Barbie Dolls–History And Collector Facts
In 1959 the first Barbie doll was introduced at the New York toy fair. It was billed as “New For ’59,The Barbie Doll:A Shapely Teenage Fashion Model Price $3.00.”
This was the beginning of the Barbie doll phenomenon which is one of the great success stories of the toy manufacturing business. Before Barbie most children’s dolls were child dolls or babies not adult figures. Barbie changed this completely.
In 1945 Elliot and Ruth Handler began a partnership with Harold Mattson. The company name Mattel is a combination of the two names Mattson and Elliot. Elliot started making doll house furniture from scraps of wood left over from his picture frame business. He started the Handler doll furniture business from this idea.
Around this time Ruth noticed that her daughter Barbara and her friends liked to play with adult paper dolls and not child or baby dolls. The little girls preferred a doll they could look up to as a role model for growing up. Ruth got the idea that there could be big profit possibilities in making adult dolls. She talked over the idea with her husband but he decided that to start making the dolls would be very expensive.
Right after this Ruth went to Germany and purchased an adult doll called Lilli. This adult female doll was based on the heroine of a German comic. On her return to the USA she started redesigning the doll and worked with a doll clothes designer. Soon the Barbie doll came to be and was named after her little daughter Barbara.
Mattell patented the Barbie doll in 1958 and introduced it to the public in 1959. She very soon became one of the best known and most loved toys ever made. Barbies were sold all over the world in more than 150 countries.
Barbie soon became a very collectible doll and was eagerly sought after by adult collectors. Between 1959 and 1972 Barbie had seven distinct changes in her looks and design. All Barbies made up to 1972 are seen as vintage collectible dolls by their fans and are much sought after.
A 1959 Barbie in mint condition can be worth up to $8000 but you will frequently see them offered for a lot less. Later editions fetch lower prices of course.
You can usually purchase dolls made in the 1969 to 1972 period for just a few dollars. However you may still find some of the early dolls,even the rare 1959 edition,in such places as garage sales and flea markets. About 300,000 of the 1959 doll were made and many are still out there awaiting discovery
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Barbie in A Christmas Carol Soundtrack
$0.01
Soundtrack features Christmas carols from and inspired by the first Barbie holiday movie!
Track listing:
1. O Christmas Tree
2. Deck The Halls
3. Jolly Old St. Nicholas
4. Joy To The World
5. We Wish You A Merry Christmas
6. Jingle Bells (sung by Chuzzlewit)
7. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
8. Silent Night! Holy Night!
9. A Barbie 12 Days of Christmas
10. I Love This Christmas
11. California Christ…
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Ruth Handler: From Lilli to Barbie (Titans of Fortune)
$1.99
The American dream comes in many shapes and colors, limited only by one’s imagination and work ethic. Ruth Handler, the daughter of poor Russian-Jewish èmigrès, is a prime example. She turned a Swiss toy sex doll into a quintessentially American icon — Barbie — one so well-known that more than a billion have been sold. Barbie is so much a part of the American landscape that in 1976, she was in…
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Barbie in a Mermaid Tale Doll (Blonde Hair / Pink Swimsuit)
$4.00
Poof! Barbie’s a mermaid! Based on the DVD movie Barbie in a Mermaid Tale. Blonde Beach Doll Barbie as Merliah in her pink swimsuit. Get in on the undersea fun! Presenting perennial-favorite Beach Doll Barbie as Merliah from the DVD movie Barbie in a Mermaid Tale! This blonde-haired doll features Barbie in her pink swimsuit, ready for a dip. Order yours today and get in on the undersea fun!…
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Moxie Girlz Magic Swim Mermaid Doll – Kellan
$24.97
The Moxie GirlzTM are imagining themselves as sparkling, magical mermaids! This Moxie Girlz Magic Swim Mermaid Doll swims on her own automatically when placed in water – No on/off switch needed!
Moxie Girlz Magic Swim Mermaid Doll Features:
Beautiful sparkling top and tail
Posable body
Every girl has the strength to do something amazing. Anything is possible as long as you stay true to yours…
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