What's the Value of my Vintage Barbie?

1970 TNT Barbie #1160

Ah, yes. The ever popular question, "How much is my Barbie doll worth"? I once read a Barbie is worth... whatever someone is willing to pay for her!

I'm old school and start my research with Barbie reference books. The book I always reach for first is "Barbie Doll Photo Album - 1959 to 2009 Identification and Values" guide.

I find it has the best, most professional photographs for easy ID and the Barbie doll values seem comparable to the listings I see on eBay. I'm surprised to see a number of published Barbie ID books to have such out of focus and unprofessional photos. Were they taken with a 70s Polaroid? : )

Another good place to look for #BarbieValues is on eBay. You can "follow" Barbies to find out what they sold for. I set up a daily search so every morning eBay emails me all the new, vintage (wait, is that an oxymoron?!) Barbie listings that meet my criteria. To set up a daily alert, go to eBay.com and in the search bar enter Mod Barbies (or whatever you're looking for). Search results will appear. From there,  in the top right corner, you'll see the word Advanced. Click on it and this is where you enter your search criteria. When done select Search. When your results show, right above the first doll,  select Follow This Search. Then go to My Ebay/Searches You Follow/More Actions/Edit Email Options. Check the box that says, "Email me daily when new items match my search." Voila! It's a fantastic way to start your day with the latest Barbies you covet up for auction!

The Internet posts a plethora of Barbie values as well. A good site is What is it Worth. Earliest Barbies from the late 50s and early 60s are the most valuable, and have shown the greatest value increases over the past 10 years, says a new index launched by justCollecting. 

Most valuable Barbies in the justCollecting Barbie Index
1. Barbie #1 Brunette (1959): $9,000
2. Barbie #1 Blonde (1959): $8,250
3. Barbie #2 Brunette (1959): $8,000 
4. Barbie #2 Blonde (1959): $7,500
5. Roman Holiday Outfit (1959): $5,000

I learn a lot about Mod Barbies and values in Facebook groups such as Groovy Barbie, Crazy for Mod and Barbie & Friends Fashion Doll Guide. Group members share photos and stories, and post Mod Barbies for sale from their personal collections. It's a great forum to discuss our beloved obsession. Um... I mean hobby. : )

Where do you go to find Barbie values? I'd love to hear from you!

xo, Lynne

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