Dear Do-It Man: I noticed a story in the Deseret News about a Barbie Doll convention recently held in Albuquerque, N.M. I gathered from the story that some Barbie Dolls are commanding quite a bit of money on the collectors' market. For instance, it said a Golden Jubilee Barbie commemorating the doll's 35th anniversary was selling for $1,100, a 900 percent markup over last year's retail price; a 1992 Neptune Barbie designed by Bob Mackie now sells for $995. Its original price was $150.
I have a Barbie Doll that dates back to 1958 or '59. She's in the original box, in fact she's never been taken out of the box, and she's dressed in a striped bathing suit.How do I find out what she's worth?
- K.P., Salt Lake City
Dear K.P.: The first thing we found out after talking to a spokeswoman for Mattel Inc., the company that makes Barbie, and the publisher of Barbie Bazaar, a magazine for Barbie enthusiasts, is that your Barbie doesn't date back to 1958. That's because the first Barbie Doll came out in 1959.
If your memory serves you correctly and your doll was made in 1959, and she is indeed in mint condition, you may have a valuable doll.
But before you get your hopes up, let us explain what you need to do.
Two models of Barbie Dolls, known as #1 and #2, were produced in 1959. They differ slightly and #1 is more valuable than #2. (Number 1 has holes in her feet, #2 doesn't.) The identification mark on a #1 Barbie, the first model produced, is T.M/Pats.pending/ CMLVII/
by/Mattel/Inc/Japan.
To appraise your doll, you must first identify her. That will require some research. To that end, we ordered from the magazine a Price Guide, which lists identification marks and has pictures of the first five models of Barbie dolls and their boxes. We also ordered a Market Guide that lists approximate retail values for collectible Barbies.
Keep in mind that prices are not written in stone. What you might get for a doll depends on a number of factors including whether you sell it to a dealer or a collector. A dealer would pay you less than a collector.
Even the hairdo can influence the doll's value. For example, we're told a #5 Barbie (made in 1961) with a bubble cut is less valuable than the same doll with another coiffure.
A conservative retail value for a #1 in mint condition is $4,500, according to Marlene Mura, publisher of Barbie Bazaar.
Once you've established the identity of the doll and know her approximate value, you could advertise in classified ads or respond to classified ads in doll collecting magazines, such as Barbie Bazaar.
Both dealers and collectors advertise in Barbie Bazaar.
For information about the magazine A classified ad in the magazine costs $1 per word, or 50 cents per word if you're a subscriber. A year's subscription to the bi-monthly magazine costs $26.95. For information about the magazine, write it at 5617 6th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53140, or call 1-414-658-1004.
Another good source of information on collectible dolls is Glenn A. Manderville's doll anthology.