The Power of Barbie

It's likely not surprising to anyone today that Barbie dolls are one of the most popular toys for young girls. Watching the tv commercials as they announce new styles of Barbie and it even appears in movies, Barbies are a worldwide phenomenon. But honestly, is anyone surprised? Barbie fits the classic mold of letting children play house, using their dolls to imitate real life.
To mimic real life, not only are there tons of Barbie dolls available, but the amount of ways to tweak your dolls is countless. From Barbie clothes to Barbie accessories, there are tons of things that kids can use to make their Barbies unique. With different clothes, kids can make their Barbies pretend to be a nurse, a teacher, or firefighter. There are over one hundred different jobs the Barbie can do, allowing the kids to go wild. When you factor in the accessories, from homes, to cars, to pets, the Barbie can truly become an extension of the child.
Parents love the Barbie dolls as well as it allows the children to become more knowledgeable about everyday life. Barbie allows kids to use their imagination in ways that videogames do not, giving children the opportunity to build their own imaginary world in which their dolls live. Further, the Barbies help the kids learn about the world around them, from the jobs they have Barbie take on, to the difficulties of raising a family.
This notion of raising a family is actually what created the idea of Pregnant Barbie, a part of the line of Barbie Happy Family dolls. Pregnant Midge comes with a baby and an attachable belly so you can pretend the doll is pregnant. It was a great idea, one that would allow children to pretend their dolls were pregnant and really feel like they were mimicking the entire process of making a family. However, some people reacted with criticisms and accused the dolls of giving children bad thoughts. As a result, the doll was forced to be recalled.
The Pregnant Barbie recall is actually part of what makes the Barbie dolls so collectible. Some of the more uncommon dolls are now worth a good amount of money, selling for hundreds of dollars. The most rare dolls include some of the annual Holiday Barbie dolls and the Silkstone Barbie. These dolls get released in limited numbers as collector's items and cause a flurry of demand once they disappear. Because of this, the dolls have become significantly more coveted by even older people as they try and make investments out of them.
Overall, it's hard to say where Barbie will go from here. However, what is clear is that the Barbies are here to stay. Kids love them, and the demand never seems to fade.

The Five Secrets to Getting the Best Price When Buying an Antique Doll Or Collectible Barbie Doll

The absolute best way to get a great deal when buying a collectible antique doll or Barbie doll is to be armed with information. There' no substitute for knowledge when it comes to buying or investing in dolls.
There are usually only two things you, as a doll collector, are looking for when considering antique dolls:
#1. You are looking for a very specific doll. You know the designer, when and where the doll was made and you know a lot of other things about the exact doll you're looking for.
#2. You are looking for a bargain. You are looking for any antique doll or collectible doll that is available way below it's actual value.
Here's how to get the best value for both types of dolls.
You have to approach each of these situations differently. The first situation is easier, but there are still some things that many collectors overlook. You need to do your homework and find out what dolls like you are looking for are actually selling for. And you need to know what they have sold for recently.
The market may have changed.  A particular doll that was in high demand and expensive not long ago, may be a lot less expensive now (or it may be even more expensive). Either way, don't rely on your previous knowledge. Find out what the value of the doll is NOW.
By all means it's important that you don't let your emotions get in the way of logic. Of course, that's easier to say than to do. If you love antique dolls like I do, it's easy to fall in love with a doll. But remember that you will have a better chance to get the best doll at the best price, if you can remain logical and not let your emotions rule.
Of course, the condition of the doll you're looking for has a lot to do with the price. This means that there could be (and probably will be) a wide range of prices that the particular doll you're looking for will be selling for.
In the second situation where you are looking for any doll that you can get at a great price, your job is even harder. You need to know the value of many dolls in order to find bargains. Of course, you can't know the value of all dolls, but there are probably a wide range of dolls that you're interested in and have some idea about the the price range they should be selling in.
One of the best ways to find a bargain in an antique doll is to realize that a lot of people start out collecting dolls and then lose interest. Also realize that in many cases the person selling the doll wants to sell it a lot more than you want to buy the doll. Regardless of how high (or even how reasonable) the initial asking price is, make a low-ball offer and work from there.
The Internet has a wealth of information about dolls. One of the best places to find out about antique doll prices is on eBay. Be sure to check completed auctions to see what antique, collectible or Barbie dolls like the one you're looking for really sold for. You can use this information in your negotiating.
CraigsList is another good place to search for antique dolls or Barbie dolls. But remember that the prices shown on CraigsList are the asking prices and not what the doll will or did sell for.
When you're armed with all of the above information, your final step is to use the five negotiating techniques shown below and don't be in a hurry -- be the reluctant buyer.
Five  Secrets to Getting the Best Price When Buying Any Antique, Collectible, or Barbie Doll:
1.    Offer way less than you expect to have to pay.
2.    Always act shocked and surprised at the other side's first price.
3.    Say, "You've got to do better than that."
4.   Walk away (or pretend to walk away) sometime during the negotiation.
5.    Arm yourself with information.  The more you're prepared with facts and information, the better deal you can negotiate.  For example, say, "I have checked eBay and other Internet sources, and dolls like this one never sell for more than $200."
Use these techniques and you will come out with the best deal possible on an antique doll. Don't forget that there are a lot of collectible dolls out there, so always be willing to walk away from any negotiation.

Holiday Barbie 2012 Edition - Beautiful Christmas Gift For Your Daughter

Christmas time has to be probably the most awaited period within the year for the reason that many presents arrives, flowing in from friends and relations. While you were just a little girl, the single most appealing gifts on your own wish list should have been the Barbie Christmas doll and for good causes as well. Prior to the introduction of the Barbie girl doll 50 years back, little ones had fun with dolls that looks like infants. Its creators, Mattel, decided that young girls also wished to play with dolls which was similar to grownups and, as a consequence, could be played in numerous fashion roles.
The newest add-on on the Barbie series is the 2010 Holiday Barbie collection. You have the options of a Caucasian or an African-American model of the Barbie holiday doll. You should have not be troubled too much pertaining to selecting better outfit because both put on exactly the same gowns with the primary variation being their skin color as well as face features.
African-American Barbie Holiday doll shows a beautiful lady with light brown eyes and black curly hair. In the other hand, the Caucasian version shows the familiar blond hair and blue eyes. Additionally, you will notice that the make-up of each one is different with the primary purpose is to showcase the attributes of each girl doll. The Caucasian model comes with dark eyeliner, dark eyelashes, light brown eye shadow and light mauve lipstick, which results in an All-American look. The African-American model features sterling silver eye shadow, deep mauve lipstick and black eye liner, which attract attention to her exotic qualities.
Now, why don't we return to the sole important thing which will make the Holiday Barbie Doll 2010 a collector's item; the gown. Your eyes will instantly be attracted to the arctic white-colored ballroom-style gown constructed from utter fabrics arranged in tiers. You will find some thing so princess-like about it that will quickly reminded you about Cinderella and her famed tale. Moreover, you certainly will adore the way the gold and red patterns around the bodice combine in a classic with a contemporary touch kind of way a lot which means that your grandchildren 50 years from now will still consider the whole gown beautiful.

Dress Barbies For Success

There is absolutely no doubt that the Mattel barbie doll is the single most popular doll ever made. Barbie has been a huge hit with little girls and so many others for decades now, and her popularity is still being felt today. It's little wonder why, with all the various Barbie accessories and dress Barbies available, it has made for hours and hours of fun.
Barbies Personalities
Over the past 45 plus years, there have been more variations of Barbies doll than you can remember. She has had many different outfits made for her during this time. From an astronaut to a nurse, Barbie has seen it all. Girls dress Barbies in every fashion and form imaginable. Does anyone remember Barbies pictures in the late 50's? Barbies dress was originally a swimsuit. She certainly has come a long way and seen a great many changes since then. We have seen Barbie as president, nurse, rock star, fashion model (which was her original design) and over 80 other careers in between. If you can name it, Barbie has most likely been it.
Barbie Controversy
While every form of dress barbies have been put out, the one Barbie that is likely the most controversial was released in 1992. That is when Mattel made a military Barbie during the period of time that the U.S. was involved in operation Desert Storm. The entire military dress barbies had to clear Pentagon approval before being sold to the public. The Pentagon wanted to be sure that the uniforms she wore were as real life as they could be.
Other models of Barbies that have been released over the years have included Olympic Barbie, College Barbie, and we can't forget a married Barbie. You do remember Ken, right? Not only has barbies dress been numerous, but she has had her share of pets. At last count Barbie has had 21 dogs, 12 horses and a zebra among many others.
Barbies Future
Collectible Barbies are the rage now with all types of models out. There has never been another doll that has been this commercialized and so well planned out in toy history. It's anyone's guess as to how long this can continue, but with over 40 years under her belt, I wouldn't bet against another 40 more.

Vintage Barbie Dolls - Identifying Vintage Ponytail Barbies

Barbie was first released by Mattel in 1959 and since the earliest Barbie doll had her hair pulled back in a Ponytail, she is referred to as the Ponytail Barbie by vintage Barbie collectors. There are six different incarnations of the Ponytail Barbie and so she is referred to by her number, i.e. #1 Ponytail Barbie or #2 Ponytail, etc. What follows is a brief guide to identifying each one as the differences between them are usually subtle, but hugely significant to value.
#1 Ponytail Barbie
The #1 Ponytail Barbie can be either blonde or brunette. More blonde dolls were made so the brunette is more valuable. Her hair is tied back in a ponytail and she has curled bangs. Her irises are white and her lips are red and she also severely arched eyebrows. Pointy, actually. She is also peering off to the side.
Constructed from heavy vinyl plastic, she has a solid torso and holes in the bottom of her feet and copper tubing in her legs so she can be fitted to her pedestal. The bottom of her right foot also says "Japan" on it.
Due to the nature of the plastic she was made from, she is usually faded to a very white color. Her original outfit consists of a black/white zebra striped swimsuit, open toed black high heels (with holes in them!), white sunglasses (blue lenses) and golden hoop earrings.
#1 Ponytail Barbie is also marked: Barbie (TM) Pats. Pend. ©MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc.
#2 Ponytail Barbie
The #2 Ponytail Barbie is actually exactly the same as the #1 Barbie except she no longer has holes in her feet and no copper tubing. Her new pedestal has arms to hold her in place. She bears the same mark as above.
#3 Ponytail Barbie
#3 Barbie is like the #2 except she now has blue irises and softer eyebrows. She may have either brown or blue eyeliner.
#4 Ponytail Barbie
The #4 Barbie now comes in a new type of plastic and generally keeps her flesh-colored tone over the years. She also only comes wearing blue eyeliner.
#5 Ponytail Barbie
The big changes to the #5 Barbie are that her torso is now hollow and she bears a new mark: Barbie ® Pats. Pend. ©MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc. Note the ® instead of the (TM).
In addition. #5 also is available in a new hair color, Titian. Barbie's hair is also a bit stiffer now. The Titian #5 Barbie is very hard to find and the most collectible. Unfortunately, #5 Barbies are prone to greasy faces due to some problems Mattel was having with the vinyl. A greasy appearance will reduce value as the problem isn't universal and there are some dolls still showing lovely matte faces to be found.
#6 Ponytail Barbie
#6 has a new outfit, a red jersey swimsuit and red open-toed heels. Her lips are now watermelon colored instead of red. Her fingernail polish matches her lips. The vinyl problems were fixed so she won't have a greasy face anymore either.
Is she a number 6 or number 7?
Some time in 1963, there was a major change to Barbie.
Sometimes the Barbie with the new mark is referred to as the #7 Barbie by collectors and sometimes she is referred to as the #6. If you are considering adding one of these dolls to your collection, the important thing is to know that Barbie had a bit of a makeover between 1962 and 1963 and the 1962 doll was only manufactured for one year so she may be more collectible.
On a final note, there are lots of artists doing restorations and repaints of vintage Barbie dolls. Like any antique, any vintage Barbie that has been altered from her original condition will be far less valuable even if the repaint restores her beauty. If you are bidding on an auction for a Barbie doll and you have questions about any possible restoration work done to her, don't be afraid to question the seller.

5 Tips for Selling Collectible Barbies on eBay

Collectible Barbie dolls can be a great seller on eBay, especially eBay USA. Many Barbie dolls are limited in number and can be quite valuable. Barbie collectors are located all over the world and don't mind paying the international shipping fees required to have the doll shipped to them. Here are a few tips for selling collectible Barbie dolls on eBay.
The first step when selling anything on eBay is to do the research and determine the asking price. eBay is its own little universe and you must use eBay data to determine an item's value in the eBay marketplace. An item's value is determined by what someone will pay for it, not what you think it is worth. Look up the particular Barbie on eBay using a few relevant keywords. eBay titles are written by each individual seller, so if you use too many keywords, you may not get enough data in your search results. For example, if you have a Bob Mackie Goddess of the Sun Barbie, your search terms should be "Bob Mackie Goddess Barbie." When doing the search, choose "completed listings." You aren't going to pay much attention to what someone is asking for the Barbie, you want to know what a buyer actually paid for it. Historical data is where you focus when doing research on eBay pricing. You will also need to check current listings to see what other sellers are asking for the same item. To make sales on eBay, you must be competitive.
After you find a comparable item that actually sold, the next step is to create a keyword rich title. eBay searches work somewhat like Google searches, matching on keywords. Your objective is to rank high in searches so your title must be optimized. Using the example above, a properly optimized title would be, "NEW Bob Mackie Goddess of the Sun Barbie NRFB 1995." NRFB is an abbreviation for "never removed from box." Many Barbie collectors will search for NRFB and the year the Barbie was released. eBay only allows 55 characters for the title, so you want to maximize that space with the correct keywords that will lead buyers to your item.
The next important component of selling Barbies (or anything) on eBay, is to provide clear photos. When selling anything three dimensional, experts advise showing at least three photos. Remember that your buyer cannot pick up and examine the product you are selling. Good pictures will sell your item. Many eBay shoppers don't even read the descriptions; their eyes automatically gravitate towards the photos. If you are selling NRFB collectible Barbies, you want to show photos of the front and back of the box, the doll's face, the doll's clothing, and a price tag if there is one. If you are selling a NRFB Barbie, do not take her out of the box to take the photo! This will devalue the Barbie and you can't sell it as NRFB.
After you have done the pricing research, written the title, and taken the photos, you will need to write a keyword rich description. Make sure the description is at least 200 words long and includes the name of the particular Barbie at least three times. This will help your listing appear more keyword loaded and your listing will place higher in search results.
Include international shipping options on your listing. Barbie collectors live all over the world and they will pay the shipping costs, as long as the price is fair and reasonable. Most Barbies will weigh less than four pounds when packaged so they can be shipped First Class International through the United States Postal Service. Average cost to ship a collectible Barbie anywhere in the world from the USA is less than twenty dollars.
By following these five tips, you should find success when selling your collectible Barbie on eBay. Take your time, follow the steps, and wait for the right buyer. Your Barbie may not sell within a week, but that is ok. The right buyer will find your listing and your Barbie will soon be on her way to her new home.

Barbie Games - A Popular Source of Entertainment

Barbie dolls have a unique history which speaks of the doll's marvelous success and popularity worldwide. These dolls have managed to capture the hearts of millions, not specifically children but belonging to all age groups. Barbie or more distinctively Barbara Millicent Roberts was introduced to the world on March 9, 1959 and was the brain child of Ruth Handler the wife of the cofounder of Mattel. The idea sparked off the creation of this fashion doll which now dwells in pink costumes and beautiful pink houses. However, with time Barbie has evolved into something more than a mere plastic doll.
With the advent of internet, Barbie games started to take the world of online gaming by a storm and managed to attract millions of players worldwide. With Barbie games, players now have a chance to play with these dolls online. In actual as a lot of young girls are highly influenced by Barbie, the games focus on Barbie not only as fashion doll but with a multitude of careers. An interesting fact worth mentioning is the recent career path that this doll has chosen i.e. a computer engineer. Yes, that's true. You will now see Barbie sporting casual black leggings, a pair of pink glasses and a neatly tailored vest over a T-shirt that has been printed with a computer code; a string of binary 0s and 1s that, when translated, spells "Barbie."
Barbie games come in numerous varieties, each type suiting different age groups. You may either opt for Barbie dress up games where you are provided with an assortment of fashionable clothing and accessories to dress up Barbie as you wish or you can teach your kids how to cook by playing Barbie cooking games. This is an excellent mode of teaching young girls the basics of cooking while also serving as an enjoyable pastime.
Let your child's imagination exercise and grow with these entertaining games.
Apart from the above mentioned types, there is also another type called the Barbie adventure games mostly based on the numerous Barbie movies where you and your child can step into a whole new world of fantasy. These games boast an excellent user interface and high quality graphics that make the gaming experience more fun.
Furthermore, with Barbie games you can easily be at peace that none of the games hold any adult content that might prove to b unsuitable for your little girl.
Barbie games can be found in numerous formats. You will find Barbie in video games, jigsaw puzzles, coloring books and whole lot of other games. However the most common format used nowadays is that of online Barbie games. These games are free and are easily available on a number of dedicated websites on the World Wide Web; be it any time of the day.

The Top Three Barbie Games

While those are fun tasks, there is much more to Barbie games than most parents realize. If you decide to bite the plastic bullet and spend an afternoon playing Barbie games with your youngster, you can expect her to be playing one of the top three Barbies games enjoyed by young girls.
Dress Up
The most common game, especially with younger girls, is a simple game of dress up. Barbies come with a huge assortment of outfits, and there is nothing more rewarding than putting together an outfit and seeing the final product on your very own Barbie doll. Children learning to dress themselves might actually use Barbie dolls as a way to practice the critical skills, but for the most part, dressing up Barbie is just plain fun.
If you want to give your child a special treat, you don't need to buy her a new Barbie doll to add to the collection. Rather than spending your money on one doll with one outfit, surprise her with five new outfits that she can mix and match for her current Barbie doll. You might just have a young fashionista in the making.
Character Play
Once your child starts developing an active imagination, you can expect to hear voices coming from her Barbies - provided by your child, of course. This game is character play where each Barbie is assigned a role, or many roles, in an unfolding drama. The Princess Barbie needs help from the Friendly Barbie to defeat the Evil Barbie in time to hop in the Barbie Jeep and pick up Ken for a hot Barbie date.
When you play with your child during this sort of Barbie game, be sure you listen and understand the game and story before jumping in. Some children become incredibly agitated when the story changes unexpectedly. You might think it's funny to add Super Barbie to the mix, but she'll likely see it as an intrusion. Rather than grabbing a doll and making a new character, get her instructions on which character you should be in the current game she's playing.
Online Barbie Games
The newest form of Barbie game takes your child online. There are countless Barbie games online that let your child dress up Barbie in more outfits than you can imagine. The latest fashions are available on websites featuring dress up games, and with new outfits and dolls added daily, it's not hard to see why spending time online with Barbie is a new favorite activity of young girls.
Playing online Barbie games is simple enough. You should let your daughter have creative control, but you can encourage even more creativity by making up a story about why the doll is wearing a particular outfit or dressing different dolls for different roles in a story she's been working on. Then you can print the completed Barbies and have custom puppets ready to take on their designed characters.

Collecting Vintage Barbie Dolls

If you're one of the avid fans and collectors of modern Barbie but would want to possess valuable Barbie items, then you might want to consider collecting for vintage Barbie dolls. Vintage Barbie dolls-those dolls copyrighted by Mattel Incorporated from 1959 to 1972-are becoming quite valuable pieces in the world of antique collection.
If you're interested in getting your hands into those vintage Barbie dolls that can be quite valuable over the years, then you better start visiting flea markets, antique stores, and doll shops for prospective pieces. But, before you hit those places where you can find possible vintage Barbie dolls, make sure that you memorize this checklist so you'll know what to consider before purchasing it.
- Check if the ears of the vintage Barbie doll have turned to green. Collectors say that this is a very important thing to consider in buying vintage Barbie dolls because it reflects the overall condition of the doll.
Green ears usually result from the chemical reaction between the plastic and the metal earrings or accessories used by Barbie, so if the vintage doll has a green ear, it means it weren't taken care of properly. But if you still want to purchase the vintage Barbie doll despite having this major flaw, make sure that you ask for a discount.
- Check is the face of the doll is greasy. The plasticizer that leaks out from its face usually causes greasy face of a vintage Barbie dolls. This condition is hard to cure or cannot be cured at all. So make sure that before buying any vintage Barbie dolls, you check the face meticulously in order to check its status and condition.
The simplest remedy in removing the grease off the doll's face is by applying powder on it but better be careful because this remedy can worsen the doll's condition by taking off the vintage doll's facial make up.
- Check if the limbs of the vintage Barbie doll can be bent without restraint. If you are a collector, you should know by now that some Barbie dolls are quite prone limb breakage because they have brittle joints. Others even loose limbs that cannot be repaired so make sure that you test the limbs of the doll before finally buying it.
- Check is the vintage Barbie doll has a fresh, complete and original face paint. Bright and original face paint on the lips, cheeks, eyes, eyebrows, nose and finger and toenails paint are quite valuable assets of a vintage Barbie doll. Make sure that they are intact.
Other things to consider are bendable knees, original outfit and box or case, the doll's skin tone, original set of hair, appropriate and correct parts, and split or pinpricks in certain body parts.

Barbie Doll Collecting - Something For Everyone

Barbie doll collecting has been around for quite a while time and has accomplished many things. She has been everything from a fashion model to an astronaut. It is safe to say that Barbie is so popular that almost every little girl owns at least one. But Barbie is not just for little girls, she is a highly collectible doll. There are Barbies made for play and there are Barbies made for collectors.
The first thing that you need to decide when you start collecting Barbies is what kind do you want to collect? There are thousands of different types of Barbies out there. Very few people would have the money or the storage space to collect them all. Let's look at the different types of Barbies that you can collect:

• Vintage Barbie dolls. These are dolls made before 1972. These are the dolls that you will most likely pay the most for. Some vintage Barbies can sell for over a thousand dollars.
• Pink Box Barbies. The pink box Barbies are the Barbies that are meant for play. They are inexpensive and can be found in abundance in the toy aisle of your favorite store.
• The collectible box Barbie is especially designed for adult collectors. They cost a little more, but are usually not outrageously expensive.
• Collect by themes. There are many types of themes for Barbie collectors. There are movie themes, such as Gone With The Wind or the Wizard of Oz, celebrity themes, such as Barbie as I Love Lucy, holiday themes, fantasy themes, and the list goes on and on.
• Fashion designer collection. These are Barbies who have been designed by famous fashion designers such as Bob Macke or Christian Dior.

Barbies have a condition grading system much like baseball cards. The grades range from C10 being the best to C1 that is the absolute worst and looks like your dog's chew toy. It is important to know this grading system by heart if you are going to do some serious collecting. It can help you determine the value of any Barbie you may find.Once you start your Barbie collection it is also vitally important that your learn how to store them properly. Improper storage of your doll can cause irreparable damage to the doll and its clothing. The garage, attic or basement is not the place to store your dolls. These places are not climate controlled and the fluctuation between hot and cold can damage the doll. Moisture can seep in and cause mold and the doll may make good nest building material for rats or mice.
Do not store your dolls in closed plastic bags or plastic Tupperware type containers. These containers can trap in moisture and cause mold to form on your dolls. Some plastic containers will emit gases that can harm plastic or vinyls, as well as paper.
Storing your doll in their original boxes may seem like a good idea; however it can actually damage the dolls due to the acid in the boxes. If you want to store your doll in the box, wrap it in acid free tissue paper first. Remove any jewelry or metal items from the doll because over time they will discolor plastics.
The best place to store your dolls would be in a trunk or chest of drawers in an area of the home that maintains a constant temperature. Wrap everything in acid free tissue paper prior to storage and check your dolls periodically. Under the right storage conditions, your Barbie dolls will still look brand new decades from now.
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Barbie Dolls Collections For Your Own Choice

For most of us, they thought that dolls are just little girls favorite toy and to play with. As a matter of fact almost all little girls preferred a Barbie doll as a gift for them rather than any other type of toy. However, not only little girls were fun of this toy. They are the Barbie collectors; some of them is already 40+ years old but then still love and fun of collecting Barbie dolls. For them it's an interest to one thing that seems to be so special and that they want to have and keep as a remembrance or souvenir.
Mattel in the past years had produced a range of Barbie dolls already. They aim to encourage enthusiast or collectors of Barbie's to increase their interest and likes in collecting Barbie dolls. We usually watched this dolls in movies, story books and etc. This is where these collectors gain their interest to collect these dolls.
Mattel categorized Barbie doll using a color tier system in 2004 for them to be easily recognized by collectors. This is used to indicate which kind of retail store stocks the particular type of collectible doll, and also to signify the amount of dolls produced worldwide.
The four colors in the collectible tier system.
1) Pink Labeled
2) Silver Labeled
3) Labeled as Gold
4) Platinum Labeled
First tier is pink--Barbie doll's signature color - and then the additional tiers add other colors representing even higher standards like silver, gold, and platinum. The Pink Tier will include fun, keepsake dolls such as the Dolls of the World - The Princess Collection and the "I Love Lucy" celebrity dolls. Pink Label dolls will come packaged in a box with a clear acetate front trimmed in pink, which makes a nice display for NRFB (never removed from box) dolls.. The Pink Label dolls will not be limited in production numbers. Although all Barbie dealers can carry these dolls, shops such as Wal-Mart and WalMart.com are their main destination.
The next tier is the Silver Label dolls. The packaging is similar to the Pink Label, but with the box trimmed with silver. The criteria for the Silver Label tier is that no more than 50,000 of any Silver Label doll will be produced world wide. Included in the Silver Label are the 'Wedding' series, the 'Birthday Barbies', 'Ballet Barbies' and 'I Dream of a Season' dolls. Some types of Kelly doll and Tommy doll also can be found under the Silver Label.
Following the Silver is the Gold Label collectible dolls. Gold Label dolls are produced in quantities of no more than 25,000 of each doll. The packaging is different from the previous tiers. Silver Label dolls come in a "cake box" type package with an extra see through layer to protect the doll. The box has artwork and photography on the back and lid with gold decorative trimming. Included under the Gold Label are 'Designer Fashion Model' dolls, 'Designer Bride', Vintage Repros' and 'Pin-up Girls' collectible dolls.
And the last tier is the very limited Platinum Tier. These dolls are produced in editions of less than 1,000 worldwide, and the tier includes premium one-of-a-kind dolls available at select events (like a Bob Mackie OOAK (one-of-a-kind) doll created for Dream Halloween)
No matter what label of dolls you prefer, as long as your happy and enjoying it? It's OK. Sometimes we put all our love to thing we treasure the most. Often, collecting things such like Barbie collectibles is one way of expressing and showing people what type of person are you, because your interest to one thing reflects your personality in life.

Why Doll Collectors Love Those Cheap Vintage Barbie Dolls

Doll lovers around the world go wild when they find cheap vintage Barbie dolls. These dolls are searched for at both thrift stores and garage sales. E-bay auctions are also good places to find many of these classic dolls. Barbie dolls are known as being relatively cheap in price. They can usually be purchased new for $10-15.These dolls are not the sought after ones that collectors want. Today's modern Barbie differs greatly from the desirable vintage Barbie dolls.
To the uninitiated doll collector, one Barbie doll might appear to be the same as another. Doll experts and Barbie collectors know that this is not the case. The older Barbie dolls are made of very different materials and many of them had hand painted details. The oldest dolls will have a more solid and heavier feel. The clothing and accessories for the vintage Barbie dolls were very well made and Barbie collectors are always on the lookout for these treasured pieces. The truest vintage Barbies are those from the 1959-1972, but even those dolls made up through the early 1980s are very collectible today.
If you look at an older Barbie doll, you will notice that the earrings and necklaces were made to look like pearls and diamonds. These pieces of doll jewelry looked much like the real deal and were extremely popular when these Barbies were first being produced. Today these tiny bits of fashion accessories command very high prices. One of the reasons that the prices are high is that people were not saving and collecting Barbie dolls in the 1960s. Dolls, accessories, and jewelry pieces were discarded or vacuumed up to be thrown away. This means that only a small amount of dolls and accessories are actually around for collectors to grab. Even though there were millions of dolls made and sold at $3 each, limited numbers can be found today.
Finding cheap vintage Barbie dolls today is as much a thrill as finding a winning lottery ticket. Collectors know that most of these dolls command high prices, so when a bargain Barbie comes along they snap it up instantly. Some of these dolls have wonderful wardrobes that come complete with undergarments, gloves, nightgowns, bathing suits and prom dresses. The list of Barbie clothing pieces is staggering in number and stunning in detail and design. There are even rare clothing items that can fetch prices of $500 and up for a MIB piece. MIB stands for mint in box condition. This means that the dolls or accessories look just as they did when they were first offered for sale 40 or 50 years ago.
For collectors who hunt those elusive mint condition, cheap vintage Barbie dolls, unearthing one of them is a miracle. There are tales of some dedicated doll collectors coming up with some gems at garage and estate sales. Sometimes these vintage dolls can be bought for fewer than 10 dollars and this is a great buy indeed. While these dolls could easily be sold for a substantial profit, the collectors usually just add them to their own personal inventory. All of the older Barbies from 59-72 are becoming extremely difficult to find and collectors know this and prefer to keep them for their own enjoyment.

Vintage Barbie Doll Collection Guide

Did you know that Matell estimates that there are 100.000 Barbie doll collectors that 90% of them are middle age woman and that they buy up to 20 dolls a year? that blew me away to when i saw those figures for the first time, that is why vintage Barbie dolls are so high prized these days and for people ho can't take big risk of are on a tight budget i have made this guide on what to look out for when you are buying vintage Barbie doll.
When you start of collecting vintage Barbie dolls the best course of action is to familiarize yourself with all the details you need to know about collecting vintage Barbie dolls before you start visiting flea markets, antique shops, toy stores, and other places to purchase a vintage Barbie doll, here are some of my best tips i can give to a starting collector.
1) The Date.
As you can understand the date that a vintage Barbie doll is created is very important for the value of the doll so make certain that you take the time to inspect the copyright date, the date refers to the year the vintage Barbie doll was launched or created.
TIP: the vintage Barbie dolls that have a high value are those marked with "1958" or "Japan" at the rear end or it is marked at the bottom of one of the feats.
2) Condition.
One of the most important things is the overall condition, because vintage Barbie dolls are getting more worth when time pass by, it is very important to have a close look at the overall condition, do you see discoloration. neck splits, body splits, hair that is in a poor condition, lips chipping, rubbed of texture, are the ears green due to discoloration when wearing ear rings, missing parts, faded clothes act, make certain that all of the fingers and toes of the doll are still intact and that the have a even color.
3)vintage Barbie Doll Accessories.
You have to pay close attention to the vintage Barbie doll accessories, Experts that have been collecting for years say that the valuable vintage Barbie dolls are those wearing outfits that have still all the precise details, so make sure that you keep that in mind the value of the American is in the accessories.
4)Metal Tubes.
Search for vintage Barbie dolls that are created with metal tubes, if you listen to the expert collectors the number one collectors item is the vintage Barbie doll with the metal tubes in them.
5) Vintage Barbie Doll Trademark.
This is a very important tip always and i really mean always check for the dolls trademark you would be surprised how much garbage there is on the market, so check for the Mattel, Inc. mark.
These are the fife most important steps to get into the world of vintage Barbie doll collecting, it is a great hobby and a sound investment, vintage Barbie dolls are getting scarcer every day making your dolls rise in value.

Collectible Barbie Dolls - Make Money With Your Collection

Barbie will be 50 years old in 2009. Wow I wish we all looked that good at 50. Of course she has had plastic surgery over the decades. She has even had a complete body replacement.
Barbie was first made in 1959 by Mattel and millions have been sold all over the globe since then. On March 9th 1959 Barbie was exhibited at the New York Toy Fair and that date is her official birthday. She wore a one piece black and white zebra striped swimsuit,high heel open toe shoes,hoop earrings and had white sunglasses with blue lenses. She has blonde or brunette hair pulled back in a ponytail and she has strongly arched eyebrows and white irises. She was made from a type of plastic which has faded to white over the years. She has copper tubing in her legs and holes in the feet for mounting on a pedestal. She is marked JAPAN on the bottom of the right foot and on the body she is marked Barbie TM Pats. Pend. Copyright MCMVIII.
If you find one of these dolls in good condition you have a collectors delight which is worth quite a bit of money. The exact value depends on the condition and completeness of the doll. Any missing parts or damage will lower the value substantially. This doll is known as the #1 Ponytail Barbie.
The #2 Ponytail Barbie is the same as #1 except that there is no copper tubing in the legs or holes in the feet. The pedestal was changed and made with extensions to support the doll.
The #3 Ponytail Barbie is the same as #2 but has different eyebrows and blue irises. She may have blue or brown eyeliner makeup.
The #4 Ponytail Barbie is made from a non fading plastic which retains it's flesh color. She has blue eyeliner makeup.
The #5 Ponytail Barbie was made with a hollow plastic body rather than the solid type found in earlier editions. The markings are similar with the difference that she is marked R Pats. Pend. rather than TM Pats. Pend. A new hair color was added to the line,known as titian,and dolls with this hair color are scarcer and therefore worth more than the brunette or blonde dolls. The plastic in some dolls had a problem which caused a greasy appearance with age. The regular matte faced doll,if you find one,is more valuable than a greasy faced doll.
The #6 Ponytail Barbie was made from a new vinyl which does not develop a greasy appearance as it ages. Her lips and fingernails are a pinkish red rather than the previous bright red. She is clad in a red swimsuit and has open toe,red,shoes.
The #7 Ponytail Barbie was made in various different hair colors including brunette, titian,lemon blonde and ash blonde. Her lips and nails are coral red. This new edition was brought out in the 1962-1963 period and the markings became Midge TM copyright 1962/Barbie copyright 1958 by Mattel. Dolls with this new marking are often called the #7 Ponytail Barbie but many people still call them #6. Dolls made before the changeover in 1962 are scarcer and more valuable than the new edition.
Condition is undoubtedly the most important factor in putting a value on early Barbie dolls. Collectors want a doll which is clean,completely original and not damaged.Such a doll fetches top price. If the doll is in its original packaging,and in mint condition, it is a highly desirable collectors doll and will fetch a premium price. Dolls which have in any way been repaired,restored or repainted are worth less than those left in the faded original condition.
Where can you expect to find early collectible Barbie dolls? The answer is almost anywhere,if you know what you are looking for. The vast majority of people do not know what an old Barbie doll looks like or that it is valuable. You can find old Barbie dolls sometimes by looking in thrift or second hand stores, fleamarkets and garage sales. Be sure to carry a magnifier to read the markings on the Barbie dolls when you are out there searching. Best of Luck.

Barbie Doll Values Collecting

When collecting Barbie, the doll values in a guide used for Barbie dolls can be either tangible or intangible but either way we have a value guide for you. As people always say...everything has a price. You might be wondering what the values of your Barbie doll are or if you are getting ready to purchase Barbie doll collectibles to add to your collection what price should you pay? For this a Barbie doll collector should always use a value guide.
Collecting Barbie Dolls, defined by our 8 steps, can be lots of fun but finding their values can become frustrating as a collector because you are not sure what are the "right" price values. With a Barbie doll values guide book you can spend time researching your Barbie collector dolls, to understand their history, and related items like dollhouses, clothes, coloring books, games, etc. to help you in the process of finding the right values for your dolls. During the search you will want to use many different methods such as internet, auctions, local stores, and basic collector guides . While trying to determine the values of your collector Barbie Doll you will need to look for Vintage Barbie collecting terminology and it will guide you in the right direction.
Some key words that you need to know while you are looking through your collector Barbie doll value collecting guide:
HTF- hard to find
MIB- mint in box (factory doll in mint condition)
MIP- mint in package (means all accessories are still in original packaging)
MNB- in mint condition but not in original box
NT- (not touched) can mean excellent as well when talking about the collector Barbie Doll's condition
NRFB- never removed from box
OSS- has the original swimsuit
When a collector is trying to determine the worth of their Barbie doll, here are some key terms they will see in their value collecting guide:
Barbie Doll Book Values is defined as the pricing guide values of the collector Barbie and does not mean the price you should get on a secondary market. This is an important key word to note when collecting Barbie.
Barbie Doll Market Values is defined as the actual price you expect to sell your collector Barbie Dolls for. There are many factors to take into consideration as a doll collector so you will want to use online auctions as a guide when determine your collector Barbie values.
Barbie collector dolls should reflect the values of the items you collect because they appeal to you. This is the point where the values of your Barbie collector doll become intangible so even if the worth of the Barbie you are collecting is not valuable to the market, the sentimental worth will make it a value to you

Finding Clothes For Your Barbie Doll

Barbie doll clothes are an important part of the fun of playing with
the Barbie doll. When Barbie first came out, the clothes were
fashion model outfits. Since then, however, outfits can be worn for
almost any occasion or situation. The only limit is the imagination.
Children love to play with the exquisite little Barbie clothes and the
fun accessories that came with each outfit.
Close attention was paid to the design and creation of these tiny
clothes. Barbie Doll clothes have hems, zippers, minute buttons
and even linings. &nbspThe quality finish of these dolls clothes was
achieved by hand finishing.
The fasteners used on the Barbie doll clothes were minuscule.
Mattel had these custom made in Japan. A company called YKK was
founded and managed by Yoshida Kogig. This was dedicated to
manufacturing fasteners and other miniature accessories which
accompanied each set of Barbie clothing. For example, the "Nighty-
Negligee Set" #965 1959-1964 contained a baby-doll set of a night
gown with a matching robe in the traditional pink. The accessories
included pom-pom slippers, a toy stuffed dog, an alarm clock, diary,
and an apple for a midnight snack.
There are certainly plenty of Barbie clothes to choose from to dress
your Barbie doll.
Where can you find Barbie doll clothes?
Obviously you will easily be able to find Barbie doll clothes at retail
stores. These stores will certainly have the latest clothes available.
However this isn't the only place to find &nbspdoll outfits for
Barbie.
A great source to pick up bargains of doll clothes for Barbie is on
eBay. Usually the approximate age of the clothes is indicated. You
can find vintage or modern Barbie clothes, and they are auctioned
in different quantities as well.
Another place to look for Barbie doll clothes is in local garage and
yard sales and also thrift stores. You can often find some great
bargains, as people's children have out grown them, and will sell
them very reasonably priced.
Barbie doll clothes are an important part of the fun of playing with the Barbie doll. When Barbie first came out, the clothes were fashion model outfits. Since then, however, outfits can be worn for almost any occasion or situation. The only limit is the imagination.
Children love to play with the exquisite little Barbie clothes and the fun accessories that came with each outfit.
Close attention was paid to the design and creation of these tiny clothes. Barbie Doll clothes have hems, zippers, minute buttons and even linings. &nbspThe quality finish of these dolls clothes was achieved by hand finishing.
The fasteners used on the Barbie doll clothes were minuscule. Mattel had these custom made in Japan. A company called YKK was founded and managed by Yoshida Kogig. This was dedicated to manufacturing fasteners and other miniature accessories which accompanied each set of Barbie clothing. For example, the "Nighty-Negligee Set" #965 1959-1964 contained a baby-doll set of a night gown with a matching robe in the traditional pink. The accessories included pom-pom slippers, a toy stuffed dog, an alarm clock, diary, and an apple for a midnight snack.
There are certainly plenty of Barbie clothes to choose from to dress your Barbie doll.
Where can you find Barbie doll clothes?
Obviously you will easily be able to find Barbie doll clothes at retail stores. These stores will certainly have the latest clothes available. However this isn't the only place to find &nbspdoll outfits for Barbie.
A great source to pick up bargains of doll clothes for Barbie is on eBay. Usually the approximate age of the clothes is indicated. You can find vintage or modern Barbie clothes, and they are auctioned in different quantities as well.

Barbie Dolls - Girls Best FriendFor a small girl

For a small girl, playing with toys seems natural and enjoyable too. She can even have her own Barbie house, play room, and such other accessories along with the doll. There are also websites of Barbie dolls, where the person can get to personalize or change the Barbie doll web page as per their taste. This web page includes Barbie doll dresses, her room style, pets and such things.
There are some fantastic types of Barbie dolls for the girls on Barbie doll websites too. These include Farm girl style Barbie, Red Carpet style Barbie, Campus Sweetheart Barbie doll, My Melody Doll, Kimora Lee Simons Barbie doll and many more. The Barbie doll has been designed to show that women can handle and accept a range of roles in their life. The Barbie doll has been sold with various titles like Doctor Barbie, Nascar Barbie and Miss Astronaut Barbie doll too.
However, even if there is a lot of criticism showered on the Barbie dolls, a lot of girls still love such dolls as they take her to be their role model. The doll has expanded her horizons too with changing times. Barbie dolls are available, as a business woman, police officer, athlete, girl draped in sari and many more roles.
Anyone interested in collecting these amazing dolls can get to join the Barbie fan club, get renewals on sale and view the collector dolls around the world and many more. One can either buy such wonderful dolls from toy shops or browse through websites and search their choice of dolls and buy these online.
The Barbie doll is one of the best selling dolls in the global market. The concept of this doll was introduced by Ruth Handler, who is the creator of the Barbie doll. It has been around fifty years or so for Barbie as an important part of the fashion toy doll market. As the years have passed, there have been a lot of controversies and lawsuits on the concept of the Barbie doll and her lifestyle.
The prime Barbie doll has zebra striped swimming suit and a ponytail too. This doll was available to both brunette and blonde girls to play with. Barbie dolls were primarily produced in Japan and her clothes were stitched by the Japanese home workers. Moreover, approximately 350,000 of them were sold during the commencement year itself.
The full name of Barbie is Barbara Millicent Roberts and her parent's names are George and Margaret Roberts from Wisconsin. Barbie doll also has some friends, namely Hispanic Teresa, Steven, Midge and Christie who is African American. There are various other toys along with the Barbie doll which a girl can enjoy. These include pets like cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, a lion cub, a zebra and a panda too. One can also get wide range of Barbie related vehicles like trailers, jeeps and pink convertibles. There are also a lot of dress accessories, hair styles and make-up kits along with the Barbie doll.

Barbie Doll House Plans: How to Create an Original Design

ith Barbie doll house designs most times it starts and ends with you. What you want determines what you get. Think about different ways that you relate to the items in your home. Most times you will find that who you are will influence any area of your life including what you find for your Barbie Doll, as a collector. In particular her new doll house.
Who is Barbie to you?
Yes who is Barbie and how do you relate to her doll home?

• Barbie doll house plans can be the most creative plans around. Mainly because of the way that Barbie has been promoted by her creator. We have all seen Barbie dolls or are familiar with them. She really has been there, done that, in just about every situation possible.
• Many children find her endearing and imaginative. Not to mention we adults. No kidding children and adults can get carried away for hours imagining Barbie in her world. Just watching a child with her and you realize that.
• A key question to ask yourself as you begin a new doll house plan is: What is it about her that makes us relive in part our childhood so easily? Maybe it's the way that she just reminds us of ourselves so much. Do you think? Or is it that she reminds us of who we would like to be? Someone who is stylish, confident, or successful?
• Possibly the person who created her was thinking in part of themselves as a child. And possibly what would entertain them. And this is precisely the mental state you have to claim if you intend to make an original Barbie doll house plan for yourself or someone else. What do you have inside of you to offer this challenge?
• Also Barbie has had just about every style you can imagine. But if you have never created for her, then she has never had your style before because no two people create alike. So the atmosphere is ripe for you to put your design out there for yourself or others to gain from.

So Barbie is for all these reasons a very personal fashion doll.
However just how does one fashion an original doll house for Barbie?
Step 1: Know What you Like or Do Not Like...
Imagine for a moment that you are looking for a new home for you. That's right, what would you look for? What are your likes or dislikes? Begin listing all these ideas out. Then draw each room in this doll house the way you see it.
Possibly Barbie would want what you want. We always tell people to live their own lives and not try to live out their lives in their children. Well here is one area that quite possibly we could get to live out our own expectations in.
Yes everything you wish for yourself try to give or get for Barbie. In miniature.
Imagine your perfect kitchen, living room, bathroom, bedroom, study, recreation or laundry room. What have you always wanted in these areas?
Yes it is rather hard to purchase these kinds of designer goodies for Barbie. Yes the assortment is rather plastic is it not? We understand the hardship of trying to come up with never before created items that just make you want to get your hands on them.
Simply because they rarely exist.
But the good news is: this is where you come in. No two people create the same. So excel with what is inside you and create all the plans and items you want and have a passion for.
Step 2: Study the techniques and designs of others...
Today with the internet, studying techniques and designs of others is relatively easy. We truly have the world at our finger tips.
So begin by searching online for various ideas. Study the way that people have put there designs together. List out the websites you come across and for sure save them as your favorites.
Some search terms to use are: Barbie doll house(s), fashion doll house(s), doll house(s), dollshouse(s), or dollhouse(s). These terms may seem similar in nature but each one will bring back a few different results than the last. Remember to do plural term searches as well as singular. You may pull back a particular gem you were not aware of before.
As well purposely seek out talented trades people in your area. Even if it is someone who works on local construction projects of the human size. They know the "how-to(s)" of construction and can give you pointers to head you in the right direction.
Also if you have a doll house creator in your area it would be a huge plus to go and observe for a period of time what and how they are doing what they do. Ask them if it is possible to hang out for several afternoons. It never hurts to ask.
So, if allowed, take plenty of notes (don't waste your time or theirs) and make sure you ask them nicely if they mind you asking a tonne of questions. Most people will love to share with you. However that said, some will not. So ask permission to quiz them about their processes.
Doll house workshops online or offline, courses or kits also tell you valuable ideas concerning the how-to process. So don't forget them either. They could be the missing element in your learning quest.
Also in your study of other people's techniques do not forget to look at online book sites for great old and new books available. Books are one of the most amazing idea generators/motivators out there. So study book offerings and write down everything you like that you see.
Then with all your creative notes in hand begin forming your own Barbie doll house plans. It will surprise you just what is inside you that you should share with your Barbie doll's world.
Step 3: Put Yourself into Your Work...
After all your searching and exploring is complete begin asking yourself questions about your design.

• Is there something missing in my design?
• What is it that makes this truly my own?
• Should I ask professionals their opinion?
• Have I looked at every angle?
• Should something be removed that simply does not make sense?
• Do I start the doll house as one unit or work on each room separately?
• How much will the design cost to construct?
• Do I see any difficult areas that need reworking?
• Have I over-complicated my design?
• And on and on until you're satisfied with all your plan results and it really feels complete.

Make sure as you finish up this Barbie doll house plan that you do look deeply inside of who you are. Gather all the uniqueness inside to help make this design your own. Inside of you is the only way to truly and definitely make this an original design for Barbie.
It's all those little extra personal touches you add that makes it all come alive and work for you. So if you thought, "hey what about making Barbie a solarium my way," but never, then you've already lost something of value.
So never exclude your way, your ideas or who you are in any design process. Your work will be that much richer because of it.
Your original Barbie Doll House Solution is nearer than you think...
Yes your original Barbie doll house plans solution lives inside you. So think of what you want in everyday life... think of making it yourself with the help of others... think of learning how with excellence...
Really this is the answer for any Barbie doll house plans dilemma... That you learn how yourself. This is truly a do-able enterprise. Teach you how-to create for yourself.
What could be more entertaining or rewarding than coming up with your own Barbie doll items? Including her own living quarters! Think of the hours of fun ahead...
You can do it if you try... Creating for Barbie can be your new pastime. Imagine what you can do if you put your mind to it...
Imagine as well that after you are finished your original work in Barbie's life it just may be easier to go to work on yourself. Especially after all the study about you that you have just completed.

Why People Are Collecting Vintage Barbie Dolls

Barbie dolls have been around for a long time, a American business woman named Ruth Handler is seen as the creator of the Barbie doll concept, the first of the popular dolls had seen the light in 1959 and was inspired by a German doll called Bild Lilli. Every little girl knows Barbie and has probably played with a Barbie Doll but Barbie dolls weren't only for little ladies, she is a highly collectible doll, the Vintage Barbie Doll.
There is a big difference between the Barbie Dolls that are used to play with and the vintage Barbie dolls that people are collecting. when you start out on collecting vintage Barbie dolls you first need to decide what Barbie you are going to collect because there are a lot of different vintage American dolls, lets see what kind of Barbies you have that you can collect.
Vintage Barbie Dolls:
These are the dolls that where manufactured before 1972, these are the kind of doll that everyone wants so be prepared to pay a good amount of money for them, prizes that go far over the thousands dollars is not uncommon.
The Collectible Box Barbie:
These Barbies are created for collectors they will cost a little bit more them the Barbies you play with but do not have the prize that you would pay for a Vintage Barbie Doll.
Pink Box Barbies:
These are the Barbies you would buy at Christmas.n for you daughter to play with, they come in abundance and so you wont be paying a lot of money for them
Collect by themes:
If you like Barbie themes like the celebrity themes, holiday themes, movie themes or whatever theme it is you liked, you will find that the list of Barbie doll themes is endless.
Fashion designer Barbies.
These are special Barbies that are designed by the big fashion designers such as Christan Dior and Bob Macke.
When you are starting out on collecting vintage Barbie dolls you have to understand that it is vitally important how you store your dolls properly. if you do not store the dolls in a good fashion they can get irreparably damaged, the Garage or the basement are not the right places to store your collection of vintage Barbie dolls, you have to make sure that the place you use to store you dolls has a climate control system in place, so that moisture and temperature fluctuation have no chance to destroy you collection
Do not store your collection in plastic containers like Tupperware or in closed of plastic bags, the chance exist that when you close your bag or container that you will entrap some moisture and that can cause mold to form on your Barbies.
A lot of collectors love to save there vintage Barbie dolls in the original box and even though that seems like a good idea it really is not such a good idea and that is because a lot of boxes contains some sort of acid that will damage your doll in the long run, also if you want to store your dolls for a longer period of time make sure that the jewelry is removed because in time the jewelry will discolor the plastic.
The best way to store you collection of vintage Barbie dolls would be a trunk with a lot of drawers in a place where you have some sort of climate control, wrap your dolls in acid free tissue paper before you store your dolls, if you save your collection of vintage Barbie dolls you will enjoy the brand new look for years and years to come.

Barbie Dolls for Holiday

Since people love to collect something from holidays, the creators of Barbie-Mattel, Inc.-have come up with numerous Barbie doll designs that are fit for each holiday occasion. These Holiday Barbie dolls are quite thematic for the season and are becoming most sought-after items especially to Barbie collectors worldwide.

HOLIDAY BARBIE DOLLS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Indeed, there are seemingly countless Barbie dolls that were released to cater the collectors' demand annually. Whether you are interested in collecting Barbie created for a specific holiday or you would want to collect Barbie dolls for all seasons, occasions, and holidays, you better be aware what the are most collectible Barbie dolls to watch out for.
1. Never miss the Ferrari Barbie Doll. You're indeed lucky to get a hold of this Barbie doll because it was originally meant to be released overseas alone. But since there is a growing collector's demand, it was made available to the U.S. market. Since it is a special holiday Barbie dolls, this is quite expensive for a doll that doesn't have an elaborate gown.
Although it might seem that its pricey for a doll that doesn't have elaborate details, the Barbie doll's unique details and accessories like a the Ferrari-lined jacket, laced up boots, and a Ferrari-inspired skirt make up for it. Plus, the Ferrari Barbie is segmented as a Gold Label doll, meaning it can increase its value as time goes by.
2. Watch out for the Holiday Barbie Doll by Bob Mackie. Being the first holiday Barbie doll designed by Bob Mackie, this doll is exquisite and truly a remarkable piece.
Meeting up with the tradition of releasing holiday Barbie dolls for each holiday season, this doll is considered as a unique piece because it comes with unique outfit that is enchanting combination of red, silver and emerald accents and jewelry. It is also one of the most sought-after Barbie dolls because it comes in Caucasian or African American appearances.
3. Capture the beauty of the Stolen Magic Silkstone Barbie Doll. A significant number of Barbie collectors today only focus in collecting Fashion Model Collection or the Silkstone collection of Barbie dolls.
To meet a certain demand, Mattel came out with the Stolen Magic Barbie especially fit for the holiday season. This holiday Barbie doll come in an elaborately-dressed form that wears a satin charcoal gray gown with silver embroidery, sequins embellishments, faux chinchilla fur trims and a pale blue satin stole.
4. Get a hold of Lilly Pulitzer Barbie and Stacie Dolls. This cute holiday Barbie doll comes in Lilly Pulitzer designed outfits that is a perfect gift for the holiday season.
5. Don't let the Princess of the Pacific Islands Barbie Doll pass you by. This series of holiday Barbie dolls is quite popular because they feature dolls that are exquisitely-costumed with a good price.

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History

Ruth Handler watched her daughter Barbara play with paper dolls, and noticed that she often enjoyed giving them adult roles. At the time, most children's toy dolls were representations of infants. Realizing that there could be a gap in the market, Handler suggested the idea of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of the Mattel toy company. He was unenthusiastic about the idea, as were Mattel's directors.
During a trip to Europe in 1956 with her children Barbara and Kenneth, Ruth Handler came across a German toy doll called Bild Lilli^. The adult-figured doll was exactly what Handler had in mind, so she purchased three of them. She gave one to her daughter and took the others back to Mattel. The Lilli doll was based on a popular character appearing in a comic strip drawn by Reinhard Beuthin for the newspaper Die Bild-Zeitung. Lilli was a blonde bombshell, a working girl who knew what she wanted and was not above using men to get it. The Lilli doll was first sold in Germany in 1955, and although it was initially sold to adults, it became popular with children who enjoyed dressing her up in outfits that were available separately.
Upon her return to the United States, Handler reworked the design of the doll (with help from engineer Jack Ryan) and the doll was given a new name, Barbie, after Handler's daughter Barbara. The doll made its debut at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. This date is also used as Barbie's official birthday.
Mattel acquired the rights to the Bild Lilli doll in 1964 and production of Lilli was stopped. The first Barbie doll wore a black and white zebra striped swimsuit and signature topknot ponytail, and was available as either a blonde or brunette. The doll was marketed as a "Teen-age Fashion Model," with her clothes created by Mattel fashion designer Charlotte Johnson. The first Barbie dolls were manufactured in Japan, with their clothes hand-stitched by Japanese homeworkers. Around 350,000 Barbie dolls were sold during the first year of production.
Ruth Handler believed that it was important for Barbie to have an adult appearance, and early market research showed that some parents were unhappy about the doll's chest, which had distinct breasts. Barbie's appearance has been changed many times, most notably in 1971 when the doll's eyes were adjusted to look forwards rather than having the demure sideways glance of the original model.
Barbie was one of the first toys to have a marketing strategy based extensively on television advertising, which has been copied widely by other toys. It is estimated that over a billion Barbie dolls have been sold worldwide in over 150 countries, with Mattel claiming that three Barbie dolls are sold every second.
The standard range of Barbie dolls and related accessories are manufactured to approximately 1/6 scale, which is also known as playscale. The standard dolls are approximately 11½ inches tall.
Barbie products include not only the range of dolls with their clothes and accessories, but also a large range of Barbie branded goods such as books, apparel, cosmetics and video games. Barbie has appeared in a series of animated films and is a supporting character in Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3.
Barbie has become a cultural icon and has been given honors that are rare in the toy world. In 1974, a section of Times Square in New York City was renamed Barbie Boulevard for a week. In 1985, the artist Andy Warhol created a painting of Barbie.

Barbie

Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration.
Barbie is the figurehead of a brand of Mattel dolls and accessories, including other family members and collectible dolls. Barbie has been an important part of the toy fashion doll market for fifty years, and has been the subject of numerous controversies and lawsuits, often involving parody of the doll and her lifestyle.