#1 Barbie doll history; Her name is Barbara Millicent Roberts, “Barbie” was born on March 09, 1959 to parents George and Margaret Roberts and they live in Willow, Wisconsin USA. The Barbie doll was created by Ruth Handler one of the founders of Mattel. Barbie doll markings are found on the right side buttock, head neck rims are not marked, any other markingson the backside, inside of arms and inside thigh were used by the manufacture for assembly and do not date the doll. The trademark date is the first date of patent or copyright in the country issued.
When identifying vintage Barbie ponytail dolls one to four, all dolls have the same Barbie ™ in the doll mark and Barbie ponytail dolls five to six are all marked Barbie ®. You’ll need to look for differences between the dolls to identify which doll and year yours is, those subtle characteristics are noted below for each doll.
Barbie dolls1959-1962| 1963-1967| 1968-1972| 1973-1976
Barbie clothes 1959-63| 1964-65 |1966-68|1969-70| 1971-72 | 1973-74 | 1975-76 | Rare | Japanese
1959-1965 Barbie Ponytail Dolls #1 to #8 Identified
#1 Barbie #850 Ponytail doll early part of 1959 – only about350,000 of the first Barbie dolls were produced, the doll is made of heavy vinyl plastic, partially solid body now probably quite white, blonde or brunette saran ponytail hair (blonde’s out number Brunettes 3 to 1), with tight curly bangs, metal cylinders in legs, symmetrical holes in bottom of feet to fit on a black pedestal stand, bottom of right foot marked JAPAN, pointy ^ ^ eyebrows like lightening bolts,side glancing eyes with white irises, some of the early Barbie dolls have hand painted faces, others were stenciled, closed red painted mouth, No mark on back of dolls head, wore a one piece black and white zebra striped swimsuit, black open toe heeled shoes with holes on the bottom to fit on the black pedestal stand with prongs, white sunglasses with blue lenses, gold tone hoop earrings, Barbie doll’s cardboard box has TM in the marking and a pink booklet with Barbie only on the cover. Values for number 1 Barbie dolls with holes on feet bottoms and lightening bolt eye brows are usually in the thousands of dollars, the better the condition of the doll, plus all her original accessories will command the highest value
1994 Barbie #850 Ponytail 35th anniversary doll – reproduction of the 1959 Barbie doll has honey blonde or dark brunette soft shiny polyester ponytail hair with loosely curled bangs, pointed eyebrows, heavy black lids, painted white iris eyes, big red closed mouth, hollow plastic flesh colored body that won’t turn white, dolls have holes in the feet but no tubes in the legs, no Japan mark on bottom of foot and there is a mold line on the front and back of the legs. Doll is dressed in her reproduction black and white striped zebra swimsuit that has clear plastic straps to help keep the swimsuit in place (the original did not have these), black open toe heels, white sunglasses with blue lenses, gold tone hoop earrings, clear stand, reproduction of the #1 box and graphics.
Mattel sold a lot of the reproduction Barbie’s, many still in the box or loose dolls can be found in online auctions for very reasonable $’s.
The #2 Barbie ponytail doll was also reproduced and should also have a neck marking.
#2 Barbie ponytail doll, later part of 1959 – Same as #1 Barbie doll #850 without holes in feet bottoms or cylinders in legs, no pegs on the new disc pedestal stand with black wire that fits under the dolls arms, same swimsuit, sunglasses, no holes on bottom of black open toe heel shoes, some dolls came with new pearl earrings,box has new ® in the trademark and a pink Barbie booklet. The #2 Barbie doll has the same marking as the #1 Barbie doll.
1960 #3 Barbie #850 doll has new blue irises, softer curve to eyebrows, brown or blue eyeliner Barbie ™ mark .
1960 #4 Barbie #850 doll has a new type of plastic that retains flesh color, only came with with blue eyeliner, Barbie ™ mark.
1961-1962 new Barbie #850 ponytail doll mark Barbie ® Pats. Pend. © MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc.
1961 #5 Barbie ponytail #850 doll has a hollow torso, may have a “greasy” face, firmer texture hair, 1st year of new titian hair color, pink Barbie & Ken booklet, new Barbie ® mark.
1962 #6 Barbie ponytail #850 doll has new hard curly bangs, new red one piece helenca swimsuit, new undated box with new graphics with ponytail & bubblecut hair styles, Barbie ® mark.
1963 #7 Barbie ponytail #850 doll has a new mark Midge T. M. © 1962 Barbie ® © 1958 by Mattel, Inc. just like the bubblecut dolls in 1963, box graphics are now dated © 1962.
1964-1965 #8 Barbie ponytail doll #850 – same as the 1963 #7 Barbie doll mark with the word “patented” added to the last line, doll mark Midge T. M. © 1962 Barbie ® © 1958 by Mattel, Inc. Patented.
1916-1965 Barbie Vintage Bubblecut Dolls Identified
1961 Barbie #850 Bubblecut Doll – new bubblecut hairstyle, new titian (red or auburn) hair color, blonde, brownette (this is the lighter brown or sable color only sold at Sears) and brunette almost black color, rest same as 5 and 6 ponytail. Lip and nail colors vary from red to pale bubblegum pink. The Brownette hair color is rarer than the other hair colors and therefore commands a higher value, she wore a black and white striped swimsuit in 1961 only just like the earlier ponytails, same accessories as prior ponytail Barbie dolls. Doll mark Barbie ® Pats. Pend. © MCMLVIII by Mattel Inc.
1962 Barbie #850 Bubblecut Doll – new red helenca swimsuit, rest the same as 1961 Barbie doll.
1963 Barbie #850 Bubblecut Doll – slightly taller body, rest same as 1962 Barbie doll, new markings of Midge and Barbie. New doll mark Midge T. M. © 1962 Barbie ® © 1958 by Mattel, Inc.
1964-1965 Barbie #850 Bubblecut Doll – same as 1963 bubblecut, added the word “patented” to the last line doll mark Midge T. M. © 1962 Barbie ® © 1958 by Mattel, Inc. Patented.
Barbie dolls1959-1962| 1963-1967| 1968-1972| 1973-1976
Barbie clothes 1959-63| 1964-65 |1966-68|1969-70| 1971-72 | 1973-74 | 1975-76 | Rare | Japanese
The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Barbie Dolls and Collectibles book in 1984 by Sibyl DeWein and Joan Ashabraner.
Barbie Doll Fashion: The complete history of the wardrobes of Barbie doll her friends and family books, vol. I (1959-1967) in 1990, vol. II (1968-1974) in 1997 by Sarah Sink Eames, Skipper, Barbie Dolls Little Sister, Identification and Value Guide, also featuring Tutti & Todd, Barbie & Skipper’s tiny twin Sister and Brother book in 1998 by Scott Arend, Karla Holzerland, Trina Kent.
