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How to Tell What Year Your Barbie Is?

Barbie Dolls, made by Mattel, have been become collector's items for doll enthusiasts around the world. The older the Barbie, the more valuable she is. The earliest Barbie Doll was introduced at a New York City toy show in 1959. She was portrayed as a closed-mouth and straight armed lady, as opposed to the more modern Barbie that shows her pearly whites with bent elbows. There are ways you can find out the exact year your Barbie Doll was manufactured. Depending upon which research method you choose, you may have to pay a fee.

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the clothing from the Barbie Doll. Look on the back of the doll. The date the Barbie Doll was manufactured will appear on the back of her neck, her back, or on her rear-end.
  Note that if the date says 1966, it does not necessarily mean that the doll was manufactured in 1966. Mattel stamped 1966 on the torso for some of the dolls to indicate the year her torso became copyrighted. If you have a 1966 stamped Barbie, be sure to look on the back of her neck or rear-end for the actual year she was made.
- 2
  Look up your Barbie Doll in a book that identifies all of the Barbies that have been made and the values of the dolls. An example of some books you can purchase are "Encyclopedia of Barbie Doll Exclusives & More: Identification & Values," "Collectors Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls," and "Barbie The First 30 Years: Identification & Value Guide 1959-1989."
- 3
  Take your Barbie Doll to a doll appraiser. You can find a appraiser at doll shows as well as doll shops or antique shops in your area. Generally, you will have to pay a fee for a doll appraisal. The fee will vary by appraiser.
- 4
  Visit websites, such as eBay, Fashion Doll Guide, and Barbie Collector. Browse through the Barbie Dolls that are pictured on the websites. When you find a Barbie Doll that looks like your doll, read the online product description to see the year the doll was made and compare that one to your doll.

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