Sticky Vinyl Faces Certain types of vinyl, including the vinyl used for certain #4/5 Barbies, are susceptible to stickiness from migrating plasticizers. Also, dolls made of hard and soft plastics often cause disintegration in one another—where the materials meet sticky.
At the end of the manufacturing part of the “life cycle” process in the production of Barbie dolls, a total of 188 grams of raw and processed materials were used to create one doll. This product's life expectancy is estimated to last up to about 3 years.
Toys over 25 years old are likely to have degraded over time and release small plastic particles as well as the toxic metals – and young children are particularly at risk from their effects.
As experts would tell you, there is no age limit for dolls. It may seem unusual in this day and age, but several 12-year-olds still play with dolls. And in a world where the internet is widespread, this may be a good thing.
Usually, vintage Barbies have holes in the bottom of their feet and the models. If your Barbie also has a stamp saying "Made in Japan" or "Japan" it means it was made between 1959-1972, because those models were manufactured there.
The copyright on the Barbie dolls is not always the year that the doll was manufactured. In fact, many dolls with the 1966 copyright were actually manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s, which means they have little value to collectors.
Originals from 1992 sell for upwards of $100 on Amazon and eBay. If you happen to have one that you didn't play with (as much as most of us did), then you could make a little money from it.
Original Barbie - The original first edition Barbie from 1959 is very rare. Money, Inc. reports that even in played-with condition, she is worth $8,000. In pristine condition, she could be worth more than $27,000.
see less All Mattel Barbie dolls are essentially waterproof. Water will not damage the body, painting, or clothing. However, everything will be wet and will need to dry.
Many collectors successfully use regular shampoo (baby shampoo is good) and conditioner to shampoo a Barbie—some people also successfully wash with mild, regular soaps such as Joy, then use fabric conditioners such as Downy to soften and detangle hair.
From Beanie Babies to Barbie clothes, the washing machine's gentle or delicate cycle can handle many dolls. However, don't put Barbie herself in the washer, and to keep her tiny clothes from getting snagged, slip them into a small mesh bag that zips shut.
Vintage Barbie dolls on the market from 1959 to the late 1960s are especially prized among collectors. Often, these Barbies had bendable legs or red hair, and they are considered some of the most rare and valuable. Today, the price of a mint condition Barbie from this era can run close to $25,000.
The average value of "50th anniversary barbie" is $60.67. Sold comparables range in price from a low of $7.99 to a high of $287.10.
The Barbie Doll Eras
Vintage Barbie dolls - 1959 to 1972. Vintage Mod Barbie dolls - 1966 to 1972. Modern Barbie dolls - 1972 to present. Collectible Barbie dolls - 1986 to present (these dolls are made for adult doll collectors)
Reproduction 1959 Barbie doll has honey blonde or dark brunette soft shiny polyester ponytail hair with loosely curled bangs, pointed eyebrows, heavy black lids, painted white iris eyes, big red closed mouth, hollow plastic flesh colored body that won't turn white, dolls have holes in the feet but no tubes in the legs, ...
In March 1959, a doll named "Barbie" launched onto the American toy market, sporting a black-and-white striped bathing suit, pouty red lips and a sassy blonde pony tail. The leggy, 11-inch plastic figure—full name: Barbara Millicent Roberts—was the first mass-produced toy doll in the U.S. with adult features.
The first Barbie wore a black and white striped swimsuit and her signature ponytail. Toy buyers were skeptical because Barbie was unlike the baby and toddler dolls that were popular at the time. They doubted she would be successful, but Barbie took the world by storm.
The original Barbie first sold for $3, from the original doll to specially-designed models. Barbie made her first debut at the New York Toy Fair 61 years ago on Monday. The now-iconic doll, made by Mattel, originally cost $3.
The first Barbie doll was introduced in both blonde and brunette on March 9, 1959.