Jem was a rock n' roll fashion doll created in the mid eighties, (available in stores by spring of 1986, produced until 1987, old store stock would remain on shelves well into 1988 or later) by Hasbro, a rival toy company to Barbie's Mattel. The majority of Jem dolls are 12 and 1/2" tall, with larger feet, and a much more articulated body (bending elbows, wrists and a specially designed pelvis) set her apart from Barbie. There are exceptions, but the majority are found marked on their backs (upper or lower) in this way;
"© 1985 HASBRO INC.
CHINA"
or
"© 1985 HASBRO INC
HONG KONG"
Heads are marked:
or
HASBRO INC
So basically if you have a doll that has the same body as the one shown right, with Hasbro 1985 markings, you have a Jem doll. The exceptions are Rio (male doll) and the Starlight Girls (Ashley, Krissie & Banee). If you have a doll that seems to be Jem but has different markings, please visit this section to identify your doll. A nude doll, however can't compare to the whole package that was Jem. Jem dolls are known for their high quality, outrageous 80's fashions, as well as wild hair colours and make up schemes (not readily apparent on Jem, but very noticeable on her fellow dolls, the Holograms, and the Misfits).
Jem clothes are not tagged or marked, with the exception of about 4 pieces that have the Jem logo on them. This is partially to blame for why Jem clothes are so difficult to find and identify, especially for newbies and resellers. Collectors have generally had to memorize the 80+ fashions in order to recognize them when they see them.
A basic rule of thumb is the size. Jem clothes generally look larger than Barbie's. They are (not surprisingly) 80's styled, usually with wild patterns and often made with spandex or lamé. Most fashions are accessorised, with belts, shoes, socks, hats, etc.. In most cases the closures are velcro but there are a few pieces with metal snaps. Another thing to keep in mind is that Jem's clothes are high quality (may not be as apparent if the garment is no longer in mint shape however!). They aren't thin, ratty dollar store clothes.
Jem stands and combs are stamped with the Jem logo.
The most identifiable non-marked Jem item is probably her shoes, which are a lot larger than Barbie's (nearly Ken sized... but that's none of my business!)
Jem playsets are among the easier things to identify in Jem's world. They are colourful. They have the Jem logo on them usually in more than one place :)
Found loose, usually they are not complete and well used. They are also large. For these reasons, many Jem collectors will prefer to buy a MIB set, which ensures it's complete, in excellent shape and (for us space constrained individuals) already neatly packed away as small as possible! Some of the playsets appeared on the cartoon, others did not. The Video Madness sets came with tapes and was meant for use with the Star Stage. The other playsets were battery operated and musically themed. There are also two cars which had an FM radio installed in it.
But Jem isn't just a doll. Jem is also a cartoon. I think the term "toytoon" is a vast underestimation of Jem and she doesn't fall into that mediocre category. Anyone remember the Barbie cartoon? *tumbleweed rolls by* Whereas Jem, from the beginning, was designed to be a multimedia experience. In a highly choreographed campaign, Jem came on the scene in doll form, as well as in cartoon form which overlapped in other ways as well- even the auxiliary outfits for Jem were featured on the cartoon, as were the songs that came on the cassettes packed with the dolls. If that weren't enough, the doll outfits came with names like "Gimme Gimme Gimme" (shown right), which was also the title of a song shown on the cartoon, and a song featured on the cassettes that came with a Jem playset. It's that sort of complete attention to detail that excites fans of Jem- cartoon or doll fans (and in most cases, they will be fans of both). It's probably not a surprise to discover that Hasbro spent more money on Jem than any toy company had ever spent on any toy, up to that point. Jem spent a full 18 months in pre-production (most toys take about 6). The quality shows and that's what still attracts people to Jem today.
The show was about two girl-groups -The Misfits (no, not *that* Misfits) & Jem and the Holograms- each vying for their place in spotlight. Jem's group is aided by a super-computer named Synergy, capable of projecting sophisticated aural and visual holograms, including the hologram which turns record company executive Jerrica into the super star Jem! The Misfits, as the "bad girls" provided much of the action for the series. A third group called The Stingers was added late in the show's run, who became competition for both groups.
It was also ahead of it's time - it was a bit of a soap opera, but there was also action- which appealed to older viewers of either gender, not just little girls.
An example of the doll clothes and the cartoon version of the same outfit.
Jem (left) and her alter-ego Jerrica
Now that you've found some Jem stuff, do you want to sell it, or find out how much you have to dish out to get some more?
My price guide is compiled from U.S.-only eBay auction prices, from about 2000-05, kindly compiled by Thumper (thanks!). Note; this is for Never Removed From Box (NRFB/NRFP) dolls, fashions and playsets. Not used, not loose. This listing is far from 100% accurate, but it's a list I would use as a guideline, if I was looking to sell. In terms of buying- you just have to ask yourself what something is worth to you. Remember, just because a price is high (or low) now, it won't always be! Don't spend $250 on an NRFB doll just because you saw one sell for $300 once. Spend it on her because you love her and you think it is worth the price.
Get rich (or broke) quick, with Jem!
