One of the most recognizable and curvaceous teenage dolls in history, Barbie, is almost eligible for Medicare. She made her debut 63 years ago today. If your mom bought you that first doll, we hope you are treating her well. She may have cost less than $3 to buy in 1959—for reference, a gallon of gas was 25 cents at the time—but a pristine 1959 Barbie with its original box can be worth $8,000 to $10,000 today.
Wearing earrings, eye make-up, a striped swimsuit, blonde ponytail and red lipstick, Barbie made her debut at the American Toy Fair on March 9, 1959. She was available as either a blond or a brunette. She had a full name, Barbie Millicent Roberts, and was always a career-oriented teen. Barbie was invented by Ruth Handler, co-founder of Mattel, Inc., an American toy manufacturing company founded in 1945. After watching her daughter play with paper dolls, Handler designed a career-minded, adult doll. The curvy figure was based on Bild Lilli, a German doll that was based on a promiscuous newspaper cartoon character. Barbie had a back story: She was said to be from Willows, Wisconsin, and held a prominent career as a teenage fashion model. While her base price was about $3, add-ons could increase her cost from $1 to $5.
Vintage Barbie dolls made from 1959 to 1969 are the most bought by collectors. These are known by their numbers – #1, #2, #3, etc. As a general rule, the lower the number the more valuable the doll. The original box adds value.
Terms to know if you want to start reliving your childhood and collect vintage Barbie dolls are: “OSS” (original swimsuit); “TNT” (for late-1960s models with pioneering “twist ’n turn” waists); and “NRFB” (never removed from box). The less costly examples, the ones handled by children, have warning labels like “AC” (almost complete) or “RT” (retouched).
Photo: Theriault’s; logo, Mattel.com
Wasn’t there something about holes in the bottom of the feet for use with a stand?