Barbie DollsThe Barbie Doll House & Other Barbie CollectiblesIn addition to the mass produced plastic dolls that grace the shelves of every toy store in America, there are also Barbies made especially for the adult collector and for fans of classic television. So where did the world's most popular girl get her start? The very first Barbie doll was introduced in 1959 when Ruth Handler realized that there weren't any "teenager" dolls that girls could play with. She introduced Barbie that same year to quite a bit of criticism from toy companies, but today Barbie collectibles are the hottest selling of their kind in the world. Over the years, Barbie has undergone numerous changes in hair, body style, clothing, and even how their bodies move. Recent initiatives to make Barbie look more like a "regular" girl coupled with her recent separation from her long-time boyfriend Ken have brought Barbie dolls quite a long way from their humble beginnings. Many enthusiasts consider 1988 the turning point for Barbie collectibles, since that winter was the debut of Happy Holidays Barbie, a limited edition of 300,000 dolls that sold out almost as soon as they hit the shelves. The first porcelain Barbie doll was introduced two years earlier, but it was Happy Holidays Barbie who kicked off the collecting boom. Recognizing that there was a built-in market for Barbie collectibles in the women who once played with Barbie as children, Mattel introduced a series of higher quality dolls cast in porcelain. These dolls feature clothing designed by famous names like Bob Mackie and DKNY as well as genuine semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystal accents, making them some of the most glamorous and highly sought-after dolls among Barbie collectors. In recent years a line of "celebrity" Barbies has also been added, putting Barbie and Ken in roles such as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, X-Files' Mulder and Scully and even Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler to appeal to fans of classic television and movies. These celebrity Barbies are understandably quite popular with collectors of television memorabilia as well. Barbie isn't the only doll in the family, though. Through the years, she has managed to collect younger sisters in every age range from teen to toddler, friends of every nationality and any number of pets from poodles to parrots. Such a wide range of dolls makes collecting Barbies a real challenge, especially if your aim is to collect them all. Luckily, modern toy store Barbies are reasonably priced for the beginning collector who needs to make sure their interest is going to be long-term before investing in one of the more expensive collector's editions. It might seem like Barbie is the girl who has everything, including her own jet plane and a wide range of cars, but her best known accessory by far is the Barbie Dream House. The first Barbie doll house to be introduced in 1962 was little more than a few pieces of cardboard with some sleek 60's style furniture added for good measure. Since those primitive times, the Barbie doll house has evolved into an ornately styled two-story townhouse that actually talks back when you play with it. Although Barbie dolls themselves are more popular today than Barbie doll houses, the words Barbie Dream House have become synonymous with style and luxury. For those collectors who love the look of Barbie dollhouses but can't spare the space for a full sized one, Mattel has created a line of Barbie collectibles that include small porcelain models of the Barbie dream house, pet salon and holiday boutique that come with tiny Barbie figurines especially for display. Once you've collected a few favorites, you may decide that you're ready to break into the big time collector's market. Most of the porcelain dolls made for the collector's market are limited editions, so if you don't get in on buying one as soon as they are released, you will probably have to start searching the secondary markets, which can be a costly endeavor if you don't know your Barbie dolls! It might be worth your while to join one of the many national and international Barbie doll collector's clubs if you're getting serious about collecting. Connections that you make through the club can help you find Vintage Barbies in good condition as well as the Collector's Series dolls from reputable dealers who won't overcharge you or sell you a substandard Barbie doll. There is also the official Barbie Fan Club from Mattel that gives you all kinds of rewards for collecting Barbies as well as the option to purchase a club exclusive doll each year. An annual Barbie convention is also a great place to look for those hard-to-find Barbies, usually at competitive prices. For extremely Vintage Barbies, you can also try looking at estate sales and antique stores. However, be aware that purchasing older Barbie dolls in less than mint condition or who no longer have their boxes and accessories will decrease their value significantly. Taking good care of your Barbie collectibles is crucial to maintaining their value. Barbies produced before the 1970's are best left in their boxes if that's the way you purchased them. The packaging can say a lot about the era in which the Barbie was created, and the boxes themselves can be a neat addition to your collection. However, many collectors feel that it's actually better to remove more modern Barbie dolls from their boxes and play with them a little! Why? First, because the tape and rubber bands used to hold dolls in place can damage the fibers in clothing and leave sticky residue on the arms and legs that is hard to remove. Second, the new pink boxes are not archival quality and are often not acid-free. Over time, sunlight and paper acids can do irreparable damage to your Barbie dolls and decrease their value. A better solution is to remove your modern Barbie from her box, wrap her gently in acid-free tissue paper and store her in an airtight box if you aren't planning on displaying her. By breaking "the rules" and taking her out the box, you're actually ensuring your Barbie doll's quality for years to come! Barbie dolls have the unique characteristic of being able to change easily with the times, which is why they have managed to stay as popular as they were almost 50 years ago. Collectors who are also able to change with the time will find themselves the proud owners of a beautiful collection that can be passed down for generations to come. |