When it comes to toys that were popular in the 80s, and among people of all ages and genders, only one springs to mind: Cabbage Patch Kids. The first Cabbage Patch Kids (or CPKs, to collectors) were produced in 1982 and became an instant phenomenon, with over 3 million dolls having already been sold by the end of 1983.
Like many other nostalgic toys, Cabbage Patch Kids from the 80s have become a darling of collectors, and can even fetch seriously high prices on the resale market. Though most second-hand Cabbage Patch Kids from the 1980s retail at around $30, rarer dolls or dolls in mint condition can be sold for up to $3,000.
James Dudley (1985) – $3,000
James Dudley is one of many boy Cabbage Patch dolls whose name is made up of two incredibly ordinary first names. However, that hasn’t stopped him from becoming one of the most valuable CPKs on the collector’s market, with a price tag of up to $3,000 in an auction with the right motivated buyers.
There isn’t a consistent rhyme or reason around which CPKs fetch high prices and which don’t, with some 1985 dolls being valued more highly than those from the 1979 run, even when factors like wear and tear or box integrity are equal. As a general rule though, the way to push the value of a doll from the hundreds into the thousands is a box in pristine condition.
Teresa Ann (1985) – $2,000
Cabbage Patch dolls have been around for decades, so it’s unsurprising that there are several red-headed characters in the full lineup. With that said, the most popular amongst them is Teresa Ann, whose adorable ginger pigtails and various outfits have made her a favourite amongst kid enthusiasts and grown-up collectors alike.
Teresa Ann is one of the rarer Cabbage Patch dolls in the roster, and so has been known to fetch up to $2,000 on the resale market. However, in order to get the highest price, any Teresa listing must include her original pink dress as opposed to any updated, homemade or third-party clothes, and it is a bonus if both her box and birth certificate are intact.
Barry Fritz (1979) – $1,500
When you think of famous Cabbage Patch Kids, your mind probably doesn’t go to Barry Fritz immediately. But maybe it should, since Fritz was the first Cabbage Patch Kid ever created, and was designed before the toy company even officially launched. As the first of his kind, and the beginning of what would become an iconic 80s empire, it’s no surprise that Fritz usually fetches huge prices on the resale market.
On average, Barry Fritz usually brings in around $1,000-2,000 at auction, as long as he is certified to be authentic. In fact, even if the clothes he is wearing are of dubious authenticity or perhaps even homemade, Fritz is still always snapped up by collectors due to his rarity and prestige.
Yvonne Millie (1985) – $900
With her delicate flowery sundress and adorable white socks and shoes, Yvonne Millie is one of the cutest Cabbage Patch Kids out there. However, it isn’t just her well-executed cottagecore aesthetic that makes her so popular amongst collectors. As a 1985 CPK and one that doesn’t have super high numbers in circulation, it is always a good day for collectors when Millie shows up at auction.
As a general rule, Yvonne Millie is usually resold for between $800 and $1,000, with the price depending on several factors. The price drops if there is any visible grubbiness or wear and tear on the body and clothes, and drops further if the box is not included in the listing. Even if the box is in sub-par condition, including it can make the listing more valuable.
Felicia Francis (1979) – $850
The 1979 Cabbage Patch Kid Felicia Francis was hugely popular with children on release, thanks to her plentiful long, blonde yarn hair, which was a delight to comb and braid. That, plus her bright blue eyes and unique matching apron and bloomers, has made her both instantly recognisable and hugely desirable on the resale market.
When kept in a condition of gently used or better, Felicia Francis can be sold for up to $850. This number is dependent on whether her box is included and what condition it is in, and whether her birth certificate is pinned to her apron.
Anne Greta (1986) – $810
Ann Greta is a 1986 Cabbage Patch Kid, and one of the only ones released in that year to have a solid following decades later. She is described as having dreamy blue eyes and hair that is more strawberry or popcorn blonde than red, and that in combination with her tartan skirt points to her potential Scottish heritage.
Though Greta’s price tag on the resale market doesn’t ever seem to break into the quadruple digits, she is consistently sold to collectors for $800 or more, even without a box. With that said, this price is usually only reached with the presence of a birth certificate, no visible frayed yarn pieces in the hair, and no dirt or stains.
Andrew Blair (1979) – $698
As the name suggests, all Cabbage Patch Kids are, well… kids. However, that does not mean that they are all the same age. In truth, the CPKs range in age from infants to toddlers to children, and some of the most popular Cabbage Patch Kids aren’t even old enough for preschool. For example, baby Andrew Blair is one of the most beloved CPK dolls out there.
Andrew Blair is slightly less valuable than some other historic Cabbage Patch dolls, due to him having fewer elements like hair, ribbons or bows. With that said, he still often fetches up to $700 at auction, especially when accessories like his scarf and jacket are included, as well as his box.
Adam Gregory (1979) – $600
Adam Gregory is one of the oldest CPKs, having been released in 1979. Another infant, he is set apart by his dark eyes, bald head and affinity for turquoise. Not many Adam Gregory’s are still in circulation, and fewer still have their original box, birth certificate or clothes, and so the dolls available to collectors are often lacking in one of these three crucial areas.
Despite this, Gregory is still usually able to fetch around $600 at auction, especially when his clothes and skin are free of any visible wear and tear. Even if he is wearing adapted doll clothes from other brands, or even third-party clothes purchased on Etsy or eBay, it is still possible to sell an Adam Gregory for over $500.
Roddy Cyrano (1985) – $500
Is it the unique curly blonde yarn hair? Is it the adorable overalls? Is it the low number of this particular CPK in circulation? Whatever it is, the 1985 Cabbage Patch doll Roddy Cyrano is one of the most valuable out there, valued hugely amongst collectors. This is despite the fact that he is one of the only CPKs with his knees on show, which actually looks pretty weird.
Even without his original box and birth certificate, Cyrano is able to fetch over $300 on the resale market. If both those things are present and to a pretty high standard of quality, then the auction price for Cyrano raises to, on average, just under $500, making him the crown jewel of any enthusiasts’ collection.
Zora Mae (1992) – $100
As a general rule, the older a beloved collectible like a doll is, the more it is worth. The main exceptions to this are special edition or anniversary toys, which usually have small, limited runs and thus are worth more due to scarcity. That explains why Zora Mae is worth three times as much as an average Cabbage Patch Kid, despite being made in 1992, much later than the rest of the most valuable CPKs.
Zora Mae was created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of the first Cabbage Patch Kid way back in 1982. Her limited edition pink dress, sun hat and matching booties instantly show that she is ready for a party, which is part of why she’s so beloved today.
Little People Tilly Kay (1979) – $350
Though in retrospect they’re all lumped together, there’s actually a big difference between Cabbage Patch Dolls and Little People Dolls. The latter were the first creations of Xavier Roberts, handmade between 1976 and 1981, and have a design that is almost indistinguishable from the more well-known CPDs.
Due to both lines being the brainchild of Roberts and one clearly being an evolution of the other, enthusiasts often collect both indiscriminately. That’s why Tilly Kay, a 1979 doll that bears a striking resemblance to later Cabbage Patch Dolls, often sells for a minimum of $350 on the resale market, whether in her original mint green dress or not.
Ruby Fox Cutie (1985) – $23.80
What’s the only thing cuter than a baby? Why, a baby animal of course! That’s why in the mid-80s, Coleco released a line of Cabbage Patch Dolls that were dressed in adorable footsie pyjamas but, to make things even cuter, all the PJs were animal themed.
Ruby Fox Cutie is maybe the most popular of this line of toys, with the market full of knock-offs, reproductions and later releases. As a result of this proliferation, even original 1985 versions of this doll are only worth just shy of $24 on the resale market.
Iddy Budds Ranny (1987) – $350
Cabbage Patch Dolls are famous for having pretty silly names, as Xavier Roberts had to come up with a thousand unique ones while developing his original line of toys. Iddy Budds Ranny is obviously no exception to this, and he’s also the most quintessential Cabbage Patch doll for another reason.
Did you spot it? Iddy is literally wrapped in cabbage leaves, a reference to the fact that all Cabbage Patch Dolls are said to be born in a magical cabbage patch that Roberts presides over. That might be why he’s one of the more valuable dolls, fetching $350 on the secondhand market.
Coleco Doll 3900 (1983) – $417
Though all Cabbage Patch Dolls have unique names, it’s not always easy to find out what they are. Once the tags are removed or the birth certificate is lost, it can be nearly impossible to match the doll to the name based on appearance alone, due to the sheer volume of dolls. That’s why numbers are often used in place of names on the resale market.
This Cabbage Patch Doll, known as number 3900, was released by toy company Coleco in 1983. When still in the box, even if it has been opened, and in her original orange and white creamsicle outfit, she is worth just over $400 secondhand.
Yettie Larissa + Maryann Doll (1984) – $521
Like any other doll or toyline released throughout the 80s and even today, there came a point in Cabbage Patch Dolls’ history when the normal appeal of the dolls just wasn’t enough. So, a gimmick was invented to increase sales: siblings! Yettie Larissa and Maryann Doll were released in the same box and marketed as sisters.
Weirdly, the birth certificate in the box references them being twins and having the same birthday, despite the fact that one is clearly bigger than the other. Whatever the story is: the pair of them are worth $521 on the resale market!
Japanese Edition Cabbage Patch Doll (1983) – $2,800
One of the first rules you learn when you get into collecting or trading vintage toys is that certain things affect their base value right off the bat. The older the toy is, the more valuable it is, and the value also increases in the case of limited edition toys, or toys from other countries with other languages on the label.
That explains why this Japanese Cabbage Patch Doll from 1983 is worth nearly $3,000 on the resale market, despite the original box being crumpled and damaged on the outside.
Elvin Tony/”Red Fuzzies” (1982) – $828
Cabbage Patch Dolls are some of the most beloved toys to come out of the 80s, and they have a small but dedicated group of collectors even today. Therefore, it’s not surprising that CPD collectors have developed their own lexicon over time, including calling all CPDs with red felt instead of braided yarn “red fuzzies”.
Elvin Tony is maybe the most famous example of the red fuzzies phenomenon, thanks in part to his red sports coat and blue t-shirt setting it off nicely. All of this lends itself to a pretty high price tag of $828 on the resale market.
All Star Stadium MLB Detroit (1982) – $9,500
We’ve already discussed the fact that special edition toys are worth more than their ordinary counterparts. That’s true whether it’s a crossover with another iconic brand, a toy released to celebrate the anniversary of the property in question, or a toy released to coincide with a popular holiday.
Cabbage Patch Dolls went in another direction with their special edition dolls: creating region-specific figures that celebrated iconic pastimes and hobbies. One example is the unnamed All-Star Stadium MLB Detroit doll, which was released in 1982 and is now worth $9,500 in like new condition.
Coleco Preemie 3870 (1983) – $261
Aside from the main line of Cabbage Patch Dolls, several spin-off lines were introduced, including Cabbage Patch Pets, which had humanoid bodies but faces more evocative of dogs and cats, and Cabbage Patch Kid Cuties: which featured dolls in adorable onesies themed after various animals.
There were also Cabbage Patch Kid Preemies, which were much younger in appearance and smaller in size than your average CPK, and were patterned after children born before their due date. Preemies are pretty coveted on the resale market, and so it’s not unusual to see one selling for $260 or above.
Coleco Dental Braces (1982) – $995
From dolls getting ready for bed to dolls able to hold crayons, the Cabbage Patch Dolls have always tried to showcase relatable scenarios about being a kid. That’s why the above doll, which is unique because of her facial dental gear, makes perfect sense.
Despite the fact that Cabbage Patch Dolls have always had mouths that don’t open and have no teeth, the above doll was created in 1982 to help normalise braces among kids that weren’t teenagers yet. This unique accessory has made her pretty valuable secondhand, with a starting price of $995.