If you're new to the world of Barbie and want to start collecting the iconic toy, here's an introductory crash course on Barbie.
I'm a Barbie girl living in a Barbie world and am incredibly excited about the new Barbie movie coming out this July. Like most American kids, I grew up playing with Barbie dolls. My mom also grew up with Barbie dolls and had the first Barbie in her collection. Barbie became a worldwide sensation, with millions of dolls being produced.
The character could be anything -- a doctor, the President, a parent -- and Mattel has capitalized on that concept. Barbie's world also includes countless friends, including her beau Ken.
The first Barbie, the vintage ponytail, was released in March 1959. The doll had blonde or brown hair and wore a black and white stripe bathing suit. There are a few variations of this doll as well -- some have different color eyeliner, for example. While this example of Barbie might not be the most expensive, it is a grail doll for fans and collectors.
An original doll in almost any condition can fetch over $100 on eBay -- a doll in used condition (makeup worn off, bathing suit stained, etc.) sold for $455 after 16 bids in June 2023. In April 2023, an original blonde ponytail Barbie, with her box and original accessories, sold for $9,302 after 64 bids. This doll appears to be in Very Good+ condition and will likely retain her value for a few more years.
A few short years after the ponytail, Barbie came the "bobblecut" in 1961. This bob-cut doll is almost identical to the ponytail version and commands similar pricing in an auction.
Introducing Ken
Ken, Barbie's steadfast boyfriend, was introduced in March 1961 with short, flocked hair. The following year, Ken's hair was changed to painted hard plastic, which has been the norm. In May 2023, a Ken doll with his box and accessoriessold for $250 after one bid on eBay.
This flocked hair Ken appears to be in Very Good+ condition and is a perfect display piece. Original Ken dolls don't fare as well price-wise compared to Barbie but are still a vital collector's piece. Barbie and Ken go hand in hand, after all!
In 1964, Mattel introduced Skipper, Barbie's younger sister
Skipper (and Midge) were both introduced to counteract the claim that Barbie was a sex symbol and not appropriate for children. Skipper's youthful appearance was designed to appeal to younger kids, and it worked as Skipper would become a staple in the Barbie lineup.
Original 1964 Skipper dolls, without the box but in otherwise complete condition, sell for under $250 respectively. Examples can sell for around $1,000 with the box, but prices seldom increase.
Midge, Barbie's best pal, was introduced in 1963. She was also marketed as a less sexy Barbie, but admittedly the dolls look very similar. Midge dolls with or without the box see $250 or less price points. Alan, Midge's boyfriend, has an average price of $130 in auction.
Midge and Allan were produced off and on for decades, and while they were famous, they never caught on like Barbie and Ken. But in 2003, Mattel released the now infamous Happy Family line, which showed Midge and Allan as a happily married couple. Oh, and the Midge doll was pregnant.
This doll caused an uproar among select groups of people who claimed the doll was promoting teen pregnancy. Before the release of this doll, there was a wedding set featuring Allan and Midge, so in Barbie lore, both were married early 20s couple. But most people are unfamiliar with the Barbie backstories, so Mattel pulled the doll, slapped a painted wedding ring on her hand, and re-released the doll. Pregnant Midge had a few variations, many of which can be found new-in-box on eBay for $250.
In 1968, Mattel released Christie, the first African American Barbie doll. Christie was a part of the Talking Doll series, including Barbie and Stacey. Christie would be a regular part of the Mattel lineup until 2005. Christie's boyfriend, Brad, was introduced in 1970 but only lasted a few short years before being discontinued.
Christie saw a few cosmetic changes throughout her life to further distinguish her from Barbie. On eBay, Christie dolls routinely sell for over $200 (as high as $700) in and out of the box. Arguably one of the hardest Barbie dolls to find, Brad comfortably sells for around the same price as Christie.
There are, of course, thousands of other Barbie dolls out there.
Numerous friends, jobs, and accessories can go for crazy money in an auction. Check out Invaluable's article on the earliest Barbie dolls to dig deeper. This website was a massive help to me, and I'm sure it will also help many of you.
*Any perceived investment advice is that of the freelance blogger and does not reflect advice on behalf of GoCollect
