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Characteristics of a Collectible Barbie Doll

Collectible Barbie dolls encompass a variety of vintage, rare and exclusive edition dolls. The term collectible Barbie came into vogue in the late 1980s, when Mattel introduced its first limited edition Holiday Barbie. Of course, one could argue that all Barbies manufactured since 1959 are collectible, and technically that̵7;s true. The collector̵7;s Barbies produced since 1988 include one-of-a-kind dolls, such as limited edition, celebrity, and online exclusives.

Inspired by Pop Culture
- Modern collectible Barbies are often inspired by TV, movie, comic book and singing stars of yesterday and today. Black Label Collection Barbies, produced in amounts of 35,000 or less, feature character dolls for adult collectors. Examples: the Black Canary superheroine from DC Comics or the "Laugh-In" Goldie Hawn Barbie. Vintage collectible Barbies were also based on pop culture stars. In 1968, Mattel sold the ̶0;Julia̶1; doll, based on the Diahann Carroll character from the TV show of the same name.
Ethnic and World Dolls
- Hundreds of different Barbie dolls representing the culture and costumes from countries around the world have been offered for sale since 1980. Some dolls display costumes of a particular era (The Gibson Girl or Chinese Empress Barbie), while others display traditional costumes of their country, like Dutch Barbie and her wooden shoes.
Vintage Reproductions
- Recreations of popular Barbie dolls from the past are produced in limited quanties. Repros include copies of the first Ken doll and the 1970 Wild Bunch Francie in a bright fake fur coat.
Excellent or Mint Condition Vintage Dolls
- These dolls are original Barbies manufactured before 1972. Their value increases if they include original accessories and clothes, or if they are still in their original packaging. A talking PJ or Twist and Turn Stacy from the late 1960s, and early ̵6;60s Madge and Skipper dolls are examples.
Online Exclusives
- These collectible Barbies are only available through the official Barbie websites for limited time. They wear original costumes. The Lounge Kitty in a leopard print catsuit is one example.
Limited Collector Edition
- Collector Edition Barbies are officially designated as limited edition dolls for display and collecting. The NASCAR 50th Anniversary Barbie, clad in a racing uniform and helmet, is an example of a Collector Edition Barbie. This doll was first available in 1998 until it sold out. Collector Edition Barbies come with a Certificate of Authenticity. Every new Collector̵7;s Edition Barbie since 2000 has been produced in quantities of 35,000 or more.

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