A Rare Beauty
Sandi Holder International Barbie Expert
Japanese Side Part American Girl in European Exclusive, Midnight Pink.
U.S. Issued Side part American Girl wearing Sears Exclusive, Pink Formal.
Contents
8
Preface
From the ER to Barbie’s Dream House
12
Introduction
16
Timeline
20
Chapter 1
34
Chapter 2
52
Chapter 3
64
Chapter 4
78
Chapter 5
100
Chapter 6
118
Chapter 7
128
Chapter 8
150
Chapter 9
174
Chapter 10
212
Chapter 11
Taking a Brand to Heart A Doll’s Life
(1959) Handler Proves Women have Choices (1960s) Barbie Welcomes Change in Style (1970s) Barbie Makes Her Moves (1980s) Barbie Takes a World View (1990s) Barbie Evolves into Collector Icon (2000s) Barbie Moves Back to the Future Occupation Sensation
Fashion Forward
We Are Family
A Rare Sight to See
For the Love of Licensing
A Doll’s Life
Long-Hair American Girl Barbie doll in Original swimSuit, 1966 Platinum Color Magic Barbie doll in Original Swimsuit, 1966 Twist ‘N Turn Barbie doll, 1967 Live Action Barbie doll, 1971
1959 1960 #1 Blond Ponytail Barbie doll, 1959 Brunette Ponytail Barbie doll in Commuter Set fashion outfit, 1959 Blond Ponytail Barbie doll in Enchanted Evening fashion outfit, 1960 Blond Bubblecut Barbie doll in Original Swimsuit, 1962
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1966 1967
1971
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The Handler family at home in California: Ruth, Elliot, Barbara and Ken. The children gained fame as the namesakes of two of the most recognized dolls ever created.
Chapter 1
Schlesinger Library, Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University
In Handler the Beginning Proves Women have Choices A
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sultry look, an enviable figure and that perky ponytail. Few dolls are as unmistakably identifiable—or as coveted—as the very first Barbie doll. There’s no disputing that the first Barbie doll was distinctive. In an era of one-dimensional paper dolls and cherubic baby dolls, Mattel’s Barbie doll was sophisticated and full of possibilities. Creator and Mattel co-founder Ruth Handler would have it no other way. Barbie was to become the vinyl body through which were projected the imaginations and dreams of every child who played with her. “My whole philosophy of Barbie was that through the doll, the little girl could be anything she wanted to be,” Handler wrote in her 1994 autobiography, Dream Doll: The Ruth Handler Story. “Barbie always represented the fact that a woman has choices.” First introduced as a teenage fashion model, Barbie has enjoyed more than 80 careers in the past five decades. She’s been everything from an Olympic skater, to a paleontologist, to a presidential candidate. She’s served in the armed forces and was a Formula 1 racer. Reach for the stars? Barbie did more than that: as an astronaut she rocketed to the stars. “Over and over I’ve had it said to me by women that she was much more than a doll for them. She was part of them,” Handler told the Associated Press in 1994.
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Arched eyebrows
White irises of the eyes and side-glancing eyes
Blond or brunette ponytail hairdo with soft, curly bangs
Gold hoop earrings (which often have tarnished over time and have caused the doll’s ears to turn green)
Pale, almost white, ivory skin tone One-piece zebra-striped swimsuit
Markings on the buttocks read, “Barbie T.M./Pats.Pend/ ©MCMLVIII/by/Mattel/Inc.” Red fingernails, toenails and lips
Instructions that came with a #1 Barbie doll.
A Singular Sensation
This pristine #1 Blond Ponytail Barbie doll set a world record when it sold at a Doll Attic auction for $25,527 in 2003.
Holes in the bottom of the feet with copper tubes inserted. The holes were used to place the doll on a special stand (included with the doll)
ith a haunting, familiar look, most early Ponytail Barbie dolls look similar. But to the trained eye, the facial differences are subtle, but noticeable. There is only one #1 Ponytail Barbie doll, the Holy Grail, the doll issued only in 1959. The original dolls were packaged with white plastic sunglasses and black mules with holes in the bottom of their feet and were offered in Blond and Brunette hair colors.
In the Beginning
Barbie: A Rare Beauty
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Available only in select stores to highlight new Barbie dolls and her outfits, this special Pink Silhouette Dressed Box #1 Blond Ponytail Barbie doll remains in phenomenal condition more than 50 years after her release. Barbie wears a Winter Holiday outfit (#975). The original outfit included pull-on stretch pants (with feet) and back zipper, a knit hooded T-shirt with back zipper and a fabric cord ties under her chin, and a white leather-like car coat with red fleecy lining. Finishing touches included cork wedgies with white uppers and red vinyl gloves. A red plaid vinyl zippered bag was also included.
The Grand Plan R
uth Handler wanted little girls to dream their own dreams. That’s why she envisioned Barbie doll without a predetermined or fixed personality. Instead, Handler wanted children to develop their own perception of the doll. Fittingly, Ponytail Barbie doll came with little more than a black and white zebra-striped swimsuit. Although a wide range of outfits and careers would be offered, the final decisions on career path and fashion statement would be up to children.
#1Blond Ponytail Barbie doll.
A rare flawless #2 Brunette Ponytail Barbie doll never removed from her box.
In the Beginning
Barbie: A Rare Beauty
30
#1 Brunette Ponytail Barbie doll.
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ay Pariesienne le dress of G bb bu fy u po he ll fashion. c of Barbie do si as cl a is 59 s (#964) from 19 the outfit depict tail Barbie doll, ny Po nd lo B in ned Worn by #2 ess was fashio e times. The dr th of e yl st gh s the hi nt bow edged ffeta with acce ta n yo ra t do nt and the deep blue pi the hem in fron d ne or ad s w e bo accessories in white. Thes the back. Many in g in os cl er top of the zipp adband hat orous veiled he included a glam “Barbie” tulle. A fluffy ue bl g in ch at in m hite satin r stole with w fu ux fa d le be la , and blue te tricot gloves lining, long whi tement ded more exci ad s el he e -to open was comlook. No outfit to the evening this case, jewelry and in plete without arls and rand of faux pe st d te ua ad gr a rpose. gs served the pu matching earrin gold lvet clutch with A small gold ve tin ed in white sa bead closure, lin ensemble. completed the
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earing one coveted of th vintage e mo st outfits, Ponytail #3 Bru Barbie nette doll is Easter P resplen arade (# d e n t in 9 71) from ple prin 1959. T t, polish he aped cotto (identic n sheath al to th d ress e Apple Set #9 Print S 17, gen heath uine E aster P Sheath arade does n ot have clothin a Barb g label) ie c o m b a smar ined w t black ith faille u spring nlined coat. T into the h e back yoke an g a th ered d the b had self ig patch -bow ac p o c c e k nts. Ba ets band ha rbie do t was a s ll’s hea im p le dsilk org bow fas anza. O hioned th f rom er acces black p sories in atent c cluded lu tc h a necklac bag, gr aduated e, matc hing ea p e a r tricot g l rrings, loves an short w d black hite open-to e heels.
he fancy of many a southern gentleman, a lovely #1 Blond Ponytail Barbie doll wears the 1959released Plantation Belle (#966). Her waltz-length party dress in pink sheer dot fabric with lace and soutache braid between tiers and around the neck topped a white nylon petticoat with tulle ruffles and single ribbon accent. A large hat with straw crown, woven brim and flower bud accents kept the southern sun out of Barbie doll’s eyes. A matching straw purse with sequin and bead accents, graduated pink pearls, matching bracelet and pink pearl earrings, short white tricot gloves, and pale pink open-toe heels completed the outfit.
Fashion Forward
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(#987) is in mint lecut Orange Blossom bb Bu e ett un Br x Bo apanese Dressed e find! This raven haired l flip for this fabulous rar wil s tor lec col g tin na mi r beautiful condition. Discri oise eyes and eyeliner. He qu tur , int epa fac t ran vib tures bubblecut Barbie doll fea al. gin ese big red lips are all ori oklet and very rare Japan es a Japanese fashion bo lud inc uty bea x Bo d ed is doll sol for This Dress gold on pedestal base. Th in d sse bo em o log e rbi Ba pedestal stand, with the n. ctio $5,000 in a 2007 au
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A Dream Come True S
Barbie: A Rare Beauty
A Rare Sight to See
triking in the 1963 Bride’s Dream fashion outfit (#947), this lovely Dressed Box Titian Up-Do Ponytail Barbie doll would make any groom blush. This stunning white satin, short-sleeved wedding dress featured a full overskirt with tiered ruffle front panel in soft chiffon. A tiny bow at the waist was a delicate accent. Some of the accessories were the same as those included with 1959’s Wedding Day (#972). They included: tulle veil with “pearl” head piece, open-toe white heels, blue garter, fabric flower lace base bouquet and white satin streamers, and graduated “pearl” necklace. However, the gloves with Bride’s Dream were elbow length. The doll sold for $1,260 at a 2005 auction.
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