Who invented the 1959 Barbie?
Vintage 1959 Barbie is a fashion 11 inches doll with an adult woman’s figure launched by the American retail organization Mattel, Inc. in March 1959. And Ruth Handler, an American businesswoman, is credited with inventing the Barbie doll after being inspired by a German doll called Bild Lilli.
What was the highest sold price of this 1959 Barbie?
The first edition of the Barbie doll in 1959 has round holes feet and copper tubes on the bottom. It also has distinct white irises with black outlines and a hint of blue eye shadow. In addition, the brows are arched rather than rounded. The hair was available in both blonde and brunette shades. Barbie suit in a zebra-print swimsuit.
The original 1959 first edition Barbie is scarce. This rare Barbie is estimated to be worth $8,000, a mint condition doll sold for $27,450 at auction. According to The Richest, you can tell if your model is the first edition by looking for holes in the bottom of her feet; the second edition was up in the market in the same year but had solid feet.
How old is Barbie now?
Ruth Handler observed her daughter Barbara entertaining herself in paper dolls and frequently gave them adult roles. Then, recognizing a potential market gap, Handler proposed the concept of an adult-bodied doll to her husband Elliot, a co-founder of the Mattel toy company.
In 1956, Handler came across a German toy doll called Bild Lilli during a trip to Europe with her children. The adult-figured doll was the same as what Handler was looking for, so she bought it.
When Handler returned to the United States, she remodeled the doll (with native inventor-designer Jack Ryan), and it was renamed Barbie after Handler’s daughter Barbara.
On March 9, 1959, the doll made its first appearance at the American International Toy Fair in New York City. This date is also Barbie’s formal birthday. Now Barbie is turning 63.
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