by Bella A. Bowman

Created on: October 05, 2008   Last Updated: December 22, 2011

Going to the toy store would not be complete without taking a stroll through the little girls' section. The best view of the pink and purple shrine down the aisle would be the multiple rows of Barbie dolls. The Veterinarian. The Mother. The Babysitter. The Big Sister. The Malibu Barbie. Each doll has a significance to its value, whether it be the first doll from 1959 or a Millennium starlight made out of today's plastic. In Barbie's world, everything is virtually perfect. Barbie is able to change from one career to another, drive a fancy car, live in a dream house, has the perfect boyfriend, and is the envy of many girls and women. If Barbie holds a special place in your heart, taking an interest in collecting them would probably be a smart thing to do.

It is estimated that there are over 100,000 avid Barbie collectors in America alone. Approximately 90% of them are women and over the age of forty. 45% of them have spent at least $1,000 on Barbie dolls per year. The older the doll, the more valuable it is. The original doll was actually sold for only $3.00 and the most expensive was $17,000! There are also collector's edition dolls, ranging through the colors of pink, silver, gold, and platinum. A range of different ethnic identities is also the most popular choice of preference among general collections. Mattel will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2009 and they intend to re-create a new version of the original Barbie doll from 1959. Barbie was an original person; a human being. Her name was Barbara Handler and her parents were Ruth and Elliot. Her mother is the one that created the first Barbie doll, an inspiration from her daughter after watching her play with "adult figured dolls" as a child. The Ken doll was named after Ruth's son. The Barbie doll was intended to be a teenage fashion doll but a controversy over its anatomical figure sparked; if it were a real person, the measurements would be impossible. Adjustments were made to satisfy customers. Barbie first had bendable legs in the year of 1965.

When collecting Barbie dolls, it is important to determine its value. If you have a collectible doll that has never been removed from its box, the values will be ranked at a much higher cost. A collectible doll that has been altered or restored may enhance its attractiveness, however, it will be of less value. The date on the doll's abdomen area is not the date it was made; it is the date the mold was created. Being a collector can bring you a wide array of optical enjoyment to the eye, lots of money, and a positive egoism.

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