| Barbie Doll Collection – Guidelines | | | | Houseful of Dolls |
| Here I wish to give an explicit list of instructions to | | | | It didn’t take much time to find plenty of Barbie |
| collect Barbie dolls and a note on changing trends. | | | | Dolls within our collection. We, three little sisters |
| 1. Look for no damage: Check the Barbie Doll you | | | | collected dolls with every outfit and possible haircut. |
| collect thoroughly, for any breaks or scratches since | | | | Our room used to be filled with sunglasses, earrings |
| the defected dolls are less valued. | | | | and plastic mules. Headless bodies of dolls in the |
| 2. NRFB dolls are worthy: The Barbie Doll in | | | | garden and floating heads in the toilets had become |
| ‘never removed from the box’ condition is | | | | common as the collection amassed. |
| more valuable than the one removed from pack. | | | | We would have made much fortune if such large |
| 3. Insist on original: A restored or an altered Barbie | | | | collection of 1960s was well taken care of. |
| may be appealing but it is no good for collector, in | | | | Barbie’s Allies in 1960s |
| terms of value. | | | | Barbie used to have apparently less number of |
| 4. Time of the make: The date you usually find on | | | | friends, clothes, careers or vehicles in 60s. Assorted |
| the abdomen of a doll is the designed date of mold | | | | things and friends of Barbie was a big fascination for |
| but not the date it was made. | | | | most girls. |
| 5. Distinct ones get more: The rarity of Barbie Dolls | | | | Ken Carson, Barbie’s beau who was another |
| always counts. Dolls which are produced less than | | | | important doll of my collection but I took less care to |
| 35,000 as Limited editions are valued more than the | | | | dress him up since he wore very casual clothes all the |
| Collector editions that are released more than 35,000 | | | | time including formal occasions accompanying Barbie. |
| in number. | | | | Midge, the red haired friend of Barbie came later. |
| 6. Attire: Doll with original getup and accessories are | | | | However, Mattel was smart enough to design |
| worthier than the Barbie Doll’s outfit when it is | | | | Midge’s clothes so specially that Barbie’s |
| sold. | | | | clothes never fit the blonde. |
| 7. Update with latest price list: Buy a book that gives | | | | Barbie got a sister called Skipper and we had one |
| existing values for Barbie Doll. Assess your collectible | | | | Skipper doll at least. |
| Doll’s value by finding the same doll in list and an | | | | Time for Multicultural Barbies |
| average of prices shown in such lists tells you the | | | | I was told about Caucasian dolls by couple of my |
| actual value. | | | | African-American friends of our group while talking |
| 8. Compare: Doll-shows at your place, auctions, local | | | | about toys and dolls we had. Including Mattel, the |
| stores and online shops help you to compare the doll | | | | maker of Barbie couldn’t catch up the trend in |
| you are looking for with that of others. | | | | time. |
| 9. How you evaluate is important: A Barbie Doll finds | | | | Old is Gold |
| place in your collection only when it attracts you. In | | | | If I were to buy, I would prefer to go for number of |
| that way, your emotional attachment with that doll | | | | Barbies that look so chic and distinguished made in |
| outdoes the market value and it becomes so | | | | the years between 1959 and 1965. |
| precious for you! | | | | As far as ‘the best collection’ of Barbie is |
| 10. That’s like a good doll: Good dolls never look | | | | concerned I recommend to spend on originals and |
| weird as dumb or too trendy. You can pay more for | | | | first of the series and avoid indifferent qualities of |
| collector picks and classics. | | | | latest ones. |
| First is The Best | | | | Gift a lookalike Barbie |
| I received my first Barbie Doll on my fifth birthday in | | | | Barbie is a perfect gift when you present it dressed |
| 1960. Like any other girl, I love the first doll of the | | | | in a similar way of little girl whose birthday or other |
| collection. At that time Barbie was just one year or | | | | occasion is on. Then the girl likes to keep her Barbie |
| so and her first design was with strapless black and | | | | clean, new and carefully dressed as she does for |
| white zebra lines swimsuit and brown colored short | | | | herself. |
| hair. | | | | |