many of the listings are for fakes.

Typical fake dolls found on eBay listed as Blythe dolls. First and third dolls are customised with matte faces, lip carving, makeup, and new eye chips.

Etsy

Some genuine Blythe customisers sell their custom Blythe dolls on Etsy. There are also many scammers using photos stolen from other listings on Etsy. Reverse image search using Google to check the images. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

Amazon

I’ve heard of people being ripped off purchasing dolls on Amazon. Dolls can also arrive damaged due to poor packaging.

Aliexpress, Temu and Shein

All of the dolls listed on these websites are fake.

Attend a meet-up or BlytheCon

There are numerous Blythe-related events organised each year all over the world. Attending a dolly meet-up is a great way to meet other Blythe collectors and buy things without having to pay for postage and wait for delivery. If you are lucky, there will be vendors selling dolls. It is much nicer to be able to look at and inspect a dolly before you buy them. Beware, some vendors will be selling fake dolls but they should be honest if you ask.

Fake versus authentic Blythe dolls

Authentic Blythe dolls have an official name and outfit and came in a box originally. Authentic Blythe dolls come in a variety of face moulds which changed over time as the moulds wore out in the factory and new faces were introduced.

1 - EBL (Piccadilly Dolly) 2 - SBL (Rainy Day Parade) 3 - RBL (PD Aubrey) 4 - FBL (Bloomy Bloomsbury)
Pictured: the EBL mould, SBL mould, RBL mould and the FBL mould.

The doll market has been flooded with fake dolls based on the Blythe mould.

Fake dolls are also sold as:

  • Factory dolls – unless they are one of the very rare dolls made from official doll pieces from the factory floor about 10 years ago, they are not factory dolls they are fakes.
  • TBL – a cute take on the mould names that official releases have (SBL, RBL) based on the Chinese selling site Taobao, they are referring to TaoBao Blythe.
  • “nude Blythe doll” – most fakes on eBay are listed under this title.

Checklist for fake dolls

  • Has no release name.
  • Listed as nude or it comes without clothes.
  • Has an articulated body (though some have replica bodies without articulation).
  • Has extremely shiny hair that doesn’t match any known release.
  • Is priced from $30 to $200.

If you are buying a new custom doll, it is likely the base doll was a fake. Fake dolls often have articulated bodies whereas authentic Blythe dolls will have either a Licca body (older releases) or a standard Takara body. Read Projectdollhouse – Comparing the different bodies.

Photo by: My Delicious Bliss

More information about fake Blythe dolls

This is Blythe

The website This is Blythe is no longer owned by Gina Garan, she lost the domain when it lapsed. The dolls available on this site are heavily marked-up fakes or images taken from customiser websites that are not in the hands of the website owners. It used to be a great resource in the community. Read Imogen’s investigation into ThisIsBlythe(dot)com: Whatever happened to ThisIsBlythe(dot)com.

Price and availability

Dolls vary in price and availability. The price and availability of particular Blythe releases can depend on several things, the number of dolls made, popularity, original price, and stock.

If a doll is extremely popular, like Miss Sally Rice, it will be a lot harder to find. Kenner Blythe dolls are the first Blythe dolls that were manufactured and sold in 1972, they are very sought-after and expensive collector items. Even just a head for a Kenner Blythe could sell for $800.

The next release from 2001 was the BL mold. They are also highly sought after and can be priced from $400 – $800 depending on the doll, condition, and stock items (clothes etc) that it comes with. The cheaper dolls are the RBL+, RBL, SBL and FBL molds.

Postage and payment

Pay using PayPal – Goods and Services when buying from individual sellers. If you get scammed and you have paid via bank transfer or Friends and Family on PayPal, you will not get your money back.

Posting a doll internationally can cost $50 USD on top of the price you are paying for the doll. You should always pay for registration and pay through PayPal. Some sellers may ask you to pay as a gift in PayPal, I would not recommend doing this unless you know the seller as it negates your ability to open a dispute later on if they rip you off. If you can, buying from within your own country makes it a lot cheaper (around $20 postage depending on where you live).

Make sure you discuss the terms of the sale with the seller. Some people offer layaways for more expensive dolls and you can pay the doll off in intervals. They usually have a non-refundable deposit. Don’t pester the seller while waiting for it to arrive, they cannot control the postal service. If you want it right away, offer to pay for express postage. I have had dolls take anywhere from 2 days to 8 weeks to arrive.

Customs and excise fees

You should also consider that you may be charged customs fees for importing the doll into your country. Lying on your customs form is illegal and negates any insurance you have as the value entered is lower than the doll is worth. Remember to factor customs fees into your price and check your local government websites for information.

41 Comments Add yours

  1. Anthea Scicluna's avatar Anthea Scicluna says:

    I need help finding some doll paste so I can customise my Blythe Doll!! if you know what’s the name for the paste or where It is available from please? Thanks in advance xxx ♡ Love your Blythe blog ♡ xxx it helped me a lot in buying my Blythe

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Hi Anthea, tbh I am not sure what paste you mean? I think people carve the doll faces but I leave that to the professionals as it is very difficult 🙂 So happy that the blog was able to help you buying your doll. xx

  2. Carmen's avatar Carmen says:

    Hi

    I have purchased about 5 Blythe Dolls already customised. I am rather particular on my dolls as they need to have that special look about them before l buy most of my dolls were over the $400 mark when they first caught my eye and could only try to purchase by bidding the prices were just unrealistic for what they were most over $600 to over $1000 factory make and then customised most Neo and l alway preferred the Azone Body.

    I can’t believe what some artist or customisers are asking for these dolls yes their adorable but l believe overpriced in some cases.

    Carmen
    Melbourne
    Australia
    🐨

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      I appreciate the work that these customisers put into the dolls, some taking over 20 hours to complete. If you calculate an hourly rate they would all be over $1000 to be worthwhile! I don’t really collect custom dolls though, only have 2.

  3. Micah's avatar Micah says:

    Hi, Katie I have been looking at one of your beautiful dolls for about a month that I am in love with. Her name is Cherry Beach Sunset and I was wondering how I can buy her.

  4. Steph's avatar Steph says:

    Hi where can I purchase a bog standard doll from for my daughter to play with and how much can I expect to pay? I’m out of my depth!

  5. Steph's avatar Steph says:

    I’m looking to buy off eBay is magma_heritage a good seller

    1. Lala Naural's avatar Lala Naural says:

      Hi, although I haven’t purchased Blythe from magma heritage, I’ve purchased most of my Pullip dolls from their physical store, they can be trusted, you can also check their facebook account 🙂

      1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

        I have purchased online through Magma Heritage, while they seem to be a little odd with who they will allow to order (some people get banned for apparently no reason) they have been wonderful for me.

  6. Brandi Lang's avatar Brandi Lang says:

    I have a Blythe doll that I received from my Great Aunt — she was a collector of all dolls. I am looking for information about selling her — she’s a 1972 Kenner, New in the box w/ protective plastic over the box intact. Thanks for your time and information.

  7. Stormie Slater's avatar Stormie Slater says:

    I am not a Blythe doll enthusiast. Although I have come quite fond of mine. I bought this little girl at a thrift store thinking she was a monster high doll with a broken voice box because I didnt hear anything when I pulled her string. It wasn’t till later that I realized the string controlled her eyes and started to investigate her further. I have just paid 50 cents for an original 1972 Blythe in her original dress and panties. Besides her tattered hair and missing 6 eyelashes she is perfect. Her pullstring is smooth and works great, all her joints bend with ease and she has no cracks. Im not trying to get rich off of her but id to sell so someone else can fully appreciate and enjoy her

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Well damn you are living the dream! I have literally dreamt about this happening lol. You could try the Kenner Blythe group on facebook. Make sure you read their rules, there are many as we often have scammers in this community. I’ll buy her from you for $300 right now 😀

    2. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Actually you might want to also try putting her on ebay 🙂

  8. Randi Duhigg's avatar Randi Duhigg says:

    I’m knew to Blythe and I’m so overwhelmed with the choices. How do I figure out what my first doll should be.

    1. Linda's avatar Linda says:

      Me too! Ive no idea what im doing so many sizes options eyes hair hands…..the more i research the more confused im getting lol …..somewhere someone should just state…”newbies get this first and go from there” 🙂 x

      1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

        Sorry I didn’t reply yet! I didn’t realise I had comments. Curious to know who you chose and whether you own more than one doll now? I find that once you get one, you get another, and another. For me my first choice was based on the colour of the hair and the price. Now my collection is a little more “curated” I like dolls that look good together, and I have clothes to suit them.

  9. If you don’t know Blythe by name, you may know her by sight. She is instantly recognisable by her big, lollipop head and huge, vaguely manga-style eyes which sometimes change colour; her expression is slightly forlorn. She mostly sports geek-chic hair – a heavy fringe, sometimes dyed different colours – and wears vintage-styled outfits. We all love Blythe Dolls! Thanks for the info, Katie.

  10. Yvonne Gordon's avatar Yvonne Gordon says:

    I have a 1972 redhead, side part Blyth doll I want to sell. She is nude, has the 7 lines on her back. I was terrified of her as she was given to me as a gift as a child. I took her clothes off and I’m sure my barbies wore her green dress. Don’t do etsy or eBay and wanted to find her a home. Please contact me if interested. Her body has no marks except for being dirty. Her face is perfect. Eyes work cord is original. I can send pics.

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Hi Yvonne, sorry this site is a little ignored at the moment while I run my business. Did you find a place to sell her? I have a link in the menu to the Kenner Blythe Guide which is the best guide to the vintage ones.

      1. Yvonne Gordon's avatar Yvonne Gordon says:

        HI Katie. I did find someone to buy her. Her name is Jade and she is from BC. She asked if I would do lay-away which I didn’t have a problem with it at all. I sent her out the beginning of January. I sold her for $500. Thank you for taking the time to let your group know that I had one for sale. I believe it was definitely a win/win for Jade and myself. Take care, Yvonne

      2. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

        So happy for you both!!

  11. Carla's avatar Carla says:

    Hi, I am a Barbie collector but several years ago I bought a Blythe doll on ebay. I am looking into selling all my dolls and would like to accurately list them. From your excellent website I’ve determined I have either Hollywood or Excellent Hollywood. How would I tell the difference? I tried looking at the box but it appears to be all Japanese. TIA

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      It can be hard to tell. I’d recommend you post photos on 100% stock blythe on Facebook it’s a group.

  12. Kelly Piva's avatar Kelly Piva says:

    I have my childhood Blythe doll (1972 or 73) still in her box. Hair and outfit original and eyes are perfect. The twist tie around her waist is original. I am not familiar with ebay and wonder now the best way to offer for sale if I decide to sell her. Suggestions welcome. Thank you.

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      I would suggest the Facebook group Kenner Blythe. If you click the link at the top of this site you’ll be taken to an awesome site just about the vintage Kenner Blythe dolls. Ebay is over inflated most of the time.

      1. Kelly Piva's avatar Kelly Piva says:

        Thank you Katie, I will look into that.

  13. Nicole Lim's avatar Nicole Lim says:

    Hello I have a few dolls lying around in my house and I would like to sell them but I dont know where to find the price for these dolls can you help me identify?

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Sorry I didn’t see your message, looking at sold listings on eBay is the best place.

  14. Haley's avatar Haley says:

    Hi! I was wondering who could make a Blythe doll for me that’s custom made. I want to be able to ask that the doll has a certain hair color and length. What is very important to me is to have the doll artist to customize her eyes for me.I want special features like her eyes to be starry/ glittery, with other normal colors added like blue or brown added to her eye functions. Do you happen to know anywhere or anyone who can make a special custom doll for me?
    Thank you!

    – Haley Hart
    Hart.haley@rocketmail.com

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Hi Haley, your best bet would be to look for custom Blythe doll groups and find dolls with a style you like and see who the customiser was. You can also find a lot of customisers on etsy.com 🙂 Many good customisers have a list that is several years long.

  15. Fiona Kennard's avatar Fiona Kennard says:

    Hi Katie. Are you able to tell me which genuine Blythe dolls have a matte face? -Fiona

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Hi Fiona, off the top of my head there is a few BL model Blythe dolls (the first releases) that had a Matte face and Bianca Pearl. I will let you know if I think of more.

  16. Aquaryhun's avatar Aquaryhun says:

    Great informative article. Thankyou. I am also in Aus and just getting started and this article was very helpful to a newbie.

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      That is great to hear! You should join the Blythe sales Australia facebook group. They have pretty strict rules but there are often dolls for sale there and you don’t have to wait for the postage. It is pretty fast from Japan though, sometimes 2 days from the official store Junie Moon!

  17. joan van dreumel's avatar joan van dreumel says:

    Very informative. Thank you. I have a 72 Blythe doll where the head has come off. ? Another 72 doll has the legs off.. Otherwise they are in excellent condition.. Can they be fixed? I guess my daughter wasn’t too careful when playing with them. I live in Ontario Canada

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Hi Joan, wow what a dream to have some 1972 Kenner Blythe dolls. Sadly necks breaking and the pelvis cracking is super common for these vintage beauties. Some of us have come up with ways to put a bolt in the neck but it requires a lot of work opening the head. Another thing people do to hold the pelvis together to keep the legs it is using plumbers tape to hold it. I’ve never had any luck gluing a broken pelvis back together. If you are looking to sell them these are things that people will still be OK with though it will affect the price. There are some restorers in the US I believe.
      Would love to see photos of your dolls!

  18. JEH's avatar JEH says:

    I’m a collector and was looking for a specific “Wednesday Addams” doll and was hoping you had her. The dolls are beautiful I admit but I’m not sure though if I want to pay$500+ for her. 🤔

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      I don’t have any specific Wednesday dolls but you might be looking for a custom Blythe doll as Wednesday Addams. I would join some Blythe adoption groups on facebook and see if anyone has something in your country.

      There are a couple of stock dolls that could work as her and then you could buy an outfit, I have bought from this seller before and the stuff was well made and arrived: https://www.etsy.com/au/listing/1384843800/wednesday-outfit-for-neo-blythe-ob22

      Some dolls that might look a little Wednesday, though I don’t know if you want bangs.

      With bangs:
      Daunting Drusilla: http://cc-toys.com.hk/products_details.php?id=1728
      Check it out: http://cc-toys.com.hk/products_details.php?id=1385

      Centre part:
      Very Cherry Berry older face mould, looks different from the recent dolls but love her:
      Cheapest one I found at Mandarake: https://order.mandarake.co.jp/order/detailPage/item?itemCode=1217050392&ref=list&keyword=very%20cherry%20berry&lang=en
      Ebay:
      https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/324744570242?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=KRvnRA8UQFm&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=gnNrUDi9S2K&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

      You could also try to buy a fake one from aliexpress or ebay: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/304155225188?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=705-154756-20017-0&ssspo=MCPcghieSjG&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=gnNrUDi9S2K&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
      Much cheaper! About $50-90 I believe. I often use the fakes for customising.

      Be careful buying any dolls on etsy as there are lots of scammers on there currently.

      Hope that helps! xx

  19. frances hunt's avatar frances hunt says:

    Hi I have just bought a blythe doll with text on the back of her head. What does that mean? Her body isn’t a kenner blythe but she has the 7 lines on her head.

    1. Katie | Blythopia's avatar Katie says:

      Hi Frances, can you send me a photo? It might be one of the more modern ones. Send it to prettynostalgic.au@gmail.com

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