How can you tell if a Barbie is valuable?

Question

We purchased some 1966 barbies at a local garage sale. When we checked on ebay to find the value, some were expensive and some were not. How do you know if it is vintage or valuable.

PLEASE HELP!

Answer 1

If it hasn't been taken out of the package.

Answer 2

The best thing to do is find someone who knows dolls. Just because a Barbie doll has a body that is marked 1966, that doesn't mean she is valuable. The 1966 is simply the year that the body style was patented. Mattel still uses the 1966 body on current dolls, along with several other bodies that have been produced over the past 40 years.

Depending on where you live, there are appraisers who can look a doll & identify exactly who she is. Some of the factors that can determne value are:

Is the doll Never Removed From Box? That can add value, but not always.

What condition is the box in? Cardboard can get moldy over time & even NRFB dolls can have flaws such as rubberbands melted into their hair, stains on the body from dark clothing, stains on the clothing from the tape used to keep the doll on the cardboard liner. Dolls who have metal earrings or jewelry can have green or black stains on their heads or bodies that are nearly impossible to remove.

How rare is the doll? Beginning in the early 1990's most Barbies were overproduced & very few have retained their original price, much less appreciated in value. Modern dolls hold their value even less.

Two of the better doll dealer/appraisers are Sandi Holder in California & Marl B Davidson in Florida. You might also check for doll restorationists or doll clubs in your area to see if they have someone who can help you identify your dolls. Once you know what you have, you can make a decision.

At the end of the day, a doll, just like anything else is worth what someone will pay for it. The Beanie Baby disaster SHOULD have shown people that very few dolls/toys/collectibles hold their value.