Barbie Collecting for Fun and Profit - Tips and Advice

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Barbie - In the Beginning

The Barbie doll was invented in 1959 by Ruth Handler (co-founder of Mattel), whose own daughter was called Barbara. Barbie was introduced to the world at the American Toy Fair in New York City. The doll was intended to be a teenage fashion doll. There has been some controversy over Barbie's figure when it realized that if Barbie was a real person her measurements would be an impossible 36-18-38. The Ken doll was named after Ruth's son. Barbie first had bendable legs in 1965.

How to Start a Barbie Collection

Buy some basic Barbies if you're starting a child's collection; add to the collection gradually. Do some research if you're interested in collecting valuable Barbies.

Just because a doll is overproduced doesn't mean you should avoid it! Just wait for them to go on sale, and you can get dolls you love (like the 98HH) at a discount price! Even if you buy a doll and its value drops, if you love the doll, don't sweat it!

Neat Links

Barbie's Roundup: Offers information for collectors including history, travel column, links, and customizing tips. Includes photographs of Ken, Kelly, Tommy, and the ponytail edition.
Barbie Doll Collector's Information: Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the pink princess and friends including Ken, Teresa, Midge, and Allan. Includes forum, and links.
Barbie: Offers information for enthusiasts including pictures, descriptions, history, newest releases, and character related terminology.
Barbie Bazaar: Official collector magazine provides subscription information. Includes price guide, forum, classifieds, and convention news.
Michelle's Barbies: Features information on collecting fashion figures. Includes pictures of Ken, Kelly, Midge, Allan, and Skipper. Offers timeline, and links.
Barbie Collector: The official site from Mattel features a collection dating back to 1980. Includes news, events, club, calendar, and shopping.
Think Pink! Barbie Museum: Provides a display of over 2500 vintage and modern dolls and accessories in a private home, as well as restoration services. Includes the family's profiles, a forum, links, and an identification guide. Located in Wijchen, Gelderland, the Netherlands.

Educating Yourself

I can't stress enough the importance of educating yourself about Barbie--and there's a lot to learn. Periodic visits to your local Target, Toys 'R' Us, Walmart, or doll collectables shop will enable you to learn, for example the general price and availability of a particular Barbie (When I refer to "Barbie," I'm using the name as a generic reference to Barbie herself, her friends, boyfriend Ken, and other related characters, unless otherwise specified, whew!) in your area. You don't want to make the mistake, for example, of buying a doll on the eBay auction service, that's in plentiful supply at your local store!

Barbie Accessories For You

Barbie Butterfly Grace Backpack

Amazon Price: $18.00 (as of 11/30/2009)

Barbie Girls 1GB MP3 Player - Pink - Store 240 Songs!

Amazon Price: $59.99 (as of 11/30/2009)

Barbie Toddler/Little Kid Iceburg Winter Boot,Pink,10 M US Toddler

Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)

Emerson Radio Barbie BAR505 Flower Karaoke CD+G System (Pink)

Amazon Price: (as of 11/30/2009)

Barbie Bloombox BAR201 Portable CD Boombox with AM/FM Radio

Amazon Price: $59.95 (as of 11/30/2009)

Do Your Research Before You Buy On eBay

There are too many dealers willing to prey on a novice's ignorance of the product for which he or she is bidding. The transaction and bidding process is legitimate, but you may end up paying more for a Barbie than it's worth. For example, are you familiar with the "Copyright 1966" notice that's been printed on the back of most Barbie dolls for many years? Some unscrupulous seller may trick you into believing that it's a doll from 1966!

ebay Forum

1. PINK LABEL - AN INVITATION TO COLLECTING, AVAILABLE WHERE BARBIE DOLLS ARE SOLD.
2. SILVER LABEL - KEEPSAKE DOLLS WITH NO MORE THAN 50,000 PRODUCED WORLDWIDE.
3. GOLD LABEL - NUMBERED EDITIONS OF 25,000 WORLDWIDE OR LESS, AVAILABLE AT SELECT RETAILERS.
4. PLATINUM LABEL - SEQUENTIALLY NUMBERED EDITIONS OF LESS THAN 1,000 WORLDWIDE, AVAILABLE AT SELECT RETAILERS.
5. BLACK LABEL - SENSATIONAL DOLLS DESIGNED FOR THE ADULT COLLECTOR.

Photo Guide to Vintage Barbies: Excellent eBay board

Great Barbie Stuff on eBay

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Barbie Collections

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Keep Her Hair Looking Good

The doll's hair must be maintained to ensure resale value. Often kids cut Barbie's hair or style it in some new fashion, which can make the doll look awkward. If this awkwardness can be repaired, the doll will likely still be valuable.

The simplest idea to maintain or maintain the doll's hair is to wash it with mild soap and comb it with a doll size brush or comb. Do not attempt to wash and brush a doll with permed hair-that hair is too tangled to begin with and will not produce great results when wet and combed. Most older Barbies from the 60's, 70's and 80's have long hair, which is easy to style. For these types, combing the hair straight or placing it in a braid or ponytail should be sufficient to make the doll look her best.

Barbie Bazaar Magazine

The 'Official' Barbie Collectors Magazine

You will definitely want to check out "Barbie Bazaar" magazine, the "Official Magazine of Barbie." The articles in this bimonthly publication are usually written by longtime, experienced collectors; A few issues should give you a good start in learning about the history of various Barbie dolls through the years, There's also lots of information about new and upcoming Barbies, as well as a host of other subjects such as "doll makeovers" and finding and making non-Mattel doll sets, clothes and accessories.

If you don't know what acronyms like "MIB," "NRFB," and "OOAK" mean, you will after reading a few issues; there's plenty of terminology to learn in Barbie collecting. Finally, Barbie Bazaar has ads from many doll dealers from throughout the US and Canada--so shop around for the best price.

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Barbie Books

The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book

by: Marcie Melillo

The book takes you back to the very first Barbie doll and shows you how you can tell if you have an authentic doll. It also goes through many of the boxed, collectible Barbies and gives a price list for the older and newer boxed dolls and their value if never removed from the box (NRFB) and if they HAVE been removed. Usually, it's a dramatic difference, so if you can handle it, leave these lovely beauties in their boxes! As the boxes get more and more modern, the box itself is going to be valuable.

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 12/01/2009)

Barbie Doll: Identification & Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Doll Collector's Editions)

by: J. Michael Augustyniak

Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2009)

Barbie Fashion: Vol. 1, 1959-1967 (Barbie Doll Fashion)

by: Sarah Sink Eames

Amazon Price: (as of 12/01/2009)

Warman's Barbie Doll Field Guide: Values and Identification (Warman's Field Guides)

Amazon Price: $10.39 (as of 12/01/2009)

Collector's Encyclopedia Of Barbie Doll Exclusives: Identification & Values 1972-2004 (Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Doll Exclusives and More)

by: Michael J. Augustyniak

Amazon Price: $21.86 (as of 12/01/2009)

100,000

Mattel estimates that there are well over 100,000 avid Barbie collectors. Ninety-percent are women, at an average age of 40, purchasing more than 20 Barbie dolls each year. Forty-five-percent of them spend upwards of $1000 a year. While the original Barbie sold for $3.00 in 1959, a mint boxed Barbie from 1959 sold for $3552.50 on eBay in October 2004.

The Barbie Collectors Link

Barbie Collector - The official Mattel website for the hobby of Barbie doll collecting: The official Mattel site for Barbie Collector featuring a Doll Showcase including 600+ Barbie Collector dolls dating back to 1980, plus news, events, and features relating to the world of Barbie collecting.

Terminology

TNT - "Twist 'N Turn" Waist. A waist with a rotational joint, originally introduced in 1967, copyrighted in 1966. Many variations of this original design have been used.

Vintage - Dolls produced through 1972 are generally considered to be "vintage."

Modern - Dolls produced after 1972.

NRFB - Stands for "Never Removed From Box." Indicates that a doll is undisturbed in its original, un-opened packaging.

MIB - Stands for "Mint in Box." Indicates that a doll is in perfect, like-new condition, and is still housed in its original box, but the box has been opened and the doll may have been removed at some point.

A/O - "All original." Indicates that a doll is exactly as it was when it was originally left the factory, with no restoration work having been done to it.

M/C - "Mint and complete." An outfit in perfect, just-out-of-the box condition with all pieces and accessories included.

OOAK - "One of a kind." A doll that has been customized by an artist, usually by repainting and/or rerooting the hair.

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Did You Know

More than 330 million feet of fabric have gone into making the fashions of Barbie and her friends, making Mattel one of the largest apparel manufacturers in the world

Selling???

Barbie Value and Other Questions Answered: Great advice can be found here

Get big girls Barbie news via RSS

Want to know all about the Barbie world, but afraid to browse the real Barbie site in the office for fear of persecution? Not to worry, you can content yourself with the big girls' alternative from the New York Times. Reporting on all things seriously Barbie related.

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One More Tip

Check out your local Craigslist if you are in USA
Below are some current Barbie stuff for sale in the SF area

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So What's Your Favorite?

Which is your favorite, what do you long for most...

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Reply

eccles1 eccles1 Sep 21, 2008 @ 5:50 pm

nice job !

Reply

bryell bryell Jul 22, 2008 @ 9:29 am

Hello everyone, we just ran a special Barbie Week feature showcasing some beautiful collections and interviews! Thought you might like to check it out:
http://www.collectorsquest.com/featured-week/Barbie.html

Reply

garethjax garethjax Jul 17, 2008 @ 4:32 am

I never thought that there were so many avid collectors! Awesome!

Reply

TomBoyd TomBoyd Jul 17, 2008 @ 4:25 am

"Forty-five-percent of them spend upwards of $1000 a year."

That sure is a serious hobby! It sure is interesting the sorts of things people collect in their spare time. I guess Barbie is one of those things a lot of women start collecting as a young girl and then just continue on into adulthood.

Reply

thesuccess thesuccess Jul 17, 2008 @ 4:08 am

They keep slamming Barbie, but comes right back!
www.squidoo.com/idiotsguide to making Money Online!
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Explaining the doll's appeal to collectors Christies expert Daniel Agnew said: "It's a nostalgia thing initially. Buying a doll enables many collectors to buy their childhood back again. Then the bug starts and it becomes hard to stop."

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Barbie Collecting for Fun and Profit - Tips and Advice

Barbie - In the Beginning

How to Start a Barbie Collection

Neat Links

Educating Yourself

Barbie Accessories For You

Do Your Research Before You Buy On eBay

ebay Forum

Great Barbie Stuff on eBay

Barbie Collections

Keep Her Hair Looking Good

Barbie Bazaar Magazine

The 'Official' Barbie Collectors Magazine

Barbie Books

100,000

The Barbie Collectors Link

Terminology

Did You Know

Selling???

Get big girls Barbie news via RSS

One More Tip

So What's Your Favorite?

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