With the discharge this weekend of the brand new “Barbie” film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, there’s rising consideration being paid to the world of Barbie collectibles. As within the a whole lot of dolls which were launched through the years, to say nothing of such equipment as Barbie outfits and furnishings.
But there’s one collectible above all — the holy grail of Barbies, if you’ll. We’re referring to Barbie No. 1, the primary doll ever launched by Mattel to bear the Barbie title, courting from 1959.
Barbie fanatics converse of it in reverent phrases. “I lost sleep over this doll,” one collector mentioned in a YouTube
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video that documented the arrival and unboxing of a Barbie No. 1.
Needless to say, collectors can pay a reasonably penny for a Barbie No. 1. Prices can simply attain $10,000-plus, in keeping with Barbie consultants. The unique doll bought for about $3, however there’s a Barbie No. 1 doll on eBay
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at the moment going for $25,000.
But earlier than you plunk down 5 figures for an investment-grade doll, we figured you would possibly wish to know just a little extra about this one-of-a-kind Barbie. Here goes:
What makes the ‘Holy Grail’ Barbie so particular?
Obviously, it’s all about being the primary of its variety, not in contrast to a baseball participant’s rookie card (the 1952 Mickey Mantle card is usually thought-about the holy grail of sports activities collectibles, although that may promote for hundreds of thousands of {dollars}). It’s additionally about rarity. Experts say round 300,000 to 350,000 of these debut Barbies had been bought in 1959, however the variety of Barbie No. 1s that survived all through the years — dolls are bought as toys, in any case, not essentially collectibles — is significantly much less.
(Mattel
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reportedly now releases about 60 million Barbies yearly, however the firm didn’t reply to a MarketWatch request for remark and data.)
There’s additionally one thing to be mentioned for No. 1’s distinct look, marked by what veteran Barbie appraiser Dr. Lori Verderame describes as its “deep profile” with a protruding nostril and excessive brow. It’s a design very a lot impressed by the German-made Bild Lilli dolls that intrigued Barbie creator Ruth Handler.
Are there any actually uncommon examples of the unique Barbie?
Red-headed Barbie No. 1s are recognized to exist. Marl Davidson, a Barbie seller based mostly in Bradenton, Fla., says she as soon as bought one for $50,000, and maybe the holiest of holy grails is a salesman’s Barbie pattern case courting from the doll’s early years. Davidson says she believes solely two or three are round. And one surfaced? “It could go for $1 million,” she says.
And what makes some Barbie No. 1s extra priceless than others?
As with nearly any collectible class, it’s all about situation. Barbie consumers are in search of a No. 1 that’s as near mint situation as potential, with all the unique gadgets — particularly, the field, black stand, sun shades, footwear, brochure and zebra-striped swimsuit. (There are additionally outfits and equipment courting from Barbie’s early years, however these had been bought individually; Verderame says a preferred outfit from this era can promote for $150 to $200.)
Ironically, if the Barbie has stayed within the unique field, it could have an effect on the situation — Verderame explains that the packaging is acidic so it may “damage the piece over time,” however she says collectors nonetheless “want it in the box.”
Then, there’s the hair coloration. The unique Barbie got here in each blonde and brunette variations. Verderame says the blondes are typically extra wanted since that’s what most individuals consider because the Barbie traditional. But Davidson says brunettes can even have worth since there have been fewer fabricated from them. Then once more, she says, the collectors “who can afford it will have one of everything.”
How are you able to inform if a first-edition 1959 Barbie is a faux?
There are numerous parts that can signify an unique Barbie — most notably, a marking on the doll’s, um, proper buttock (this additionally applies to later Barbies, although). Also search for holes within the ft and what the Doll Reference website describes as “tight curly bangs,” amongst different identifiers. It’s price holding in thoughts that you just would possibly discover an unique No. 1 doll, however with different elements that aren’t unique — say, a substitute stand.
What’s the present marketplace for the unique Barbie?
It’s hovering due to the film, Verderame says. She notes that Barbie No. 1s that went for $10,000 as lately as three months in the past are actually promoting within the $15,000-$25,000 vary. Verderame anticipates the market will cool off after the fervor for the Warner Bros.
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movie dies down. But Davidson stays bullish on Barbie’s longer-term prospects due to the doll’s iconic attraction: “The price can only go up,” she says.
Are there any reasonably priced alternate options to a first-edition Barbie?
Davidson says collectors may also take into account Barbie No. 3 as a collectible. It’s a really early mannequin, nevertheless it has a much more approachable value — Davidson says collectors can discover one between $1,000 and $3,000.
If you need one thing far more reasonably priced that also has potential to understand, Verderame says to think about iconic Barbies from the Nineties and 2000s which can be at the moment promoting for between $50 and $150.
But when you insist on a Barbie No. 1, Davidson says you may at all times purchase one in lesser situation for a lesser value. Still, even a bald Barbie No. 1 received’t come low-cost, she warns. “It’s going to go for a couple of grand,” she says.
Source web site: www.marketwatch.com
