Barbie: The First Decade

Doll collecting has become one of the most popular hobbies in the United States. The type of doll collected varies anywhere from the costly antique to the newest dolls you can purchase at Wal-Mart and other retail stores.

The Barbie doll collector has become one of the most rapidly growing group of doll collectors. Barbie dolls have also been the most widely publicized doll that has ever been created. If you are a new Barbie doll collector, you need to be cautious about Barbie dolls you find at yard sales and/or flea markets. If the price is inexpensive and you are not sure what you are getting, go ahead and buy them. You can always resell the Barbie dolls if you didn't purchase what you really wanted. If the Barbie dolls are unusually expensive, use caution before making the purchase. Many times, children would swap the doll heads and bodies when playing. Sometimes it will be easy to spot, for example, a Barbie head on a Francie or Skipper body. Other changes can be harder to detect that only an expert can differentiate. Before you pay a big price for the Barbie doll in question, be sure of what you are buying.

In 1959, the Barbie doll era began. The Barbie doll reached toy shelves as a shapely, long limbed, 11 ½-inch tall play doll. Although Barbie had a slow start catching on, the doll, that retailed for $2.95 in 1959, is now the most successful and famous doll in history.

Barbie was originally created and marketed as a play doll for children but has quickly become a favorite of adult toy collectors worldwide. The Barbie doll, along with Ken, Midge, Skipper and other friends have made Mattel, Inc. the largest toy company in the world.

The Barbie doll was named after Ruth and Elliott Handler's daughter. Elliot Handler and his friend, Harold Matson, were the founders of Mattel - MATT for Matson and EL for Elliott. Barbie made her first appearance at the 1959 New York Toy Show. At that time, toy buyers were mostly male and they were more impressed with the new "boy toys" over Barbie. Even with the slow beginning for the Barbie doll, by 1960 the popularity of the doll was well established and it took several years for Mattel to catch up with the demand.

In 1960, Barbie's boyfriend for many years to come was created - Ken. This doll was named after the Handler's son. Over the years many more dolls have been created along with clothes, accessories, houses, trunks, cars, boats, shops, etc. From September 1960 - July 1972, Barbie had her own magazine. The Barbie Fan Club was at one time the second largest girls' organization in the United States.

The first Barbie doll was designed and tested during 1957 and 1958 by the products designers at Mattel. The doll was patented in 1958. Barbie doll, released in 1959, had a movable head, arms and legs and was dressed in a black and white striped swimsuit, high-heeled shoes, gold hoop earrings and sunglasses. She had rooted hair styled in a ponytail with curly bangs in either blonde or brunette. Her makeup included bright red lips, painted eyebrows, heavy eyeliner, and bright red nails. Barbie's eyes had white irises with a slightly Oriental appearance. The #1 Barbie was the only Barbie doll to have had metal cylinders in both legs with openings in the feet. The openings in the feet fit down on a pedestal stand with two prongs. Mattel found that the metal cylinders were costly and an unnecessary part of the Barbie doll. The first stand was not found to be completely satisfactory; therefore, the second Barbie and stand were produced. The dolls were the same with the exception of no metal cylinders in the legs and feet and some of the dolls had pearl earrings instead of gold hoops. Most of the original Barbie dolls are now a pale ivory color. Some are even a sickly white color. But regardless of color, these dolls are rare and bring anywhere from $10,000 - $25,000 on the secondary market.

During the early part of 1960, the third type of Barbie was introduced. This Barbie doll had blue irises and curved eyebrows. You may even find a few of these dolls with brown eyeliner instead of the traditional blue. Later in 1960, a different type of vinyl plastic was used and these dolls have retained their original tan-toned color over the years.

In 1961, a new type of body was made for Barbie. Her new torso was made of hard plastic and was hollow on the inside. Most of the dolls still sported the ponytail and curly bangs hairdo, but a few were made with the new bubble cut hairstyle. Both hairstyles came in assorted colors.

In 1962, Barbie's outfit changed to a red jersey swimsuit, high-heeled shoes and pearl earrings on a black, wire stand. Nail and lip colors varied from pale pink to bright red.

The "Fashion Queen" Barbie doll made its debut in 1963. She had a molded head with a blue band and three wigs on a wig stand. Young girls had their choice of putting either a blonde bubble, brunette pageboy, or titian side part flip on their new doll. The sophisticated "Fashion Queen" Barbie sported a one-piece gold and white striped swimsuit, beach bandana, pearl earrings, and high-heeled shoes.

Barbie's ponytail hairdo was revamped in 1964. The new "Swirl Ponytail", as referred to by collectors, replaced the curly bangs. The hair was now brushed from the left side of the forehead, across to the right side, then back to the rear. In addition to the new ponytail Barbie doll, the regular ponytail and the bubble cut were still available, as well as the "Fashion Queen" doll.

Also in 1964 the "Miss Barbie" doll was introduced. This doll was a very innovative doll for Mattel at that time. "Miss Barbie" was the first doll with lifelike, bendable knees and the only doll with open and close eyes. The "Miss Barbie" doll had a molded head and three wigs on a wig stand. The wigs came in three different styles in shades of blonde, brunette and titian. She came dressed in a one-piece pink swimsuit, matching cap and high-heeled shoes. Also included were a lawn swing, planter, and a new gold wire stand.

In 1965, Barbie was updated yet again sporting a new American Girl style and bendable legs. Also available, although very rare, was this new style Barbie with a bubble cut and a medium long, side part flip. Barbie's new one-piece suit had a multi-colored striped top with a solid blue bottom.

Barbie "Color Magic", whose hair and costume colors could be changed, was introduced in 1966. This new Barbie doll had lifelike bendable legs and long, straight, specially treated, rooted hair in two colors - Golden Blonde or Midnight. When you applied the color changer solution, Golden Blonde changed to Scarlet Flame and Midnight changed to Ruby Red. Little girls could play all day changing colors back and forth, over and over. The doll came sporting a bright, one-piece, diamond patterns swimsuit with matching headband in blue, yellow, green and fluorescent red. This doll did not have a posing stand. The design of the box for "Color Magic" Barbie was also unique as it converted into a clothes closet.

Barbie's "facelift" appeared in 1967 with the introduction of the "Twist 'N Turn" Barbie. To keep up with the trends of the late 1960's Mattel felt it necessary to change Barbie to reflect a modern appearance. The new "Twist 'N Turn" waist was a major technological change and the Barbie doll was more poseable than ever before. In May of that year, Mattel had a Trade-In Program to introduce the new doll. Old Barbie dolls could be traded in, plus $1.50, and you could get the new doll. There were an estimated 1,250,000 dolls traded during the month of May alone! The old dolls were donated to charity. The new "Twist 'N Turn" Barbie had long, straight hair with bangs in four colors - Chocolate Bon Bon, Summer Sand, Go Go Co-Co and Sun Kissed. She also had rooted eyelashes, pink skin and bendable knees. She was dressed in a salmon, vinyl bikini with a white net cover.

The year 1968 brought the new "Talking Barbie", which was available in English and Spanish. "Talking Barbie" wore a rose knit over rose shorts. Her long hair, which came in four colors, was done in a right-sided ponytail. These dolls also had the newly shaped hands, which collectors refer to as "Mexico hands". Previously Barbie dolls had been made in Japan where "Talking Barbie" was made in Mexico. Her new hands had long, slender, individual fingers.

The movie "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" was the inspiration for the 1969 "Truly Scrumptious" Barbie doll. She came in a talking version that had bendable legs. She was also available in a standard leg version. This Barbie doll wore an old-fashioned dress with a fancy hat. The dress, depending on which doll you had, was made of either pink and rose satin with black net or pale pink net over pale pink taffeta. The "Twist 'N Turn" dolls sported new hairstyles and swimsuits in 1969 as well.

Today you will find on the secondary market that the dolls from 1959 - 1969 demand the highest dollar amounts. The 1970s, especially the latter part, Barbie dolls were made of cheaper quality and doll values are significantly lower. The first decade of the Barbie doll is by far the most remarkable. For collectors who have added these "vintage" gals to their collections, they will have treasures to bestow for a lifetime.