Rare Barbie Dolls to Keep an Eye On

When Ruth Handler introduced the Barbie doll in 1959, it was an instant success. So much so that the manufacturer, toy company Mattel, couldn’t produce enough dolls to meet demand.

The very first Barbie wore a black and white swimsuit, had a high ponytail with short bangs, and was available as either a blonde or a brunette. Since then, Barbie has taken on countless looks, and her family has expanded to include friends, siblings, children, and partners.
In 2023, the Barbie movie came out, and in March this year, she celebrated her 65th anniversary. However, beyond the Barbie craze, collectors are always looking for unique editions.

© Stockholms Auktionsverk

“Early dolls can fetch high prices if they are in excellent condition. But collectors seek those that are undamaged and still in their original packaging,” says Maria Björkman, a specialist at Stockholms Auktionsverk, who handled the auction "Congrats Barbie 65 years – Ulf Wahlberg Collection" last spring, featuring 360 items, including dolls and accessories.

First Barbie Doll with Blonde Pony Tail and Curly Bangs, 1961.

Vintage Barbies

In collector circles, Barbie dolls from between 1959 and 1972 are generally considered vintage. By the late 1970s, Mattel stopped naming the outfits, and production shifted from Japan to countries like South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

"An easy way to check if you have a vintage doll is to look at the clothes. Once Barbie began mass production, the clothing was labelled with numbers instead of names," explains Maria Björkman.

The craftsmanship behind early Barbie dolls also contributes to their desirability.

“Some of the old Barbie dolls were hand-painted, meaning someone painted the eyebrows, eyelashes, and mouth by hand. However, this process eventually became unsustainable.”

Rare Barbies

Below, Maria Björkman lists rare Barbies that are of interest to collectors.

Fashion Queen Barbie, 1963.

Fashion Queen (1963)

This was the first Barbie with "moulded hair", meaning her hair was painted on. She came with a set of three wigs – titian hair, blonde, and brunette – to change her hairstyle and match various outfits.

Ponytail Swirl, 1964-65.

Ponytail Swirl (1964–65)

The curly fringe has been replaced with a sleek, side-swept hairstyle. The hair comes in different shades, and Barbie is wearing a bright red swimsuit. Dolls in good condition are highly sought after by collectors. It is especially important to ensure that the ponytail is intact. It could be removed, which would leave the doll completely bald in the middle of her head.

Barbie Color Magic, 1966.

Barbie Color Magic (1966)

This Barbie stands out because you could dye her hair. The set came with a small hair salon kit, including a hairdryer, curlers, combs, liquids, and a bowl for mixing the dye. She wore a multicoloured swimsuit and had either golden blonde hair that could be dyed scarlet flame, or midnight hair that could be dyed ruby red. Due to her rarity, she tends to fetch high prices at auction.

Miss Barbie (1964)

Mattel introduced its first Barbie with open and close "sleep eyes”. However, she wasn't a hit, as many found her eyes creepy. Today, due to the limited production, she can be of interest to collectors.

Barbies with rare hair colours

In general, Barbies with unusual hair colours are popular among collectors. The early Barbies mostly had blonde hair, but if you own a brownette – another shade of brunette, which is roughly a blend of blonde and brunette – "Bubble Cut Barbie" (produced between 1961 and 1967), it's now more valuable. Similarly, early dolls with the even rarer "Titian" redhead colour are highly sought after.

Barbie Doll with Titian hair.

Look for Unusual Variations in Older Barbies It’s the rare variations of Barbie dolls that truly excite collectors.

“Take Barbie’s younger sister, Skipper, for example. She generally doesn’t command high prices, but if she has a rare feature, such as blonde hair with highlights, she stands out and becomes more desirable among collectors.”

Well-preserved accessories are also worth noting.

“Barbie ‘Busy Gal’ was introduced in 1960 as a working Barbie. The package included a small briefcase with miniature drawings. If these tiny drawings are still intact, the doll becomes more valuable, as such small items often go missing when played with,” says Maria Björkman, adding:

"Which Barbies do well at auction is a whole science. But always look out for unique variations.” 

Valuable Barbie Clothing

Early Barbie collections show that designs from major fashion houses inspired both clothing and accessories.

“The first outfits were of such high quality that they’re astonishing. They were handmade and used real materials such as cotton, silk, and organza. Barbie ‘Enchanted Evening’ from 1960 even came with real mink fur! It must have been expensive to produce.”

Among collectors, Barbie outfits made in smaller quantities are especially prized.

“For example, American department stores Sears and JCPenney had their own Barbie collections, and there are collectors who only focus on special lines from those stores. However, some clothing was produced in large quantities, which naturally affects the price.” 

Three Iconic Barbie Looks

Three iconic outfits were only released in 1959 and never reissued. These outfits have become particularly difficult to find and are therefore highly sought after on the secondary market.

Roman Holiday, 1959.

Roman Holiday (1959)

The inspiration is taken from Audrey Hepburn’s character in the 1953 film Roman Holiday. The look consists of a red and white striped knit coat with a red half-lining, a matching dress in red, a white bodice, a navy skirt, a white plastic belt, a red straw half-hat, a white plastic clutch purse, black-rimmed eyeglasses, a clear and white plastic eyeglass case, a white handkerchief, a white comb, white short tricot gloves, a pearl-on-chain necklace, and black open-toe heels.

Gay Parisienne, 1959.

Gay Parisienne (1959)

This outfit includes a glamorous 1950s bubble dress, which comes with a veiled tiara, a clutch, a pair of gloves, black open-toe heels, a pearl necklace, a fur stole, and pearl earrings.

Easter Parade, 1959. Sold for 821 GBP.

Easter Parade (1959)

In this elegant look, Barbie wears a black faille coat with a yoke back, a stand-up collar, two unlined patch pockets with bow accents, an apple print sheath dress, a black shiny plastic clutch purse, white short tricot gloves, a black silk headband with a bow, a white pearl necklace, white pearl earrings, and black open-toe heels.