Archive for July, 2009

Bubble Cut Barbie

July 28th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Vintage Dolls, vintage Barbie dolls

The Bubble Cut Barbie was a Barbie doll that reflected the popular hairstyles of the 1960s. 


The bouffant hairdo worn by the 11.5 inch Barbie was available between the years of 1961 and 1967.  During this time, Barbie fans could still purchase Swirl Barbie and Ponytail Barbie but many thousands of Bubble Cuts were bought up and collected while they were available.

Here are a few Bubble Cut Tidbits for you:

  • The Bubble Cut Barbies were produced in large numbers and with a wide variety of different lips colors and shades of hair.  This variety makes them an interesting choice for collectors because the same basic doll has so many different looks.
  • Production Bubble Cut Barbies were constructed with arms and legs that were not designed to bend.
  • The dolls produced during the first year of production seem to have still been getting some kinks ironed out.  The plastic used gave them an oily looking complexion and this was corrected in later Bubble Cut dolls.
  • After 1961 Bubble Cut dolls also go bigger hair and larger heads.  It's hard work being beautiful.

Not all Bubble Cut Barbie Dolls are created equal.  There are some models worth more to collectors than others.  This is due mostly to the scarcity of the particular dolls.  One popular, but hard to find model is the bubble cut with a side part in her hair.  This is not a style accomplished by just brushing the hair over.  The part was actually stitched in to the dolls' scalps.

Another distinction between bubbles that can affect their value is their coloration.  Bubbles with nearly white lips are a much sought after prize.  These lips are found on "White Ginger Bubbles".  The hair on these models is a very pale shade of blonde.  These come up from time to time on eBay.  One recently sold for exactly $100 in very good condition.
VINTAGE BLONDE BUBBLE CUT BARBIE
VINTAGE BLONDE BUBBLE CUT BARBIE
Paypal   US $26.00 		BLONDE BUBBLE CUT BARBIE VINTAGE 60S
BLONDE BUBBLE CUT BARBIE VINTAGE 60S
Paypal   US $24.99 		Vintage BARBIE BUBBLE CUT DOLL Mattel 1960s
Vintage BARBIE BUBBLE CUT DOLL Mattel 1960s
Paypal   US $4.25
Vintage Barbie DOLL Red Bubble Cut Case Outfits 1963
Vintage Barbie DOLL Red Bubble Cut Case Outfits 1963
Paypal   US $61.00 		Vintage Bubble Cut Barbie Midge tagged outfit
Vintage Bubble Cut Barbie Midge tagged outfit
Paypal   US $22.00 		Vintage 1962 Platinum Bubble Cut Barbie Box 850
Vintage 1962 Platinum Bubble Cut Barbie Box 850
Paypal   US $29.55
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As I mentioned, the prices can show a decent bit of variation.  One good thing about eBay is that sometimes you will see dolls slip through at lower than expected prices either due to poor timing on the part of the seller or because it just so happens that the right buyers didn't happen to notice a doll.  A mint bubble cut doll, still in her box, might bring over $300.  If you are looking for dolls that can stand a little bit of work, you probably won't have to go over one hundred.  The middle ground would be the dolls in nice shape but not mint in box.

A check of recent Bubble Cuts sold on eBay showed a high end price of $399 for a 1961 Titian Bubblecut Barbie #850.  It was in outstanding condition with all of its accessories and the original box.  It by far was the most expensive bubble sold recently when I checked.  Most others that were in very good to excellent condition sold for between $100 and $200 on the site.

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What dolls do you collect?

July 27th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Doll Collecting

I wanted to take a moment to invite visitors to leave a comment about their favorite doll(s).  What kinds of dolls do you like best?  Is there any particular doll that you focus on, and why?

What got you interested in vintage dolls?

I'd love to hear your responses.

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Barbie Accessories

July 23rd, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Doll Collecting, vintage Barbie dolls

If you collect vintage Barbie, you may or may not realize how much collectible value her accessories also have. 


There has been a lot of growth in the collecting of barbie accessories and some of the individual items can bring a pretty penny at auction.  Of course if you are selling, this is good news.  If you are buying though, you may be seeing some competition.
fashion queen midge barbie doll vintage old rare look
fashion queen midge barbie doll vintage old rare look
Paypal   US $25.00 		BARBIE EVENING SPLENDOUR 961 COAT AND DRESS ORIGINAL
BARBIE EVENING SPLENDOUR 961 COAT AND DRESS ORIGINAL
Paypal   US $10.49 		midge fashion queen doll vintage old rare look barbie
midge fashion queen doll vintage old rare look barbie
Paypal   US $15.50
wigs midge fashion queen doll vintage rare look barbie
wigs midge fashion queen doll vintage rare look barbie
Paypal   US $10.50 		Vintage Barbie Suede n Fur RARE bodysuit and boots
Vintage Barbie Suede n Fur RARE bodysuit and boots
Paypal   US $61.99 		1970 Living Barbie Doll Original Outfit 1116 cover up
1970 Living Barbie Doll Original Outfit 1116 cover up
Paypal   US $2.25
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Most people reading this are probably buyers, so I will share a bit of advice that may help you to find some of the better deals on Barbie and her accessories.  These tips are for finding Barbie accessories or anything really, on eBay.  They help you to take advantage of the fact that many of the people selling on the site are not professional sellers and they might not know how to get the best possible prices for what they are putting up for auction.  If you are a seller on eBay, you should also pay attention to these tips because you might be setting yourself up to get less than you expect for your items.

  • Watch for misspelled words in auction listings.  Think of every possible misspelling that you can for the item you are looking for on eBay.  As an example, I'll use the phrase "Barbie Accessories".  That particular search brought back over 900 results, and most likely, every one of those listings will be carefully checked out by Barbie fans.  When I put in a common misspelling like "Barbie accesories", I get back only 31 results.  But guess what?  NONE of those are going to show up when people come looking to buy "accessories" for their dolls!  Which auctions do you think will have more competition?   You can use this technique with any particular Barbie accessory you are looking for online.  Actually, you could use it for any item, not just Barbie gear!
  • Be willing to shop at an unusual time on eBay.  There are some people who go to work, but still want to get something listed on eBay.  Sometimes, they decide to list their item at whatever time is convenient for them to get on the computer.  This might be seven in the morning or eleven at night on a Monday.  Most experienced sellers won't do this, but newer or infrequent sellers often make this mistake, not realizing that the default is for their auction to end exactly seven days, to the minute, from when they listed their merchandise.  Once again, do you think there will be as many people bidding on an item at 7:30 a.m. as there would be at a time like Sunday evening around 9:00?  Your goal is to use the advanced search tools available on any search screen, to search for what you want ending at some strange time like this.  Now that eBay has made sellers pay more to get their items seen in other countries, this should be even more helpful for people basing their shopping on U.S. time zones.
  • Don't forget to check out "lots" of merchandise.  There are many sellers who really don't know a whole bunch about what they are selling.  They may have found some old Barbie dolls or accessories stashed away in an attic or at a yard sale and they just want to sell it quickly without researching which individual pieces might be worth more than the others.  This can be a bonanza time for Barbie collectors or collectors of any doll.  Because the doll clothes and doll accessories are relatively small, many people really don't want to be bothered with handling each individual tiny piece.  It all ends up going in to lots.  When you see a listing that says something like "Barbie accessories lot", take a close look and ask questions of the buyer.  You may find that it is a mix of items from a couple of generations of Barbie collecting within the same family.  If Mom tossed all of her old accessories in with her daughter's stuff, you might find some real gems hidden in the mix.

This is just a short list of tips I've used to find great deals on Barbie accessories (and other eBay items) in the past.  I'll share more as we go along.  I hope these help you find something you have been looking for at a price you like!

Here is a video I found on YouTube about Barbie accessories that you might enjoy...

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Doll Collecting on a Budget

July 11th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Doll Collecting, Vintage Dolls

You don't have to spend a ton of money on collecting dolls.  There are, of course, different types of doll collectors, but unless your goal is to only purchase the most exclusive and/or rare dolls you can find, there is not any reason that you can't find a nice collectible doll for a price that keeps you within your budget.


It is really up to you how you are going to decide to spend your "doll money" to build your collection.  Do you want to save up and get one really special doll, or do you prefer to buy more of the lower priced dolls?  If you are going for the lower priced dolls, are you trying to get your hands on the ones that will gain value over time?

There are a lot of questions you could ask yourself as you build your collection, but I think it is really much more important that you enjoy the collecting experience.

If you have the patience, you can go out on your own in search of collectible dolls.  This can be a bit of work though.  It usually involves some leg work, contacting people you don't know and sometimes even digging and rummaging through estate merchandise.  This method can be a challenge but the results can be rewarding.  I'll write more about this in another post.

Vintage Barbie Doll

Vintage Barbie Doll

Most people will choose to simply purchase the dolls they want to collect.  You can find a lot of great dolls for between $100 - $400 dollars.  Sure, this can be pricey, but if you are willing to cut out some other frivolous spending, you may be surprised at how quickly you can save up $100.

One quick tip for those collectors who are working on a budget is to talk to any friends you might have who enjoy frequenting garage sales or estate sales.  Take them out to lunch to get their attention and then tell them about the kinds of dolls you collect.  Ask them if they would be willing to keep an eye open for you when they hit their sales.  I do go to a lot of these sales, and I've been surprised at some of the old and rare items I've found at them.  To improve your odds even more, have your friend specifically ask if they are selling what you collect.  Many times people having a yard sale will only put out newer things because they think (mistakenly) that no one would want their old stuff.  Hey, asking doesn't cost a dime!

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Who Collects Dolls?

July 11th, 2009 by Sandy | No Comments | Filed in Doll Collecting, Vintage Dolls

Who is Collecting Dolls Today?

Anyone can collect dolls.  It isn't just for little girls and old women anymore.  Although there are certainly a lot of females with a strong interest in doll collecting, now that it has grown into a business of sorts, men are also becoming more heavily involved in the collecting of dolls.

There is a common image of doll collecting being more of a feminine hobby.  Surely this is because it is a lot more common for little girls to openly play with dolls than it is for boys.  Little girls playing with their Barbie dolls is something you expect to see, and do see often.  Many parents would even discourage their young sons from "playing dolls" unless the toy was an "action figure" molded into shapes designed to maime and destroy.  Left to their own devices, many little boys enjoy playing with any doll they come across because they just like pretending and using their imaginations.  Most times, boys seem to outgrow the doll phase but it really is not a bad thing if they develop an appreciation for collecting them.

As I mentioned above, the collecting of dolls has become a serious business for some people.  Buying and selling dolls can be quite lucrative if you know what you are doing.  I'm sure that many people selling dolls on eBay are men.  Most likely they have not been holding on to some cherished doll since childhood.  They probably purchased it at a yard sale or auction and have decided to make it available for collectors more interested in the dolls themselves than in making a profit for them.

There are many men who now lament the loss of their prized GI Joe collections that may have been lost to abuse and damage or, in many cases, given away by parents to younger relatives or friends of the family.  They look now on eBay and see how much their collections would have been worth and just moan, thinking of possibly thousands of dollars worth of collectible figures that were simply given away back in the days before eBay made everyone aware of the collectibles market.

Collecting dolls is not necessarily the same as playing with dolls.  Actually, many doll collectors would never dream of letting their dolls get into the hands of a child who would use them to start acting out an adventure that could damage or de-value the doll.  Dolls are collected and often displayed in ways that show them off, but keep them protected as much as possible.  The types of dolls being preserved may be different, but the demographics of doll collecting reaches across the gender lines.

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