In full disclosure, Barbie dolls were never of a particular interest to me. All I knew was when I undressed my sister’s Ken and Barbie and posed them in compromising positions my grandmother would get really aggravated and look like she wanted to hand me over to the next roving band of gypsies that came through town.
When I started collecting, computers were still in their relative infancy. My quest for treasures led me to auctions, flea markets, antique malls, and a bi-weekly publication called Toy Shop Newspaper, which had ads from people selling toys, looking for toys, phone-in auctions, and informative ads on different toys. I bought a lot through this paper and made a lot of friends all across the country.
The first show I did as a seller was in St. Charles, Ill. in west suburban Chicago. At the time it was one of the biggest in the nation, with over 500 vendors that came from as far away as Plymouth, Mass., Birmingham, Alabama, Santa Clarita, Cal., and Lansing, Mich., along with many local vendors. The show was located at the Kane County Fairgrounds and one of the exhibition buildings was referred to as the doll building, because that’s where most of the high end doll and bear dealers set up. I came across vintage Barbies occasionally, and I met a lady there who had been a collector for many years. She was a veritable wellspring of information. Any time I came across what I knew was a vintage figure, I’d show her and she’d give me all the information I needed so as not to sound like an idiot. I can promise you Barbie collectors are some of the bitchiest people on the planet.
FROM WIKIPEDIA;
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German called Bild Lilli as her inspiration
FOR MORE ON HER HISTORY, HERE’S THE LINK:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbie
NOW FOR SOME FACTS YOU CAN USE, GLEANED FROM MY FRIEND
Starting in 1959,the first 6 years of the doll were referred to as Barbie#1 in 1959,#2 in 1960,etc.
The first 6 dolls all had hand-painted finger and toenails, eyes, and lips.
Each version had subtle but distinct differences, so a pro knows which is which.
The first 2 were made in Japan,#3 through 6 were made in Hong Kong.
#1 and #2 came on a plastic stand. There were metal holes in the bottom of the feet that these went into.
CHECK IF YOU HAVE ONE OF THESE IN THE ATTIC.
THI S ONE HAS NO HEAD. JAPAN IS MARKED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FOOT. THIS IS WORTH ABOUT $1,500
THIS ONE IS ON EBAY RIGHT NOW.THE ASKING PRICE IS $1,375
THEY REPRODUCE THESE NOW FOR ABOUT $25, SO YOU BETTER KNOW WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING AT. I DON’T, BUT THEN AGAIN I DON’T COLLECT BARBIES.
THE HAIR CAME IN TWO STYLES: PONYTAIL AND SHORT-HAIRED, OR BUBBLE CUT.
THIS IS THE #1 PONYTAIL BRUNETTE. THEY WANT $5,200 FOR HER
THIS IS THE #3 BARBIE
SEVERAL FASHION DESIGNERS,INCLUDING VERA WANG AND BOB MACKIE HAVE DESIGNED OUTFITS FOR BARBIE. THIS ONE IS A BOB MACKIE FROM 1994. IT’S WORTH ABOUT $150.
PRICES VARY, DEPENDING ON THE OUTFIT AND WHETHER OR NOT THE DOLL HAS EVER BEEN REMOVED FROM THE BOX
As with any collectible, from stamps to automobiles, the value of anything depends on two things… condition and rarity.
With Barbies, collectors looks for cracks at the elbow and knees, chips in the face or nail paint and missing hair. There are actually people who replug hair in old dolls.
The worst thing for Barbies is called “greening.” The old dolls had pearl earrings, which were stuck into the head on a little pin. These pins were made of jewelers metal, the kind cheap rings and bracelets are (were) made of that turned your fingers green. There can be a little green, I’ve seen dolls with green halfway down the cheeks. This is death to the value of the piece. It can be fixed, but it’s not as easy as cleaning with solvent and only should be done by an expert if you want the doll to retain any value.
JUST FOR FUN, HERE’S THE FIRST BARBIE COMMERCIAL AS IT AIRED ON THE MICKEY MOUSE CLUB IN 1959.
MATTEL WAS EXTREMELY SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY ADVERTISED HEAVILY ON KIDS’ SHOWS, ESPECIALLY SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS.
THE DOLL ORIGINALLY SOLD FOR THRE DOLLARS. IF YOU ONLY KNEW
THROUGH THE YEARS
BARBIE’S MOM,RUTH HANDLER,TELLS HER STORY
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