Noor, we’re not talking about the old Barbie companion of many adventures to which, in our radiant childhood, we ventured as a make-up artist and hairdresser by “tipping” the hair and making up the face with felt-tip pens. Why one Vintage barbies to be considered a treasure must be in excellent condition. Only in this case can it be the object of desire of collectors and become worthwhile thousands of euros.
How much is a vintage Barbie worth? Even thousands of euros
Pink fever has broken out: with the highly anticipated film about Barbie out in theaters (starting tomorrow, July 20), everyone buys Mattel dolls. To the point that Catawiki makes incredible figures notes that collectors are willing to pay for some specific models of the timeless American doll. Auctions of Barbie have grown and the average value for each doll has increased by more than 20%. Among other things, Italians are at the top of the ranking (no less than 30% of buyers).
The rarest models are worth staggering sums
Some models have seen their value skyrocket. A American Girl Barbie from the 1960s fetched €2,000, a rare 1998 Fabergé Barbie sold for €1,510 and a vintage Francie from 1967 – Barbie’s cousin and historic model – exceeded €1,000. Some ultra-rare models can reach even six figures, such as the most expensive Barbie ever sold in the world, designed by Australian jewelery designer Stefano Canturi, which in 2010 was donated to charity for almost 300,000 euros.
Everyone in the attic looking for dolls in good condition
“It’s the perfect time to venture into your attic and find out if there is a hidden treasure waiting to be unearthed” assures the Catawiki toy expert, Barbara Bieshaar. Which reveals the Barbies with the most potential: those that could most increase their value among collectors. Here are his 5 tips.
How to recognize a valuable vintage Barbie
1 – Age matters
As a general rule, the older the Barbie, the higher its value. An early Barbie from 1959 in excellent condition is estimated by the expert at around 10,000 euros. Well-preserved originals from the 1960s and 1970s sell for threes and fours.
Typical features of this first Barbie of the time are the holes on the bottom of the feet and a paper tag on the wrist.
Even the whiter shade can be a valuable indicator, as the material of early dolls did not retain color well. On the back of Barbie there is also the inscription “Made in Japan”, the main country in which it was produced between 1959 and 1972.
How to find out the age and model of your Barbie? Just look on the neck: the older ones are stamped with a five-digit product number. For the others, you can consult online databases such as “Fashion-doll-guide” or “Vintagebabs”.
A Barbie auctioned by Christie’s in 2006 in London. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
2 – But it must be in perfect condition
The conditions of a Barbie are a key factor in determining its price. This also applies to the packaging: the value of the toy is at its highest when the box is closedi.e. it has never been opened.
Original Barbies in sealed packaging reach the highest sums. As well as ensuring that Barbie has never been used, this way collectors can rest assured that the accessories originally included are all still there.
3 – Hair, earrings, knees. The details that reduce the value
In the well-preserved Barbies, the Polish it is intact and the knees make the characteristic clicking sound, which increases its value. Some clues make it clear that the doll has been used a lot: hair cut and dull, damaged nail polish or self-made makeup with felt-tip pens obviously reduce their value.
Some details are really goodies for collectors. For example. In the 60s, Barbie she wore earrings that sometimes left a green tint. This mark is difficult to remove and therefore reduces the value of the dolls. Of course, damage such as scratches or peeling paint also decreases its value.
4- Tina Turner, Lagerfeld and the Queen: the special editions are at the top
The special editions with unusual designs, the collaborations with celebrities or dolls commemorating special events (see the Queen’s Jubilee) tend to have a higher value. But even previously snubbed editions can be highly desired, given the new interest in pop culture. For example? The rock star Barbies of the 80s.
A current collection that is already attracting the interest of collectors is that of the Barbie “Día De Los Muertos”: released in 2019 and named after one of the most important Mexican holidays, they stand out for their imaginative face painting.
5- Collaborations with fashion houses
Barbie has already been dressed by over 70 designers, from Dior to Armani, from Versace to Oscar de la Renta. These collaborations can reach higher sums. For example, a Karl Lagerfeld Barbie has found a new home on Catawiki for 1,500 euros.
Celebratory collections for the release of the film
To celebrate the release of the new film, Catawiki has launched 3 collections dedicated to the fashion doll (from 19 to 30 July): Collectables inspired by Barbie, Barbie’s Dreamhouse and Barbie’s Dream Wardrobe.
iO Woman © REPRODUCTION RESERVED