History
The first Barbie dolls were conceived in Ruth and Elliot Handler's garage. The couple were co-founders of Mattel, Inc. Ruth's daughter, Barbara, played with flat paper dolls, which inspired Ruth to create a 3-D version: a career-minded doll of her own. Over the years, Barbie has held over 200 jobs, introduced countless friends, gained endless outfits and accessories, and undergone several redesigns.
Barbie debuted at the NYC Toy Fair in 1959 under the Mattel brand. She first wore a black-and-white striped sleeveless bathing suit, with blonde hair, a ponytail, bangs, and red lipstick. The original Barbie sold for $3.00, with accessories priced between $1 and $5. In her first year alone, over 300,000 Barbies were sold.
Barbie even traveled to the moon in 1965, before Neil Armstrong, among her many notable careers, which have included doctor, paleontologist, rock star, president, and computer engineer.
Until 1961, Barbie was only available as a blonde or brunette. That year, a red-haired Barbie and the Ken doll were introduced. Ken was named after Ruth's son.
- 1963 — Barbie's best friend, Midge Hadley, was introduced.
- 1964 — Barbie's younger sister, Skipper, was introduced.
- 1967 — Twiggy became the first celebrity Barbie doll. Other celebrity dolls followed, including Audrey Hepburn, Diana Ross, and Cher.
- 1980 — The first Hispanic and African American Barbie dolls became available. Today, there are over 40 different international Barbie dolls.
- 2016 — The Fashionistas line was introduced, reflecting diversity with four body types, seven skin tones, over 20 hairstyles, and a range of eye colors.
What Determines a Barbie's Value
Many factors go into valuing a Barbie doll: the model, condition, original packaging, popularity, and historical significance.
Limited-edition Barbies tend to be worth the most. The most expensive Barbie ever sold was a limited-edition Breast Cancer doll, auctioned for charity in 2010. Other high-value dolls include the Stefani Canturi Barbie, the Diamond Castle Barbie, and the De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie.
Vintage Barbies are valuable largely due to scarcity. The most valuable dolls are still in their original packaging and in mint condition. Dolls with their original accessories are worth more than those missing pieces, and dolls made to commemorate a historic figure or special occasion tend to carry higher value as well.
Grading and Rarity
In 2004, Mattel introduced a 4-tier grading structure for Barbie dolls:
- Platinum: the rarest, with fewer than 1,000 produced
- Gold: fewer than 25,000 produced
- Silver: fewer than 50,000 produced
- Pink: the most common tier
eBay uses its own 1-10 grading scale, with 1 being the worst condition and 10 the highest. You may also see the abbreviation HTF ("Hard to Find") used to describe scarce dolls.
Barbies made after 1972 are considered Modern; those made before 1972 are considered Vintage. OSS refers specifically to the original 1959 swimsuit Barbie.
Box condition terms to know:
- NRFB: Never Removed From Box
- MIP/MIB: Mint in Package / Mint in Box
- MNB: Mint, No Box
- NM: Near Mint
Buyer Beware: Spotting a Genuine Barbie
Counterfeit Barbies do exist, so here's what to check:
- Hip marking: a trademark on the right hip shows the date the doll was first patented or copyrighted.
- Feet: vintage Barbies usually have small holes in the bottom of their feet.
- "Made in Japan": this marking signifies a doll made between 1959 and 1972. Dolls made after 1972 are not vintage and were produced in Mexico, Taiwan, or Hong Kong instead.
- Fingers: the earliest Barbies had separated, divided fingers. After 1968, the fingers were no longer separated.
- Neck and face: earlier Barbies have smaller neck knobs and slimmer faces; later dolls have fuller faces.
When buying a Barbie doll, check the marking on the right hip, examine the hands and feet, and look at the knob on the back of the neck to help date the doll. For display, keep dolls in their original packaging and protected from dust and debris whenever possible.
The Barbie dolls available at Dave's Discovery Den come from private collections and are being offered for sale for the first time. Please see the pictures and descriptions for each individual doll.