Barbie dolls, first introduced by Mattel in 1959, are sought after by collectors worldwide. If you have kept your Barbie dolls from when you were a child, or if you have acquired them another way, you may be wondering how much your doll is worth. There are several key things to look for that will help you determine what kind of value your doll has. Degree of wear and tear, your doll's age and rarity are all factors that contribute to how much your Barbie is worth.
Examine your doll carefully and note how much damage and wear and tear it has, or if any defects are on the doll. Damage will decrease the value. If your collectible Barbie doll has never been removed from the box, it is worth much more than a Barbie doll that has been removed and played with. A collectible Barbie doll that has been altered or restored may seem pretty, but it is worth less to collectors.
Look on your Barbie's abdomen. The date on your collectible Barbie doll's abdomen is not the date it was made, rather it is the date the mold was created. The fewer Barbie dolls of a specific type that were made means they have a greater value. Collector Editions of Barbie dolls are produced in quantities of 35,000, and Limited Editions are produced in quantities of less than 35,000. If you have the Barbie doll's original outfit, your Barbie doll is worth more wearing it than if you have it dressed in other fashions. This is also true for accessories. Original accessories will increase the value of your Barbie doll.
Purchase a book that lists current values for Barbie dolls or obtain an up-to-date book from the library. Look up your doll in the book and match the condition to the listings to determine value. When looking through a pricing guide, use several guides and get the average price to determine a realistic value. Compare your Barbie dolls with other collectors, collector shows in the area, local stores, auctions and online searches to get an idea of their value. You may want to get your Barbie dolls appraised if you are unable to locate them in a collecting guide.
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