Harold was the first doll to be offered for purchase on eBay. It was offered as "Harold the Haunted" and many people immediately disappeared when they saw this name. Here is the advertisement that the seller had written for this sale:
It has most likely occurred to each of us at least once. You wander around a flea market or an antique sale, looking for a treasure or two, and find yourself in front of an old doll in poor condition. You think to yourself, 'Oh, that's lovely', or 'the kid who owned this doll must have really loved it'...but what I thought after looking at the doll that's going on sale today 'today must never, ever be repeated...
This doll was purchased at a dusty little flea market in the town of Webster, Florida. Webster is a very nice town, an industrial town, about 60 miles southwest of Gainesville. They organize a weekly flea market which sometimes conceals treasures, but I digress. I got to the market quite late in the day when lots of people were packing up to go home. It was then that I saw an elderly man putting the doll away in a box. She seemed interesting, so I approached the man and asked if I could see her… The conversation went something like this:
– You don't want to see this doll, he told me.
– Of course you do, how many do you want? I replied.
– Well, that's a good question, because it's very old. (At that moment, I had the impression that he was going to start crying). It belonged to my son, I had bought him when he was born, but he died a few years later. This doll has been hanging around my workbench for over sixty years. I wasn't thinking of bringing her here today, but I figured I needed to get her out of there… anyway, I want 20 bucks for it.
I gave the man his 20 bucks, put the doll in a bag, and left right away but as I got to the middle of the aisle the man came running behind me, obviously out of breath, and he was like, 'I have to warn you about something. I can't just let you take her like that…the reason I left her in my workbench is that this doll brought a supernatural presence into our home after our son died. We could hear her crying and moving around in her room…when we went to see there was nothing, just the doll. Other things happened, and a priest told me that I had to burn the doll. She didn't seem to want to burn, despite my repeated efforts. That's why his arms, his head and his legs are so damaged...well,
I told him that was fine with me, and I chuckled to myself as I walked away… well, I laughed until I got home, because then my life didn't change. never been the same again. Two days later, I started having severe migraines, my cat died, and my girlfriend dumped me for the pool guy. I started having chronic migraines, and yet it had only been two days since I bought the doll. A week later, I started to hear a child laughing and crying in my basement. Every time I went to check of course there was nothing. I placed this doll in a coffin that I stored in the basement for over a year and a half and now I want to get rid of it. I really think she's cursed, sometimes I touch her and she seems to have a heartbeat. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but maybe not.
The doll measures 53 cm. His head, arms and legs are all original. Her eyes close when you lay her down. Please ask any and all questions before bidding on this doll. I haven't taken her out of her coffin in years too, if anything else happens this week I want you to know. This item is sold as is! WITHOUT ANY RETURNS! PLEASE! The winner will be responsible for paying the exact price for shipping and optional insurance. See my other auctions for more vintage collectibles and other antiques in excellent condition. Ask your questions before you bet. Even if you think you are sure of its condition, photos etc., please ask all your questions BEFORE BIDDING. Thanks for your interest and Good Luck! "
The ad for Harold's sale was viewed over 100,000 times. A woman won the doll for $700, but unfortunately she never paid the asking price. As a result, the second bidder got the doll for $300, but she immediately resold it, claiming that she could not manage it without giving another explanation.
At some point, a friend of the seller came into possession of the doll, but shortly after bringing it home, two tragedies occurred. After hearing about the strange things Harold was doing, one of her friends asked to come see him. A month later, this poor woman suddenly developed brain cancer which was fatal to her. Before this unfortunate meeting, she was in perfect health. A week later, at a party, one of the buyer's friends asked a few questions about Harold. A month later, he was tumbling down the stairs, killing himself instantly.
One night, while she was in her bedroom, the doll's owner heard strange noises at the bottom of the stairs leading to the ground floor. She left her room and she was looking for the origin of the noises when suddenly she discovered Harold, sitting on a chair. He seemed to be smiling at her. When she was near the doll, the woman often felt like she was being watched, and her friends and family refused to go near her. So, as he made her uncomfortable, she locked Hiccup in her cellar and she ended up getting rid of him. Since then, the doll has been sold several times, but, for the moment, no one seems to want to keep her.
