Barbie Dolls

About Vintage Barbie Dolls and Barbie Collectibles

Launched at the American Toy Fair in 1959, Barbie was the first teenage doll ever produced for children and quickly became one of the all-time best selling and most widely collected toys. Heavily promoted on TV, over a billion of the dolls have been sold. Collectors prize early numbered Barbie dolls from 1959 and the 1960s, as well as a wide range of rarities and special editions, such as Barbie dolls with bendable legs or red hair.

The toy was the vision of Ruth Handler, whose husband, Elliot, was the "el" in Mattel and whose daughter, Barbara, gave the doll its name. The inspiration for Barbie’s facial features and impossible hourglass figure was Bild Lilli, a doll Handler picked up in 1956 while vacationing in Europe...

Bild Lilli, which is a collectible in its own right, had pouty lips, reminiscent of the lips found on bisque and porcelain dolls in Europe. Mattel metallurgist Kohei Suzuki gave Barbie more natural-looking lips, although her eyes and nose were kept almost identical to those of her forebear.

The other critical difference between Bild Lilli and Barbie was the concept of accessories. Beyond Barbie’s standard black-and-white zebra-striped swimsuit, little girls in the United States could choose 22 other ensembles, ranging from a collarless Chanel-style jacket with matching sheath skirt to a satin-and-tulle bridal gown. Clothing designer Charlotte Johnson was hired away from her teaching post at Chouinard Art School in Los Angeles to complete this critical task.

Most of the outfits offered in 1959 were still available in 1960, making the three that were discontinued (Easter Parade, Gay Parisienne, and Roman Holiday) extremely collectible. Of the six new outfits added in 1960, Friday Night Date was one of the best, thanks to its charming blue corduroy jumper with felt appliqués, pair of soda glasses with cotton standing in for actual fizz, and a black serving tray bearing the Barbie logo.

1961 introduced the world to Ken, Barbie’s boyfriend named after Barbara Handler’s brother. In addition to Barbies with ponytails, dolls with bubble-cut 'dos were also offered. Barbie’s ever-increasing line of outfits suggested that this woman did more than go to fancy parties and beach barbecues — she was an American Airlines stewardess, a nurse, and even a professional ballerina.

Barbie’s best friend Midge was added in 1963. Though Midge’s facial features were different from Barbie’s, her body style was the same so that accessories could be mixed and matched between the two dolls. The following year Midge got her own boyfriend, Alan, and Barbie was given a kid sister, Skipper. Mattel even sold a pet poodle, which itself could be dressed in a variety of fun getups.

During the middle of the 1960s, dolls in the Barbie line gained bendable limbs so they could be posed, but the major facelift came in 1967. Rooted eyelashes replaced the doll’s plastic ones, and Twist 'N Turn Barbies were offered for just $1.50 plus the trade-in of an old doll, which is why many of the original vintage dolls are so hard to find and expensive. 1967 was also the year that Barbie and her increasing number of friends went mod. The Bermuda Holidays outfits predate Goldie Hawn’s costumes on Laugh-In. There was even a Twiggy Barbie.

1967 is important to Barbie collectors for two other reasons: It was the year an African-American doll, Francie, joined Barbie and her friends, and it was the last year the doll was manufactured in Japan. From 1968 onwards, Barbie dolls were produced in Mexico, Taiwan, and Korea.

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Interviews & Articles

An Interview With Collector Jef Beck On Vintage Ken Dolls, And Ken’s Evolution In The Barbie Franchise

I always wondered if starting a hobby in my free time was a good idea, and then I remembered Ken. He was a gift to … [more]

An Interview on Antique Dolls With Museum Curator Noreen Marshall

We have a very small team here at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood, so we all have to do lots of differe… [more]



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Barbie Dolls Videos



See all 15 videos


Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Fashion Doll Guide

Fashion Doll Guide

This site is all Barbie, all fashion from 1959 to 1972. Suzanne Maxwell lays out hundreds of period wardrobe choice… [read review or visit site]

Vintage Barbie Vinyl Reference Guide

Vintage Barbie Vinyl Reference Guide

Barbie vinyl collectors, you've come to the right place: Janet Poff's visually stimulating gallery of Barbie vinyl… [read review or visit site]

Barbiecollector.com

Barbiecollector.com

The official Mattel archive of vintage Barbie dolls and fashions from 1959 to 1975, with photos and detailed descri… [read review or visit site]

Keeping Ken

Keeping Ken

Jef Beck's definitive reference site on Ken dolls, from Malibu Ken to Talking Ken to Spanish Ken. Includes the earl… [read review or visit site]

Celebration of Tressy and Toots

Celebration of Tressy and Toots

Sandra Cartlidge's colorful tribute to Barbie rival Tressy and her kid sister Toots (Cricket in the U.S.), produced… [read review or visit site]

Dollreference.com

Dollreference.com

This densely packed index of antique and vintage dolls claims to offer over 10,000 images of dolls from the 1800s … [read review or visit site]

Vintage Dolls of the 50s

Vintage Dolls of the 50s

Rhonda Wilson's collection of 1950s dolls, organized by name (Ginny and friends, Littlest Angel and friends, etc.) … [read review or visit site]

Lorettas Shirley Temple Dolls

Lorettas Shirley Temple Dolls

Loretta McKenzie's tribute to the charming, singing, dancing, curly haired Shirley Temple. Click 'My Dolls' on the … [read review or visit site]

Kaylees Korner of Collectible Dolls

Kaylees Korner of Collectible Dolls

Kaylee's extensive collection of vintage dolls from the 1930s to 90s. Click the balloons to browse. Though Kaylee s… [read review or visit site]

Museum of Childhood

Museum of Childhood

Embrace your inner child on this microsite from the Victoria and Albert Museum, filled with high-quality images and… [read review or visit site]


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Prototype Vintage 1 Handpainted Pink Silhouette Barbie$5,100 Ends Sunday 10 bids 80 watchers
Rare "sealed" Barbie # 968 " Roman Holiday " Separates $3,300 Ends in 7 hours 17 bids 230 watchers
Barbie Silkstone Display Case Super-rare Mint Nrfb$1,247 Ends Friday 4 bids 20 watchers
Vintage #1 Blond Ponytail Barbie Rare Handpainted Doll$1,025 Ends Monday 2 bids 97 watchers
"orange Pekoe" Barbie -porcelain Collectible- Rare/htf!$499.00 Ends in 8 hours 2 bids 12 watchers
Barbie As Medusa 2008 Gold Label Nrfb 6500 Made$480.00 Ends in 8 hours 18 bids 34 watchers
Barbie As Medusa 2008 Gold Label Nrfb 6500 Made$450.00 Ends Monday 12 bids 36 watchers
Vintage Blonde #3 Ponytail Barbie W/900 Series Wardrobe$425.00 Ends in 8 hours 1 bid 33 watchers
Vera Wang Bride 'the Romanticist' Platinum Label Barbie$405.00 Ends in 21 hours 24 bids 9 watchers
Mattel Vintage Hawaiian Superstar Barbie Doll Nrfb 1978$356.99 Ends in 8 hours 25 bids 56 watchers
Vintage 60's Ponytail Barbie Doll Ken Midge Nrfb Mattel$351.51 Ends in 6 hours 14 bids 55 watchers
Rare "sealed" Barbie # 961 Evening Splendour Original" $309.00 Ends in 8 hours 2 bids 62 watchers
Barbie Doll 1958, Clothing, Wardrobe And Doll Case.$305.00 Ends Friday 17 bids 18 watchers
1959 #1 Barbie Body With Holes In Feet !$304.00 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 40 watchers
Barbie Poodle Parade Nrfb Mib Original 1964 $303.53 Ends in 19 hours 7 bids 47 watchers
'miss May' - A Silkstone Barbie Ooak By Dan Lee $301.69 Ends Monday 7 bids 61 watchers
Rare White Chocolate Barbie New Nrfb $300.00 Ends in 7 hours 2 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Barbie Shimmering Magic #1664 (1966-1967) Nrfb$276.71 Ends Sunday 8 bids 60 watchers
1959 #3 Barbie W 2nd Edition Stand! In 1st ??tm” Box!$265.00 Ends in 9 hours 8 bids 38 watchers
**vhtf Original 1959 Barbie Tm Roman Holiday Outfit** $250.00 Ends Monday 1 bid 21 watchers
Storewide Sale - Faberge Imperial Splendor Barbie$249.99 Ends Saturday 1 bid 2 watchers
1959 #4 Barbie W Rosey Cheeks & 2nd Version Stand Boxed$215.00 Ends in 9 hours 8 bids 37 watchers
Pristine #3 Blond Ponytail Barbie, T.m Body -one Owner!$214.00 Ends in 8 hours 30 bids 43 watchers
Htf Rare Red Japanese Market Gown For Barbie$208.49 Ends Friday 3 bids 9 watchers
New Barbie Doll'd Up Nails Digital Nail Printer $202.50 Ends Monday 15 bids 15 watchers
2003 #1 Edition Hard Rock Cafe Barbie Doll Nrfb/mint! $202.50 Ends Wednesday 3 bids 14 watchers
1971 Brown Marlo Flip Twist'n Turn Tnt Barbie+swimsuit $200.00 Ends in 1 hour 2 bids 24 watchers
The Soiree Silkstone Barbie Platinum Label Le999 Nrfb$200.00 Ends in 10 hours 11 bids 18 watchers
Nrfb Gold Label - The Nurse Silkstone Barbie$199.99 Ends in 9 hours 2 bids 13 watchers
Bob Mackie Barbie Jewel Essence Collection W Portfolio $199.00 Ends in 5 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Carolina Herrera Bride Barbie Doll Nrfb Gold Label$197.50 Ends in 8 hours 6 bids 12 watchers
1958 Brunette American Girl Barbie Doll W Dress$185.38 Ends in 8 hours 13 bids 56 watchers
Vintage Barbie. Ash Blonde Bubble Cut With White Lips!$181.03 Ends Sunday 2 bids 11 watchers
20 1980 Era Japanese Barbie Kimono Outfits New In Boxes$180.49 Ends Monday 18 bids 31 watchers
Birthstone Barbie - All 12 Months$180.00 Ends in 8 hours 4 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Barbie Bouncy Flouncy M/c Price Reduced$179.99 Ends in 9 hours 1 bid 8 watchers
Nrfb Maiko Barbie Gold Label$179.50 Ends Tuesday 13 bids 18 watchers
1960s Beautiful Brunette #3 Ponytail Barbie Great Face$179.49 Ends in 10 hours 13 bids 56 watchers
# 3 Brunette Ponytail Barbie Vintage All Original$177.50 Ends Thursday 22 bids 52 watchers
Vintage Ponytail Barbie Wearing Golden Elegance$177.00 Ends in 2 hours 7 bids 24 watchers
Rare Mib Vintage '63 Ponytail Swirl Titian Barbie W/box$167.50 Ends in 9 hours 13 bids 31 watchers
Vintage Barbie Scene Stealers Outfit, Compl & Superb+++$163.50 Ends in 8 hours 12 bids 22 watchers
Barbie Pink 3-story Dream Townhouse New In Box!!!$160.00 Ends in 8 hours 15 bids 16 watchers
Barbie Pink World 3 Story Dream Townhouse New In Box$157.50 Ends in 1 min 15 bids 9 watchers
Mint Condition 1988 Happy Holiday Barbie $155.50 Ends in 19 hours 16 bids 25 watchers
Barbie #5, Barbie #6 (head Only W/wigs), Ken #750, Case$154.05 Ends in 5 hours 10 bids 24 watchers
The Munsters Giftset - Barbie Loves Pop Culture 2001$153.00 Ends Thursday 3 bids 12 watchers
Vintage Barbie,skipper,francie?bild Lilli? Doll Lot$152.50 Ends in 7 hours 12 bids 80 watchers
Vintage Lot: #3 Barbie, Case, Clothes, Accessories$151.40 Ends in 10 hours 6 bids 48 watchers
Barbie-my Fair Lady Complete 5 Doll Collection$150.00 Ends in 13 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Barbie Doll'd Up Nail Printer$150.00 Ends in 6 hours 1 bid 4 watchers
Barbie 3 Story Pink Dream Townhouse Town House Nib New $149.95 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 15 watchers
Mattel - Vintage Picture Pretty Barbie Doll - Nrfb 1978$145.00 Ends in 8 hours 20 bids 38 watchers
Barbie Happy Holidays 1988 Special Edition Original Box$141.00 Ends Monday 23 bids 27 watchers
Mint Color Magic Barbie Barbie, 1966, Headband/stand$139.99 Ends Thursday 1 bid 9 watchers
Fisher Price Power Wheels Barbie Kfx Atv Quad 12v Pink$139.99 Ends Monday 1 bid 3 watchers
Vintage Barbie Stacey Sears Excl. Stripes Are Happenin'$137.50 Ends in 8 hours 9 bids 26 watchers
Christian Louboutin Barbie Doll New Nrfb$137.45 Ends Friday 9 bids 15 watchers

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Recent News: Barbie Dolls

Source: Google News

What's in our attic? Fab Four figures, Barbie dolls, a spyglass and much more ...
Belleville News Democrat, March 21st

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AP This product image released by Mattel, Inc., Lionsgate shows new Barbie dolls. (AP Photo/Mattel, Inc., Lionsgate) **NO SALES** NEW YORK (AP) — Barbie and...Read more

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So, Mattel is correcting the problem on Jacob Black Barbie dolls and has issued an official statement about how patrons can get a doll with a right-side-up...Read more

Mad Men Gets a Barbie Doll Collection
TVbytheNumbers, March 10th

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