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