Barbie turns 62: How much is your old doll worth? (2024)

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Barbie turns 62: How much is your old doll worth? ›

A long way from her initial $3 price tag, a mint-in-box original 1959 Barbie doll is worth $8,000-$10,000 today, according to Reader's Digest. However, slightly less pristine versions are available on eBay for less — one sold for $3,999 in December 2020.

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.

Vintage Barbies – those produced between 1959 and 1966 – tend to be more expensive. As for the newer Barbies, Knutson said collectors should look for platinum or gold label Barbies, which signify Barbies that are rarer and therefore more valuable.

Pink Splendor Barbie (1996): $530

Released in 1996 as part of Barbie's 35th anniversary, the rare Pink Splendor Barbie is one of the most expensive Barbies ever sold at retail, originally priced at a whopping $900. If you're inclined to buy this collector's item now, though, you can find her on Amazon for $530.

Barbie's 60th, in fact every March 9th when Barbie turns a year older, I get calls from reporters. Since I wrote the biography of the doll's creator, Ruth Handler, who also started Mattel, I'm a 'go to' expert on Barbie's life.

Since she first appeared at the New York Toy Fair on March 9, 1959, Barbie has been an astronaut, a presidential candidate, a rapper, and a video game developer, among other things. Barbie, that iconic staple of toy stores and childhoods, turns 60 this weekend.

The most expensive Barbie ever sold: Stefano Canturi Barbie

Created by Australian jewelry designer Stefano Canturi, this one-of-a-kind Barbie sold at auction house Christie's in 2010 for $302,500, and the proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, making this a surprisingly feel-good story.

While most dolls in good condition are sold in the $75 to $150 range, rare editions can sell for much more. For example, one of the most valuable Barbies in the world is a platinum-label Karl Lagerfeld Barbie Doll. Unsealed in the original packaging, it has fetched prices of $6,000 or more.

The best places to sell your Barbie dolls are eBay, Facebook Marketplace, direct to collectors, and to online toy buyers at SellYourToysNow.com.

Which 1990s doll is the bestselling Barbie to date? ›

The 1992 Totally Hair Barbie (shown), the best-selling Barbie doll to date, celebrated the “big hair” craze and loud fashions of the early 90s. The doll featured the longest locks ever for Barbie, measuring 10½ inches.

Your vintage Barbie doll could fetch as much as $27,000 on the resale market, new research shows. Your vintage Barbie dolls sitting at home could make you a quick buck, according to new research. BonusFinder made a list of the most valuable Barbies of all time and their maximum resale price.

One option is to donate them to a local children's charity or second-hand store, such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Another option is to sell them online through websites such as eBay or Facebook Marketplace. If the dolls are in poor condition or cannot be donated or sold, they can be recycled.

But did you know you can pawn less conventional items like comic books, vintage Barbie dolls or even boats? Yes, those random pawn shop goods you may see when shopping truly do have value. The next time you're looking to make a bit of extra cash or need a quick loan, consider pawning one of these less obvious items.

For vintage Barbies from the 1960s and earlier, direct collector sales from SellYourToys.com will get you the highest return. Rare, early edition Barbies in good condition can fetch top dollar from passionate collectors.

The most expensive Barbie ever sold: Stefano Canturi Barbie

Created by Australian jewelry designer Stefano Canturi, this one-of-a-kind Barbie sold at auction house Christie's in 2010 for $302,500, and the proceeds went to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, making this a surprisingly feel-good story.

Ebay is my first thought. With lots of pictures, of course. IF there are any local doll shows, that's an excellent place to sell collectible Barbies. Bear in mind that many, many people are trying to sell them also.

In the world of doll collecting, actual 1966 Barbie dolls are a confusing rarity. 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.