Barbie dolls from the past exhibit nostalgia’s greatest qualities. Everyone enjoys looking back on their history, and for fashion doll collectors, memory lane always ends with Barbies from long ago.
Being old is only one aspect of it. The fashion statements of a preferred era are so completely defined by the hair, makeup, and cosmetics worn at the time.
Barbie doll memories, from the bubble cut to the swirly ponytail, are available for sharing.
One of the most well-known and well-known dolls ever made is the Barbie doll, and not just among young girls.
Collectors prize this doll highly, especially well-preserved vintage Barbie dolls. Since 1959, when the original Barbie, also known as Barbie Millicent Roberts,
was shown to the public, new versions have been released every ten years, each with new features and accessories that mirrored the era in which the dolls were created.
Collectors cherish vintage Barbie dolls from the late 1960s to 1959 in particular. These Barbies, which are among the rarest and most expensive, frequently had bendable legs or red hair.
A Barbie from this era that is in pristine condition today can cost up to $25,000 today. Since its birth, Barbie has transformed the toy business forever and has continued to evolve.
A Brief History of Barbie Dolls
Ruth Handler, a co-founder of Mattel, Inc., an American toy manufacturer established in 1945, is credited with creating Barbie dolls.
Handler was motivated to make a three-dimensional version of an adult doll with a career-focused personality after seeing her daughter play with paper dolls.
She even acquired the rights to the German doll Bild Lilli, after which she based her own creation. At the New York Toy Fair in 1959, the first Barbie doll made its public appearance.
After Handler’s daughter, Barbie Millicent Roberts was given that name. The doll had a well-known career as an adolescent fashion model and was rumored to be from Willows, Wisconsin.
She was available for $3, with add-ons costing between $1 and $5. The original doll came in blonde or brunette varieties. Red-haired Barbies weren’t sold in stores until 1961.
The Ken doll, a masculine doll model named after Handler’s son, debuted the same year. The first Hispanic and African American Barbies went on sale in 1980.
Barbies were a contentious subject that drew a lot of criticism from the start. Some people were upset with Barbie’s challenge to establish gender roles, while others focused on her leisurely lifestyle and seeming lack of motivation.
Over 300,000 dolls were sold in the first year alone despite the uproar. This is largely because of Mattel’s sponsorship of the “Mickey Mouse Club” television show.
Mattel was the first toy manufacturer to broadcast advertising to children, greatly assisting in the promotion of the product.
With a variety of dolls that represent more than 180 different professions, Barbie has surely revolutionized the current toy business. Barbie collectibles come in a variety of forms that are highly sought after and amassed by people all around the world.
Most Expensive Barbies Ever Sold
Although not vintage, Stefani Canturi created the costliest Barbie ever sold in 2010. Emerald-cut Australian pink diamonds and three carats of sparkling white diamonds were set in the doll.
At an auction held to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Barbie was sold for $302,500.
The table below contains other Barbies, some historical and some produced in the past ten years and designed by well-known fashion industry figures, that have sold for exorbitant prices.
1. Stefano Canturi Barbie
2. De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie
3. Original Barbie
4. Pink Diamond Barbie
5. Lorraine Schwartz
6. #2 Brunette Ponytail Barbie
7. #1 Wonderful Blonde
8. Marie Antoinette Barbie
9. Devi Kroell Barbie
10. Pink Splendor Barbie
Types of Vintage Barbie Dolls
The “Vintage Era” and “The Mod Era” are used to categorize vintage Barbie dolls. The originals were various iterations of old Barbie ponytail dolls, but as time passed, other, glitzier forms appeared.
The Vintage Era (1959–1966)
#1 Vintage Barbie Ponytail dolls
On March 9, 1959, the first Barbies were unveiled to the public.
More than 350,000 were produced in the first year. The only significant difference between versions #1 and #2 of the model was how the legs were designed.
While the second featured a wire stand rather than tubes or holes, the first had copper tubes in her legs and holes in her feet to accommodate the stand.
#2 Vintage Barbie Ponytail dolls
The tiny differences between vintage Barbie dolls #3 through #7 allow us to pinpoint the year they were made.
The third model was still available only in blonde or brunette, but she now had blue eyes and a choice of brown or blue eyeliner.
The doll gave the choice of pearl stud earrings or gold hoops in addition to her original black and white zebra bathing suit.
She also wore black open-toe heels and white sunglasses with blue lenses. Some even had ponytails with braids.
#3 Vintage Barbie Ponytail dolls
The primary distinction between this doll and its predecessors is that #4 was the first to be created with vinyl that preserved color and minimized fading.
The doll still only came in blonde or brunette, but now the ponytail had a firm curl at the end. Ponytails with factory braids were also worn by some.
#4 Vintage Barbie Ponytail dolls
The first doll with three distinct hairstyles was the ponytail doll in position #5. Customers could buy one that was blonde, brunette, or titian, a shade of red.
These dolls had more subdued face paint and tan-colored vinyl, which gave their faces a shinier appearance. It was the first year when Barbies with the registered brand, Barbie®, had hollow bodies.
The body portions of those with hollow bodies tended to be more inflexible and difficult to bend.
#5 Vintage Barbie Ponytail dolls
Frequently, both #6 and #7 dolls are referred to as “#6s” and are regarded as interchangeable.
The word “patented” was added to these dolls’ insignia for the first time, and they were mass-produced between 1962 and 1964.
In contrast to the harsh red lips of earlier models, they had broader neck knobs, fuller-looking faces, and “watermelon” colored lips and nails.
They were also the first to have hair that was not black but rather a variety of tints of blonde and a slightly darker brunette.
They were decked up in red bikinis and open-toed shoes. In 1964, the Swirl Ponytail doll quickly took over as #7.
Vintage Barbie Bubblecut dolls
One of the most well-known fashion icons of the 1960s, Jackie Kennedy, served as inspiration for the new appearance of these dolls. The short “bubble cut” hairdo that vintage Barbie Bubblecut dolls are known for evolved over time, becoming fuller and fuller.
Fashion Queen Barbie
These Barbies included three replaceable wigs: a red flip style, a brown pageboy, and a blonde bubble, all of which had painted, molded hair.
They donned strapless bikinis with gold and white stripes and matching turbans. As part of the My Favorite Barbie line, Fashion Queen Reproduction was released by Mattel in 2010.
The hairdo that took the place of Barbie’s previous bangs is referred to as the “swirl.” These are some of the most cherished and sought-after models for collectors.
These dolls were among the first, glitziest versions of Barbie, and they stayed that way until 1967 when Barbie went mod.
American Guirl Barbie
The American Girl Barbie is perhaps the embodiment of Barbie’s beauty at its height.
Her 1600 series outfits are among the most exquisite and much sought-after by collectors.
They are very precious as a result. These Barbies featured hair that was chin-length and silky, and they also had bendable legs.
They possessed a range of colorful characteristics and wore heavier, more vibrant makeup.
Colour Magic Barbie
Due to their rarity and restricted production, these Barbies are frequently quite expensive and hard to find.
These models had hair that was either Golden Blonde or Midnight Black when they arrived, but when a solution was applied, it turned into Scarlet Flame or Ruby Red.
Frequently Asked Question
Q1. Do old dolls have any value?
Yes. Vintage Barbie dolls have a value of 302,500 Dollars.
Q2. How much is the original Midge Barbie worth?
In 2007, the initial antique Midge dolls were priced at $175 MIB (Mint In Box). Midge had “straight legs” that were unable to bend at the knee for the first two years she was for sale.
The first year, a rare Midge with teeth that are today prized by collectors was sold.