Antiques & Collectibles Buying and Selling Vintage Barbie Online

In March of 1959, a new type of doll was unveiled at the annual Toy Fair. She was 11½ inches tall, had a real woman's shape and a very real sensuality that shocked most people. Her wardrobe was designed especially for a working Fashion Model/Teenage girl and was more sophisticated than most adult women owned. Her name was Barbie (named after the daughter of her creator, Ruth Handler) and the doll world would never be the same again.

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Now, she is the most popular doll in the world and the vintage Barbies are one of the most sought after collectibles on eBay. This article discusses how to sell this very special doll on eBay, (or any on-line auction site) and what the collectors are looking for when they see your listing.

First of all, not all Barbies marked 1966 on their behinds are vintage. That date is merely the patent date that Mattel registered for the Twist and Turn Waist body of Barbie. All Barbies made today have that mark. It is very confusing to those sellers who are not familiar with the actual vintage markings.

If you believe you have a true vintage Barbie, there are several reference books available to check the overall look of each Barbie made from 1959 to 1974, generally considered the Vintage Years, and what each model name is known by. One of the best reference books for doll looks and vintage markings is The Collector's Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls and Collectibles by Joan Ashabraner, Sibyl Dewein and Annemarie Dunzelmann. This book has lots of pictures and gives detailed information.

When you have ascertained you have a true Vintage Barbie and decide to list her on an on-line auction site, there are very important things to remember when you want to get the best price. If at all possible, use a picture with your listing. When collectors are searching for vintage dolls, a picture can tell more about a doll than a whole page of description. I have heard many collectors say that they will bypass a listing if it has no picture, regardless of the detailed description.

If you don't know how to load photos with your listings, find out how. There are several different free photo-loading sites now available that make adding pictures to your auctions very easy and free. A close-up of the dolls face is very important, as well as a full body shot, (naked if possible). If you can manage it, a close-up of the hair, front and back, can make a big difference in your ending bid price.

And now, for the written description. Details, details, DETAILS! The best way to describe a vintage Barbie is to hold the doll in your hand as if you are seeing it for the first time. Vintage Barbie collectors hold dolls and examine them very closely when they consider a purchase.

No part of the doll is overlooked when they scrutinize the doll for flaws, vintage markings, and evidence of restoration or just plain beauty. Take your doll you are listing and start from the head and go down, feature by feature. First, the hair. Is it soft? Greasy? Stiff? Does it look like it has been cut or are there empty plugholes?

Turn the doll over and move your hand backward across the hair on the non-ponytail dolls. Give your impressions through your own hands and eyes. Face makeup? Rubs? Scrapes? Head flaws such as pinpricks, scratches, necksplits or green ears. Faded or pale spots? Discoloration? Even the inexperienced seller can tell what their eyes see. If you see it, a buyer will definitely see it when they get the doll.

Go down the doll to the arms and torso. Scratches, marks? Do the arms move smoothly and firmly? Are they loose or "swingy"? Are all the fingers present and perfect? Fingernail polish rubbed or intact? Does the waist twist or no? Do the legs bend or are they the hard straight version? Do the legs bend at the torso smoothly or are they loose and floppy? Do they fall off?

Believe it or not, some vintage Barbie dolls have legs that routinely fall off, even if they have NEVER been removed from their box! Lastly, the feet. Are they perfect or chipped, toenail polish intact? Does the straight leg doll have "Japan" on her foot arch? Is there a stain on her instep from the years of shoe wear?

When you describe your listed doll, you must remember to mention everything, "warts and all" when listing. Even if it goes against your wish to get a good price. To avoid returns and unhappy buyers, be sure to look for flaws. You can be sure the buyer will when they receive the doll. Your policy on returns is of course a personal decision.

But a friendly return policy will increase bidder confidence, especially in the Vintage Barbie collectors group. Another important factor in getting a good price for your doll is to answer e-mail questions promptly and accurately. You will get questions regarding the dolls condition you may never even thought of! Does she "rattle" when you shake her? Does she "smell like crayons?" Is this doll from a smoking or non-smoking environment?

You may even get the biggest share of questions shortly before the listing ends. Many eBay Barbie collectors are veteran snipe bidders and will ask questions late in the listing. Be prepared to answer the question of the late bidder. You may get a last minute snipe that raises the price of your doll significantly if you answer the question in time!

These guidelines for listing a Vintage Barbie apply to ANY vintage doll you are listing. Ken, Midge, Skipper, etc. Describe the doll in extreme detail, "warts and all" and if at all possible, and I cannot stress this strongly enough, include a picture with your listing.

It is my experience that eBay provides the biggest buyer market for Vintage Barbies. There are those intrepid collectors who check all the Internet auction sites hoping for that unknown, mis-categorized prize, such as Yahoo and Gold's. But eBay still holds the largest share of Vintage Barbie listings and bidders.

If you have Vintage Barbie outfits to sell, the best reference for what outfit you have, the year it was made and the accessories that complete the ensemble, are the two books by Sarah Sink Eames, Barbie Doll Fashion Volume 1, 1959-1967 and Volume II, 1968-1974. The best prices are realized when you can include all the elements of the original ensemble such as gloves, shoes, hats, etc.

Mattel was unmatched in the quality and detail of their Vintage Barbie outfits and some outfits can command prices that far surpass the dolls themselves. As with the dolls, the "warts and all" description of the outfits is necessary. Hanging threads, stains, limp fabrics, tears, etc. Are the outfits crisp? Are the satins unwrinkled and shimmery? Shoes not split or cracked?

I hope these guidelines help you list your Vintage Barbie or Vintage Barbie Family dolls successfully and profitably.

By Kim Hostrawser

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Buying and Selling Vintage Barbie Online