Especially prized among collectors are the vintage Barbie doll models produced between 1959 and the late 1960s. The Barbies from this period that had red hair and bendable legs are considered to be the rare and most valuable examples.
Vintage Barbies from 1959 can sell for thousands.
The iconic classic Barbie in the striped swimsuit can sell for thousands. Check for unique markings on the feet and her bottom as those could indicate a rare or valuable edition.
Chesnot / Contributor / Getty Images Entertainment The first Barbie doll (C) created in 1959 is displayed during an exhibition dedicated to the Barbie doll _ Getty editorial image. The original first edition Barbie from 1959 is very rare. Money, Inc. reports that even in played-with condition, she is worth $8,000.
The most prized Barbie doll of all time is Barbie #1, aka the original Barbie doll released in 1959. It was originally priced at $3, but now its maximum resale value is at $27,450. Created by longtime-maker Robert Best, the second most valuable doll is the 2006 Dahlia Barbie with a resale value of $2,423.
And the rarest and most sought after dolls of the moment are the first three Barbies that Mattel released in 1959. “The holy grail is the number 1,” Davidson says. “It's hand-painted by a Japanese artist.”
Released in 1959, the first-ever Barbie doll, also known as "No. 1 Ponytail," features golden hair, a black-and-white bathing suit and blue eyeshadow. With its original packaging, this rare Barbie is estimated to be worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.
Usually, vintage Barbies have holes in the bottom of their feet and the models. If your Barbie also has a stamp saying "Made in Japan" or "Japan" it means it was made between 1959-1972, because those models were manufactured there.
Are 1990s Barbie dolls worth a lot of money? Most of them probably are not. The rare or sought-after dolls are worth more. Surprisingly, I sold some new-in-box sets of Barbie clothing and accessories from the 1990s for more than I made on any dolls.
Sell Unopened, Collectible Barbies at Brian's Toys or Amazon.
One of the most expensive Barbies of all time is the 'Pink Splendor Barbie' from 1996. There are only around 10,000 in the world, and when she was released, the Pink Splendor Barbie was the most expensive retail Barbie ever, originally priced at $900.
The first Barbie doll hit shelves in 1959, making the iconic toy 64 years old in 2023. Barbies have offered broader representations of race, body type, and careers over the years. The "Barbie" movie, directed by Greta Gerwig, came out on July 21.
If they are in perfect condition with all their original clothing and accessories, the dolls may have value to a collector, depending on which Barbie model the doll is. A mint-condition vintage TNT Barbie could be valuable to the right collector and worth hundreds of dollars.
The first Barbie doll wore a black-and-white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. The doll was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model", with her clothes created by Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson.
Barbie made her first debut at the New York Toy Fair 61 years ago on Monday. The now-iconic doll, made by Mattel, originally cost $3.
What makes 1960 Barbie dolls so valuable? The original vintage Barbies from the 1960s are valuable today because they are in demand and rare. The first Barbie doll ever made can sell for $8,000 in poor condition and $27,500 in mint condition.
Every second, Mattel calculates, two Barbies are sold somewhere in the world.
Ruth Handler and Mattel created the Barbie doll in 1959 as the first mass-produced toy doll in the United States. The first doll sold for $3, but if you have one of the first dolls in mint condition, that doll is now worth around, if not more than, $25,000.
1994 Barbie 850 Ponytail 35th anniversary doll – reproduction of the 1959 Barbie doll has honey blonde or dark brunette soft shiny polyester ponytail hair with loosely curled bangs, pointed eyebrows, heavy black lids, painted white iris eyes, big red closed mouth, hollow plastic flesh colored body that won't turn white ...
The African-American dolls have black hair; Hispanics have dark brown hair, and the others had platinum blonde, ash-blonde (two tone), brunette, red, and (in the last year of production) strawberry-blonde. Strawberry-blonde therefore being the rarest and most valuable, followed by red heads and brunettes.
Try searching for the manufacturer's mark on Google as a starting point. You can also try looking through dedicated doll reference sites, such as dollreference.com. Once you've successfully identified your antique doll, there are several websites for working out their valuation.
1. L'Oiseleur (The Bird Trainer) doll - $6,250,000. This is the most expensive doll in the world.