Ken Dolls

About Vintage Ken Dolls

Ken, introduced by Mattel in 1961 as Barbie's steady boyfriend, has gone through many incarnations over the decades. Ken was created just two years after Barbie and has been produced every year since, except in 1968 when Mattel decided to change his body mold. Today's Ken still uses the 1968 body mold, so collectors use the stamp on the back of each head mold to determine the era in which the doll was made.

There are approximately 247 versions of Ken, from clean-cut sailor to beach bum to Olympic gold medalist. Ken's vintage era is characterized by elegant, boy-next-door attire. His clothing is scaled down perfectly and even includes working buttons and zippers. During Ken's mod era, his clothing became more unique and vibrantly-colored...

In addition to the standard Ken dolls, a few collector Kens have been produced, such as the Wizard of Oz series and Hollywood Legends. The first Ken doll specifically made for collectors was the Hollywood Legends Ken as Rhett Butler in 1994. Dress Box Kens are the most valuable and hard-to-find Ken dolls. They were released between 1963 and '65 and there are 14 different versions in the series.

Business Appointment Ken is also very rare, and was produced from 1966 to '67. This Ken doll wears a navy and white tweed overcoat with black gloves and a black hat, and he is carrying a functional briefcase and a copy of the Mattel Daily News. A Barbie Coca-Cola series was released in 2000, which featured Ken as a server. Only a limited number of these Kens were produced, so they have become rare and highly sought-after by collectors.

Other male dolls have been released and marketed as Ken's friends, such as Brad, Curtis, Derek, and Dude. In addition, many collectors seek Ken's accessories, such as the Ken Hot Rod, released in 1961, and his Corvette and motorcycle, both released in the '80s. The Corvette was only available at Toys 'R' Us and had a limited production, so it is very hard to find.

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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]



Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

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]

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]

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]

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]

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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1966 Ken Here Comes The Groom Complete & All Original$325.00 Ends Friday 7 bids 19 watchers
The Phantom Of The Opera Barbie & Ken 1998$150.00 Ends Sunday 19 bids 19 watchers
1960s Ken And Allen Quartet In Formal Wear For Barbie$143.49 Ends in 14 hours 19 bids 35 watchers
Ken Barbie's Boyfriend 1960-61 W/orig Box, Clothes, Etc$132.50 Ends Wednesday 22 bids 43 watchers
Wizard Of Oz Barbie & Ken Doll Collection Of 5 -95'-96'$125.00 Ends in 16 hours 1 bid 3 watchers
Huge Lot 1960's Barbie Ken Dolls Clothes Parts Access$108.05 Ends in 17 hours 7 bids 18 watchers
Vintage Barbie Ken Doll "little Red Riding Hood" #0880$96.00 Ends in 7 hours 9 bids 29 watchers
Vintage Barbie Ken Doll "king Arthur" #0773 - Complete$67.23 Ends in 7 hours 7 bids 18 watchers
Lot Of Vintage Barbie & Ken Doll Clothes Case Booklets$64.00 Ends Wednesday 12 bids 16 watchers
Silkstone Wardrobe Packed With Goodies+barbie/ken Minty$62.00 Ends Thursday 7 bids 35 watchers
Lord Of The Rings Barbie And Ken As Arwen & Aragorn $58.00 Ends in 14 hours 5 bids 16 watchers
Vintage Barbie Ken Doll "the Prince" #0772 - Complete$56.23 Ends in 8 hours 6 bids 33 watchers
Titian Barbie Flat Top Blonde Ken + Clothes Accessories$52.00 Ends Wednesday 5 bids 15 watchers
Lord Of The Rings, Barbie And Ken Doll, Mint Condition$50.00 Ends Friday 1 bid 14 watchers
Huge Lot Over 480t Of Barbie And Ken Clothes From 1980s$50.00 Ends Thursday 8 bids 8 watchers
Vintage 311 Pcs Barbie Clothes Skipper Ken Barbie Lot 8$50.00 Ends in 17 hours 28 bids 20 watchers
Mattel 2006 Superman Return Movie Ken Barbie Lois Lane$49.99 Ends in 20 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Coca Cola Ken Santa Claus Doll Excellent$47.95 Ends in 11 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Barbie & Ken King Arthur And Guinevere Set Nrfb$46.46 Ends Tuesday 14 bids 21 watchers
Astronaut Barbie Doctor Ken Rare Nurse Whitney Nrfb $41.50 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 8 watchers
Awesome Lot Of Ken Vintage Clothing Mint$39.99 Ends in 9 hours 1 bid 2 watchers
Wedding Day Barbie And Ken Giftset--50th Anniversary$39.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 6 watchers
Barbie: Vintage Malibu Barbie Ken Pj Francie Skipper Nr$39.99 Ends Tuesday 14 bids 12 watchers
Year 1977 Superstar Ken Doll In Factory Box Barbie$39.01 Ends in 14 hours 9 bids 25 watchers
Mattel's Barbie And Ken Romeo And Juliet$39.00 Ends Thursday 1 bid 3 watchers
Barbie Ken Doll #787 Tuxedo Outfit 1961-65$38.37 Ends in 13 hours 16 bids 6 watchers
Barbie & Ken Silkstone Fashion Model New England Escape$37.99 Ends Wednesday 1 bid 5 watchers
Vintage Ken Coat Business Appointment $36.99 Ends Tuesday 5 bids 19 watchers
Repro Barbie & Ken Campus Spirit Giftset!$34.99 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 2 watchers
1962 Vinyl Case With 2 Ken Dolls & Clothes$32.99 Ends Tuesday 8 bids 3 watchers
Handsome Harley Ken Doll Blonde Hair Articulated ~ Nude$32.95 Ends Wednesday 2 bids 34 watchers
2 Nib Mattel Barbie Ken Flavas Liam Doll Awards Decals$31.55 Ends Tuesday 7 bids 9 watchers
Huge Barbie Lot Holiday, Disney, Clothes, Ken$31.00 Ends Tuesday 9 bids 10 watchers
Handsome Ken Doll As Country Kenny Singer Jointed Nude$30.95 Ends in 18 hours 3 bids 5 watchers
Vtg Lot Barbie Ken Dolls Clothes Case Mink Accessories$29.11 Ends Thursday 2 bids 23 watchers
Ken Fashion Insider Silkstone Barbie Doll Giftset New!$29.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Vintage, Original Ken Doll In "switzerland" Outfit$28.95 Ends Thursday 2 bids 6 watchers
Mib Campus Spirit Barbie Doll And Ken Doll Giftset$28.69 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 3 watchers
Vtg Barbie Ken W Box Victory Dance Lot No Repro Old Mod$26.96 Ends Tuesday 4 bids 23 watchers
Ken Dol Clothes Harley Davidson Set Shirt Pants Boots +$26.45 Ends in 18 hours 3 bids 12 watchers
Barbie (ken) Happy Family Grandpa$26.00 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 19 watchers
30th Anniversary Porcelain Ken, Nrfb, Nr$26.00 Ends in 4 hours 4 bids 11 watchers
Ooak Vintage Mattel Barbie Bf O.oz Repaint * Runway Ken$25.94 Ends Thursday 1 bid 3 watchers
Lot 1966 Tnt Twist Turn Barbie Ken And Clothes Japan$25.49 Ends Saturday 5 bids 17 watchers
Lot Barbie Ken Tammy 60's Vintage Clothing Accessories$25.00 Ends Tuesday 1 bid 15 watchers
1961 Ken Doll #750 Blonde Mint In Box! Super Clean!!$24.95 Ends Friday 1 bid 2 watchers
Ken Doll Clothes Formal Business Navy Blue Style Suit +$24.95 Ends in 18 hours 1 bid 1 watcher
Vintage 1973 "mod Hair Ken", Near Excellent!!!$24.95 Ends Thursday 1 bid 1 watcher
1960's 2 Barbie's And Ken Doll With Clothes$23.50 Ends in 7 hours 28 bids 24 watchers
Ken & Barbie As Romeo & Juliet Limited Edition Set Nrfb$22.99 Ends Thursday 3 bids 8 watchers
Vintage Barbie-ken In Saturday Date #786 Complete$22.72 Ends Thursday 3 bids 12 watchers
Vtg Barbie Ken Prince Clothes Lot No Repro Old Mod$22.50 Ends Tuesday 3 bids 16 watchers
Barbie: Ken Vhtf Complete United Airlines Outfit...nr!$22.49 Ends in 18 hours 7 bids 8 watchers
Silkstone Barbie Fashion Insider Ken 56706 Minty Mint!!$22.49 Ends Tuesday 2 bids 16 watchers
Disneyland Resort Vacation With Barbie,tommy,kelly,ken$22.45 Ends in 20 hours 10 bids 10 watchers
1983 Crystal Ken And 1984 Peaches N Cream Barbie Dolls$21.59 Ends Tuesday 6 bids 24 watchers
Barbie's Midge Casey Ken Clothes Case Casey Earrings$21.50 Ends Friday 3 bids 7 watchers

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