I’m a Barbie expert – the 10 most valuable dolls worth up to £8,000, exact features to look for
THE new Barbie movie has reignited a love for the famous doll - but are your old toys collecting dust in the attic worth a fortune?
The film starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling is set to hit theatres this summer.
Old Barbies can command high prices for collectors. So how do you know if you’re sitting on a goldmine?
“Barbie dolls that are part of limited edition or special edition collections tend to have a high value,” doll and toy expert Simon Farnworth told The Sun.
He's been collecting Barbies since the late 90s and runs Simon’s Collectibles (dollstoysngifts.co.uk), an online shop for adult toy and doll collectors.
Simon added: “These dolls often feature unique designs, are collaborations with celebrities, or commemorate significant events – for example, the 2019 Gold label Ziggy Stardust themed David Bowie Barbie, which originally sold for around £50, can command over £300 now.”
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Barbie collaborations with renowned fashion designers and brands – such as Christian Dior, Versace, or Vera Wang – are also highly sought after by collectors.
“A recent example of this is the recent collaboration between Barbie and artist Mark Ryden, released exclusively on the Barbie Creations website last year," he said.
"The Pink Pop Barbie Mark Ryden x Barbie Doll has already doubled in value.”
Vintage Barbie dolls – made between 1959 and 1972 – can fetch eye-watering prices.
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“Those from the early years of production are the most sought after by collectors," Simon said.
"For example, an original ‘number 1’ Barbie doll from 1959, in good condition and boxed, can sell for up to £25,000.”
Also very popular are Barbies from what is called the "mod era" in the late 60s and 70s when the doll was given a makeover, a ‘twist and turn’ waist and a swinging Sixties wardrobe.
“There was also a big UK influence with the introduction of Barbie’s British cousin Francie and a Twiggy doll – both of which are sought-after and valuable dolls in their own right,” he explained.
But don’t despair if your Barbie collection doesn’t go that far back – your Nineties dolls can be worth a lot too.
“The Pink Box Era (1980s-1990s) marked a huge surge in Barbie’s popularity when she took over from Sindy as the best-selling doll," Simon said.
Many collectors have huge nostalgia for the dolls and accessories from this time.
Dolls like Super Star Barbie, Barbie and the Rockers, and the best-selling Barbie of all time, Totally Hair Barbie, can command high prices.
Even dolls from the 21st century can be valuable – especially the Silkstone Barbie line introduced in 2000.
“With vintage-inspired designs, high-quality craftsmanship, limited production runs, and a special ‘porcelain-like’ vinyl, the Lady Of The Manor Silkstone Barbie doll from 2011 can command a price of £700 or more," Simon said.
Some of Barbie’s accessories can be worth good money too.
He added: “Rarity is key here. For example, one of the ‘holy grails’ of Barbie houses is the 1990 Barbie Magical Mansion which is incredibly rare.
"Ones in good condition can fetch several thousand pounds.”
Simon’s top tip to understand whether your vintage Barbie is valuable is to study the markings on her body.
“Most dolls will have the ‘©1966 Mattel, Inc’ marking. This often gets people excited thinking they have a vintage doll," he said.
However, it is only going to be vintage if the marking then states they were made in Japan, as that is where Barbie was made until 1972.
If the marking state the doll was made in Mexico, China, Indonesia or Malaysia, they could have been made at any time up until the present day.”
Your Barbie doesn’t necessarily have to be in mint condition to create value.
“I would say even the most unloved Barbie doll will have a value to someone," Simon said.
Many collectors will look for well-loved dolls to restore or turn into "one of a Kind" creations (OOAKs).
If you have several dolls like this, you could try bundling them together to sell,” advised Simon.
The condition of a Barbie doll greatly affects how much it is worth, though – so those your kids have scrawled all over won’t command a high price.
“Dolls that are in their original packaging, unopened, and in excellent condition are more valuable than those with signs of wear or damage," Simon said.
"This includes things like the doll's face paint, hair, clothing, and overall condition.
"Hair that has been cut, fingers or toes that have been nibbled on, and home ‘makeovers’ with felt tips are a no-no for most collectors!”
Top 10 valuable Barbie dolls
- Karl Lagerfeld Barbie (2014) Only 900 dolls were released. This doll was initially £135 but has sold for over £8,000 since the designer’s death.
- Totally Hair Barbie (1992) The best-selling Barbie doll ever can sell for £150 if complete and in good condition.
- Totally Hair Whitney (1992) The Totally Hair version of Barbie’s friend, Whitney, can sell for even more at £800, if still in her box.
- Coach Barbie (2013) This doll was a collaboration with the accessory brand, Coach, and can sell for prices over £1,000.
- Happy Holidays Barbie (1988) Many of the earlier Happy Holidays dolls can command great prices, especially the 1988 version, which can sell for £100-£200 if in good condition and boxed.
- Talking Barbie (1968) If boxed this doll is highly desirable and can reach upwards of £700.
- Golden Dream Barbie (1980) This ‘Superstar Era’ doll can go for £160 if boxed and for up to £400 if she is the ‘Special’ version.
- Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Barbie Doll (2022) was extremely popular on release and can sell for over £200 online (but beware of fakes that also litter the online auctions).
- The recently-released Tina Turner Barbie doll is bound to rocket in price after her death.
- Girls Aloud Fashion Fevers Barbie dolls. A full set of these dolls sold on eBay recently for £150.
How to sell your Barbie dolls
There are many different ways to sell your old Barbies.
“The obvious places are online marketplaces such as eBay, Etsy, and Amazon," Simon.
They also allow you to reach an international market and achieve higher prices and are also a good way of valuing a doll or collection by viewing items that have already sold on the site.
If you’re confident your Barbie is of high value, look at a specialist collectibles auction.
Auction houses like Sotheby's and Bonhams often hold auctions specifically for collectible toys and dolls.
"They have established reputations and attract serious collectors who may be willing to pay a premium for rare and valuable items," Simon said.
"Keep in mind that there may be fees and commission charges when selling through auctions,” he advises.
Other options are to go to a toy or collectible fair or to contact a collectible dealer.
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“These dealers have expertise in valuing and selling collectible items and may be interested in purchasing your more valuable Barbies,” said Simon.
As always, beware that you're never guaranteed to make a windfall.