Barbie Dolls : Barbie Doll ID (III)

1972 Walk Lively Miss America

Barbie dolls with brunette medium length hair with end curls, made from the Steffie head mold, walking construction, rooted eyelashes, evening dress of gold lame bodice with white nylon skirt, silver lace crown, red cape with ermine trim, Miss America sash, shoes, bouquet.

There was another variation of Miss America in 1973 which was a bendable leg twist waist doll, brunette quick curl hair, same outfit as 1972 Miss America. This Barbie doll was produced in 1974 with blonde quick curl hair also. Made in Taiwan

1973 Malibu Christie

1973 Made in Taiwan

1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 Made in Korea, some in Philippines

Long straight black hair parted in center, painted eyelashes, brown eyes, twist waist, bendable knees, one piece swimsuit in red or yellow.

1974 Sweet 16 Barbie

1974, 1975, blonde shag hairdo, twist waist, bendable legs, painted eyelashes, long pink & white pin dotted dress, shoes, accessories. Made in Taiwan

1975 Free Moving PJ

Long blonde hair parted in center & tied into pigtails with green ribbons, brown eyes, painted eyelashes, tab in back torso to allow free moving, bendable legs, one piece white & green playsuit with long green print skirt, tennis shoes, sporting equipment. Made in Taiwan

Anyone wishing more detailed information on a particular doll should refer to the following books available in most book stores: Barbie Dolls and Collectibles, By Sibyl Dewein and Joan Ashabraner or The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book, by Marcie Melillo.

For more information about Barbie dolls Identification you can find in www.dolls4play.com

Barbie doll : Barbie dolls ID (II)

Another Barbie dolls Identification:

1963 Fashion Queen Barbie

Molded painted head, blue cellophane band on head, 3 wigs on wig stand, one piece gold and white striped swimsuit and head scarf.

Includes Midge 1962/Barbie 1958 markings on hip of lower back

1963 Midge

Blonde, Brunette or Red flip with bangs hairdo.

1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, straight legs, freckles, two piece swimsuit color coordinated depending on hair color.

Midge 1962/Barbie 1958 markings on hip of lower back.

1965 Barbie(American Girl)

Brunette, Blonde, or Redhead

1965, 1966, 1967 all similar with variations in hair colors, hair length, & lips colors, one piece multicolor striped top and solid teal bottom. 1958 Mattel, Inc. US Patented US Pat Pend, later issues Made in Japan.

1966 Francie Straight leg

1966, 1967, 1968, Blonde or brunette long straight hair with bangs, painted eyelashes, brown eyes, straight legs, 2 piece red & white swimsuit. Made in Japan

1967 Twiggy

1967, 1968 blonde short hair, rooted eyelashes, heavy painted lower lashes and makeup, rooted upper eyelashes, blue eyes, twist waist, bendable legs, yellow striped mini dress, boots. Made in Japan

1968 Twist Stacey

Blonde or Redhead long straight hair tied back into tail with red ribbon, spitcurls at ears and forehead, rooted eyelashes, blue eyes, molded teeth, bendable legs, twist waist, red one piece swimsuit. Made in Japan

1969 Talking Julia

Straight short dark brown hair, rooted eyelashes, brown eyes, bendable knees, pull string in back torso for talker, gold & silver jumpsuit. Made in Mexico

Resources : Barbie & Friend ID guide by Denise Davidson (www.dolls4play.com)

Barbie doll : Barbie dolls ID (I)

This Barbie doll identification guide is intended to be used as a QUICK REFERENCE guide only. It includes a sampling of the many Barbie dolls and family made by Mattel before 1976. The photographs include close up head shots, so you may identify your Barbie doll is and approximately what year she was manufactured.

In most cases, the Barbie doll name, hair colors, eye color, original outfit and country of manufacture are given. This is not include all of the markings available on each Barbie doll, since the year on the back of the doll is the date of patent/copyright registration, NOT the year of manufacture. This is the most confusing issue to anyone trying to identify the year their Barbie doll was made. The following is a list of countries in which dolls were typically manufactured for those years:

* 1959 - 1972 ..Japan

* 1968 - 1970, 1989 - 1990 ..Mexico

* 1970 - 1987 ..Hong Kong

* 1970 - 1987 .. Taiwan

* 1973 - 1978 ..Korea

* 1978 - 1988 ..Philippines

* 1986 to present ..China

* 1986 to present ..Malaysia

* 1992 to present ..Indonesia

Below the identification of some Barbie dolls:

1959 Barbie

Brunette or Blonde Ponytail

White Irises, Pointed eyebrows, Round holes in feet with metal cylinders for posing stand, red lips,black & white striped swimsuit, solid vinyl body, body often fades to white.

Includes Roman Numeral markings on hip of lower back Barbie doll.

1960 Barbie

Brunette or Blonde Ponytail

Blue irises, curved eyebrows, most have brown/rose eyeliner & some have blue eyeliner, red lips, black & white striped swimsuit, solid vinyl body, body often fades to white.

Includes Roman Numeral markings on hip of lower back barbie doll

Resources : Barbie & Friend ID guide by Denise Davidson (www.dolls4play.com)

How much is my Barbie dolls worth?

You can determine your Barbie dolls value by follow this guide

• Check the condition of your Barbie doll, note any damaged or defect because it’s will decrease their value.
• Find out their history, and related items or accessories like dollhouses, clothes, handbag, glasses etc.
• Mint in Box (MIB) or never removed from box (NRFB) sometimes has higher value, if your doll does not have the box their value can be deduct 50% at minimum.
• Get reference from many site such as book collection guide, local stores, internet
• You can also research doll values at doll shows, live auctions, and at web sites selling dolls

For the Barbie doll condition you also can use C grading system as follow C-1 for very poor Barbie dolls and C-10 for Barbie doll factory fresh, NRFB or MIB with all tags, accessories and original clothing, never played with and without flaws. Most doll collectors are looking for dolls in the C-8 to C-10 range. C-8 is for Barbie doll not mint, but very close--maybe handled a few times, dressed and undressed, but with original hairstyle, all-original fresh face-paint and original clothing, and no flaws!. Deduct value accordingly if your doll is C-7 (your Barbie doll still all-original, but has definitely been played with; not fresh and crisp) or below. This the few guide that you can use for determine the value of your Barbie dolls but sometimes your Barbie dolls collection can be had intangible value because of some reason. Even your Barbie doll don’t have market value, the sentimental worth could make it more valuable to you.

Barbie doll : Pink, Silver, Gold and Platinum Label

Barbie dolls collectibles have become an international phenomenon. They have been featured in various magazine, newsletter, club and convention for over four decade. Collecting Barbie dolls can be a lot of fun. Barbie doll has developed from a teenage fashion dolls into a trend-setter, fashion adventurer and become the most collectible doll in the world. For maintain their success and base on input from Barbie Collector Advisory Panel, dolls dealers and collector interaction on convention Barbie Collectibles has formally announced the new changes for collectible Barbie dolls. New packaging is on the way as well as as the limited philosophy for the Barbie dolls. And also Mattel has changed the description for Barbie collecting line from “Collectible” to “Collector” Barbie dolls. Another major change will be on the Barbie dolls from “Collector Edition” or “Limited Edition” become four tiered structure which will organize the collecting of the Barbie doll during the release process. This change makes good sense, and will help all collectors be on the "same page" when they purchase a doll. The Barbie Collectibles staff explain “our new label colors are our way of segmenting our collectible dolls and communicating to you where they might be found”

1. The Pink Label
The first tier is Pink. Pink Label Barbie dolls packaging is a box with a clear 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. And this can be make the Barbie considered not a special Barbie dolls because can be purchaced at Walmart or Target and does not make the ‘hunt’ for this Barbie dolls as difficult. These suitable for the beginner collector and gives them a chance to start Barbie dolls collecting. The Pink Label will includes Barbie dolls The Princess Collection, 2008 holiday Barbie dolls

2. The Silver Label
The Silver Label Barbie doll is limited to no more than 50,000 pieces created worldwide, and packaged in a silver-trimmed "reveal" package, known as a "new version of the "cake box package," which features a closed box with a beautiful doll photo or other artwork on the cover, ideal for NRFB collectors. The silver tier Barbie dolls includes the Queen of Hearth Barbie, Flintstone Wilma and Betty Barbie dolls

3. The Gold Label
Next, The Gold Label tier is limited to no more than 25,000 pieces created worldwide, so when collecting this dolls you know that there are very few out there and you definetly have something special. Gold Label Barbie dolls come in a "cake box" type package just like the Silver Label Barbie dolls, complete with the acetate layer to protect the dolls and the easel-style display packaging, and with the artistic interpretive photography or other artwork on the gold-trimmed packaging lid and back. Gold Label Barbie dolls includes Ferrari Barbie doll, Campus Sweethearth Barbie dolls. You can find Gold Label Barbie dolls at authorized Barbie doll dealers as well as at fine retailers.

4. The Platinum Label
The last tier is the very limited Platinum Label Barbie dolls. These dolls are produced in editions of less than 1,000 worldwide that why the price can be very expensive like example I love Lucy Ethel Mertz Santa Barbie Platinum label at amazon market the price until $1749, so you can imagine the value of Barbie dolls right now from the price $3 for the first Barbie doll now become more than $ 1000 for some of Platinum label Barbie dolls.

The transition from Collector and Limited editions to the new tier will transition slowly throughout 2004 and by 2005, all Barbie dolls will be classifed using the Pink Label, Silver Label, Gold Label, or Platinum Label designations.

How to collect Barbie dolls

Some idea for determine how to collect Barbie dolls

In recent years Mattel has sold a wide range of Barbie, you have a lot of choices for Barbie dolls but in the other side that can make you confuse to build a wonderful Barbie collection. Here are a few idea you can use for determining your Barbie collection.

1. Collecting Barbie doll by Themes

The first idea is to base your collection on a theme.

Popular theme for Barbie dolls includes

• Movie : Barbie and the Diamond Castle, Batman, James Bond
• Celebrity Barbie : Barbie as I Love Lucy
• Vintage Reproduction
• Historical
• Barbie Holiday
• Barbie Princess
• 
  

2. Collecting Barbie doll by Label

Pink label : Holiday Barbie Dolls 2008

Silver label : Super Girl Barbie Doll

Gold label : Campus Sweethearth Fashion Barbie Doll

Platinum label : I Love Lucy Ethel Mertz Santa

3. Collecting Barbie doll with or without box

Most collector who collect Barbie dolls collect boxed Barbies because a collectible doll that never been removed from it’s box (NRFB) is sometimes more value than a Barbie dolls that has. But you must consider also the display space you’ll save.

4. Collecting Barbie Fashion doll

Actually this is same as idea no 1 but now we only collecting the fashion theme Barbie Dolls. Fashion-themed dolls include dolls made to represent a designer or model like Christian Dior Barbie, Vera Wang, Nolan Miller Barbie, Kimora Lee Simmons.

5. Collecting Barbie by Hair model or color.

We can build our Barbie dolls collection based on something simple such as hair color or hair model. There are Blonde Barbie dolls, Brunnete Barbie dolls, Ponytail Barbie dolls.

These idea only the small idea of possibilities for Barbie dolls collecting. Maybe you have your own a unique way that you collect Barbie dolls.