• Discover the History of Barbie Dolls

• Talk About Barbie Dolls: Common Terms

• Collect Barbie Dolls & Accessories

• Find Barbie Dolls on eBay

• Buy Barbie Dolls with Confidence

Discover the History of Barbie Dolls

Discover the History of Barbie Dolls

Barbie dolls have evolved much over the years, from teen model to fashion maven to modern working woman—and ultimately, a worldwide collectible obsession.

The first Barbie doll

When Ruth Handler realized that her daughter preferred playing with paper dolls of grownups to paper dolls of children, she developed the Barbie doll. Handler bought a Lilli doll while visiting Germany, then presented this doll to her daughter. Handler then bought the rights to distribute Lilli dolls in the U.S. and in 1959, at New York’s annual toy festival, Barbie was born.

The first Barbie doll sported a striped black and white bathing suit and a ponytail. Barbie debuted as a “teenage fashion model,” although her now famous proportions were not very teenage.

Barbie as fashion plate

Over the decades, Barbie’s wardrobe shifted with the fashion trends. Barbie wore fashions like Silver Flame and Fashion Luncheon. She joined the British Invasion around the time she acquired the Twist ‘N Turn waist.

Barbie established her trendy fashion flair when she modeled the full range of ‘70s styles, including the granny dress, a “California Girl” suntan, and daring disco glam. In 1977 Barbie became Superstar Barbie, when she got a wider smile and brighter eyes.

In the ‘90s Bob Mackie, Vera Wang, Nolan Miller, and others started designing fashions specifically for Barbie. A makeover by Bob Mackie rejuvenated Barbie with updated makeup, more prominent lips, and a youthful lift to the face with Neptune Fantasy Barbie.

Barbie collections

By the ‘80s, Barbie’s first fans had grown up. Now in their 20s and 30s, these fond fans collected Barbie. In recognition of her growing adult fan base, Mattel released Blue Rhapsody Barbie in 1986. It was Mattel's first porcelain Barbie and the launch of a collector's line.

For many, Barbie doll collecting has become a full-time passion. From Barbie fashions and Barbie furniture to vintage Barbie dolls and Collector or Limited Edition Barbie dolls, one thing is sure: Barbie collectors will never run out of inspiration, imagination, or options to fuel that passion on eBay.

Talk About Barbie Dolls: Common Terms

Talk About Barbie Dolls: Common Terms

Over the years Barbie collectors have developed their own vocabulary to define their passion.

• A/O: All original Barbie dolls come complete with everything it came with originally.    

• Book value: Price of a particular Barbie doll.   

• C grading system: Used to rate the condition of your Barbie doll. C-1 through C-10 are used, with C-1 being very poor and C-10 being pristine and NRFB.    

• Collector edition: Collector edition Barbie dolls were intended for collection. More than 35,000 collector edition Barbie dolls were manufactured.    

• Customized Barbie dolls: Customized Barbie dolls were designed for a particular store.   

• HTF: Hard-to-find Barbie dolls.    

• Limited edition: Limited Edition Barbie dolls produced in quantities of less than 35,000. They often have special features that make them unique.   

• MIB: Mint in box. Factory condition Barbie doll in the original box.    

• MIP: Mint in package Barbie dolls. Like MIB, the MIP doll is in factory condition, in the original box, with all accessories preserved in original packaging.    

• Mint & complete: The Barbie doll has all accessories and is in excellent shape.   

• MNB: Mint no box.    

• Modern Barbie: Denotes Barbie dolls made after 1972.    

• NM: Near mint.    

• NRFB: Never removed from box.   

• OSS: Original Swim Suit.    

• Timeless treasures : Barbie dolls modeled after celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Lucille Ball, or Elvis.    

• Vintage Barbie: Vintage Barbie dolls were made before 1972.

Collect Barbie Dolls & Accessories

Collect Barbie Dolls & Accessories

In 2004 Mattel created a “tier structure” to identify Barbie dolls that will be collectible.

• Platinum label: Platinum Label Barbie dolls are produced in quantities of less than 1000. Dolls, like the Platinum editions of Badgley Mischka Bride Barbie and Fairie Queen Barbie, are Platinum Label. This label also includes dolls for events like CAAF’s annual Dream Halloween events.    

• Gold label: Gold Label Barbie dolls are produced in quantities of less than 25,000 worldwide.     

• Silver label: Silver Label Barbie dolls are produced in quantities of less than 50,000. Chocolate Obsession Barbie doll and Barbie as Juliet are Silver Label Barbies.    

• Pink label: Pink Label Barbie dolls are collector’s items that do not have a production quota. Items like the Dolls of the World collection are Pink Label.

While there is definitely something to be said for dolls that have not been removed from their boxes, Barbie was made to be enjoyed. While many people hope to turn a profit by collecting Barbie dolls, what’s important is that you have fun. Buy the Barbie dolls and accessories that you like. If you want to leave them in the box, that’s fine. If you want to take them out and comb their hair, that’s fine too.

Find Barbie Dolls on eBay

Find Barbie Dolls on eBay

Once you know what type of Barbie doll you want, go to the Dolls and Bears portal, click Dolls, and start searching for item listings on eBay.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Barbie Vintage (Pre-1973), Barbie Contemporary (1973-Now), and more. As you dig deeper into the site you'll also be able to narrow down your choice.    

• Keyword search: Search eBay listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a Silkstone, type "Silkstone" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Barbie Dolls with Confidence

Buy Barbie Dolls with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay are not covered by eBay protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.

• eBay Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use eBay's quick and efficient resolution tools.