The Barbie Collectible
The Barbie collectible market is taken seriously by vintage doll collectors. The rising popularity of the collectible Barbie means that vintage Barbie dolls are becoming harder to find and in turn this has had a dramatic impact on the rising value of the Barbie collectible market.
Barbie dolls first came on to the market in 1959, and as every little girl knows, they are still popular to day. Barbies made between 1959 and 1972 are considered vintage Barbies and therefore they are considered to be the most prized Barbie collectible. It goes without saying that vintage barbies, like any Barbie collectible, are more valuable when they are in good condition. Serious vintage Barbie collectors will pay a premium for the original dolls that still have their original packaging.
Collecting Barbies is a fascinating hobby and, for the astute collector, great finds can be made in yard sales and charity shops once you know what to look for. The average person has no idea what a early Barbie collectible looks like, or their true value; and so serious collectors will have their magnifying glass at the ready to read the date of manufacture printed on the back of the Barbie doll.
As previously mentioned, the condition of the Barbie collectible is very important. Amateur attempts at restoration will devalue a vintage Barbie doll and so it is best to leave any faded or slightly damaged dolls in the condition they are found. Some of the rare and early Barbie collectibles were made from a plastic which had a tendency to turn white as the Barbie doll aged. It is important that the Barbie collector not try and restore the color. In fact, to some vintage Barbie collectors, the fading of the Barbie doll is a good indication of it’s vintage.
Occasionally you may find a vintage Barbie collectible with tell tale green ears. This is a sign of corrosion due to metal fatigue in the dolls earrings. Unfortunately this significantly devalues the price of the doll. Other fragile areas of concern for the serious Barbie collector are brittle limbs. So take care when sourcing your vintage doll and pay particular attention to the arms and legs.
The face of the Barbie collectible is of great importance, and although the paint on true vintage barbies will have faded, the brighter the color on small features like the eyes and nose of the dolls, the greater the value to the true collector. Dolls which have been kept in toy boxes or cupboards will have less fading and these dolls are also likely to be in better condition.
Once you have sourced your Barbie collectible, the best advice is to keep it in an air tight container if possible, and keep in the dark. Although some collectors like to keep their dolls on display, daylight contains damaging ultra violet radiation, and so a dark cupboard is best for storage.