Vintage Barbie Identification |
The Early Barbie Dolls, 1959 - 1961 |
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Number 1 and Number 2 Ponytail Barbie
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There's really no mistaking the
first Barbie dolls, the #1 and #2 Ponytails, for any of the other dolls considering the
dramatic make-up with the cat eyes and
pointy eyebrows. The #1 will have holes in the bottom of her feet and the #2 will
not have holes. They'll most likely be very pale or even a ghostly green
because the material the body was made with fades. |
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850 #1 & #2 Ponytail Barbie (1959)
Hair Color:
Blonde or Brunette
(Sometimes appears Light Strawberry).
Face: No iris eye color, heavy
eyeliner, dramatically arched blonde or brown eyebrows, large
red lips.
Body: Heavy solid rubbery body
that smells
like crayons, faded and pale, small neck knob. Holes in feet with copper tubes
inserted
(#2 has no holes). Marked "Barbie TM Pats. Pend. @MCMLVIII by Mattel,
Inc."
 Accessories:
Black & White Swimsuit Black Mules
Gold Hoop Earrings
White Sunglasses
Black Disc Stand w/Prongs
'59 Barbie Fashion Booklet
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Number 3 Ponytail Barbie
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The same faded color with brown
eye shadow makes
the Number 3's look anemic. But that's what collectors love. The brown is
preferred even though there are less with blue shadow. It's sometimes
difficult to tell the 3's and 4's apart if the shadow is blue. You have
to rely on the skin color, but it's still confusing because Mattel cross-utilized body parts.
See
this. |
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850 #3 Ponytail Barbie (1960)
Hair Color:
Blonde or Brunette
(Sometimes appears Light Strawberry).
Face: Blue eyes, blonde or brown
brows, red lips, distinctive brown shadow, or blue. There
were less dolls painted with blue shadow.
Body: Heavy solid rubbery
body that smells like crayons, faded and pale, small neck knob. Marked "Barbie TM Pats. Pend. @MCMLVIII by Mattel,
Inc."
Accessories:
Black & White Swimsuit
Black Mules
Gold Hoops/ Pearl Earrings
White Sunglasses
Black Disc Stand w/Wire
'59 Barbie Fashion Booklet
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~ Number 4 Ponytail Barbie
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The Number 4's were originally
much like the Number 3's without the brown eye shadow, but they used a different
type of vinyl, so they don't fade like the previous dolls. But the body is
still solid and smells like crayons. Her head is generally more
supple and her hair a bit fluffier. The Number 4 has aged well and retains
her original look. |
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850 #4 Ponytail Barbie (1960)
Hair Color:
Blonde or Brunette
(Sometimes appears Light Strawberry).
Face: Blue eyes, blonde or brown
brows, red lips, blue eye shadow only.
Body: Heavy solid rubbery body
that smells
like crayons, small neck knob. Marked "Barbie TM Pats. Pend. @MCMLVIII by Mattel,
Inc."
Accessories:
Black & White Swimsuit
Black Mules
Gold Hoop/Pearl Earrings
White Sunglasses
Black Disc Stand w/Wire
'59 Barbie Fashion Booklet
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~ Number 5 Ponytail Barbie
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The Number 5's had a new
hollow body, poodle curls gone in favor of
big curls, hair is rather coarse and the blondes tend to be brassy. The Number
5's are plagued with problems. The new plastic "sweats" and
makes the face look oily and often the heads become dark and leg stance is
spayed. But they
are blessed with the traditional big luscious red lips. |
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850 #5 Ponytail Barbie (1961)
Hair Color:
Blonde, Brunette (Black) or Titian. Big fuzzy curls, bangs
are coarse unlike any other Ponytail.
Face: Blue eyes, light blonde, brown
or reddish brows, red lips, blue eye shadow.
Body: Hollow plastic torso,
small neck knob. Marked "Barbie (R) Pats. Pend. @MCMLVIII by Mattel,
Inc."
 Accessories:
Black & White Swimsuit
Black Mules
Pearl Earrings
Optional
White Sunglasses
Black Wire Stand
'61 B&K Fashion Booklet
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~ Number 1 Bubble Cut Barbie
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A new Barbie with a bouffant
hairdo. The 1961 Bubble Cuts had very tight bubbles. They still have the luscious big red lips
and unfortunately the same problems as the #5's. The first Bubbles are
distinct from the others. Jen at "All Dolled Up" has a
detailed
article about the differences
between Bubbles, and Krista of "Doll Restoration" explains
1961 White Gingers. |
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850 #1 Bubble
Cut Barbie (1961)
Hair Color:
Blonde, Black, Titian or rare White Ginger and Brown Sable (called Brownette
- see photo below).
Face: Blue eyes, blonde, brown
or reddish brows, blue eye shadow, red lips, or rare pink
bubblegum on White Gingers. Those dolls have blue eyes and
turquoise shadow.
Body: Hollow plastic torso,
small neck knob. Marked "Barbie (R) Pats. Pend. @MCMLVIII by Mattel,
Inc."
Accessories:
Black & White Swimsuit
Black Mules
Pearl Earrings
Optional
White Sunglasses
Black Wire Stand
'61 B&K Fashion Booklet
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~ #1
Flocked Ken
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The first issue Kens had
"lifelike" flocked hair, so you will have no trouble distinguishing
them from later painted-hair Kens. Many Kens have lost their flocking. Some Kens
"fade" and "sweat" like early Barbie. The rare Kens: J.C. Penney sold a flocked Ken with
light brown hair (see below and see him with his red towel
here) and Ken dolls with painted legs. |
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750 #1 Ken
Doll (1961)
Hair Color:
Blonde, Brunette or Rare Brown flocked hair.
Face: Blue eyes, brown brows, mauve
lips.
Body: Hollow plastic torso.
Marked
"Ken TM Pats. Pend. @MCMLX by Mattel,
Inc."
Accessories:
Red Trunks or Red Trunks w/White Stripes
Red & White Striped Jacket
Red Cork Sandals
Optional Yellow Towel
Black Wire Stand
'61 B&K Fashion Booklet
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| The early dolls were a work in
progress, personalized, more handmade than not, and patterned off of life.
They
are more artistic relics than vintage toys. |
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