Monday, April 30, 2012

The Hunt

Everyone has a different story as to why they started a particular collection. Mine was undoubtedly because my mother was an avid doll collector.  I noticed her excitement over the years as she headed off to the local flea markets and doll shows in our area.  She didn’t care if anyone wanted to look at her collection; it was purely for her personal enjoyment. If anyone wanted to admire her trove, then that was just an added bonus!  She didn't collect Barbie dolls, although she did pick up a few of those along the way (which I now have!).  But she did have many other lovely dolls.
If I had to pick a timeline as to when I officially started my collection, it would probably be 1989, with the purchase of the number two “Happy Holidays Barbie”.  Of course my original Barbies from when I was a kid were on display in my home long before the purchase of my first “collectors” Barbie.  The initial Happy Holidays Barbie debuted in 1988 and is considered Mattel’s first official "collectible" Barbie.   Once that collecting bug hit me, I was off and running with my new passion; Vintage Barbies! 

Peace & Love 70's Barbie (2000)
Twenty-three years later my collection has grown to include at least a sample of almost every doll available from the vintage years, along with many of the beautiful fashions and accessories!  Of course I've added some new ones too, such as Holiday Barbies, the gorgeous Silkstone dolls, and some fun ones like the “Peace and Love 70's” doll (I had to have her since I was a teenager back then!).  I've picked up porcelains, reproductions, and new collectors dolls over the years too. But the vintage dolls remain my passion. 

I’m hoping the next decade will bring me some prototypes, the harder to find dolls, and the more unusual ones, as well as a few more of the amazing Silkstones!  I know my Barbie collection will never be complete.  And I wouldn't want it to be, because half the fun of collecting is the hunt!

7 comments:

  1. That's so true, hunting for vintage is so absolutely fun!

    I love going to doll shows and flea markets and antique shops just to see what might be lurking there!

    New follower here!
    Your blog is filled with fun little tidbits of info! Thank you!
    http://majokkoshop.blogspot.com

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  2. Hello from Spain: I just discovered your blog thanks to the blog of Dana Cooper. Ialso agree with you that I'm married and I am a collector of Barbies. I have noBarbies very expensive but I have many. I started collecting them in adulthood. 14 years ago my then boyfriend, now my husband, the pilot gave me the Barbie witha ticket to go on a trip to the Riviera. From the time I returned to buy Barbies. If you want to keep in touch with blog blog

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  3. I think we all remember the Barbie of our youth! Mine was Julia! I had to have her and Black Francie as an adult! I can afford the original Black Francie. I have a repo but if I hit the lottery, I will get a real Black Francie. I love the vintage fashions of the mod era dolls! Like your mom, no once really saw my dolls...until I had a blog! Now I try to show them. I think having a blog added to the want of more dolls! I'm glad Dana Cooper posted about you and it was nice to find your blog!

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  4. Thank you Heather, Marta and Ms. Leo for checking out my blog! I appreciate your comments!

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  5. Love this! Fun to read!

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  6. Is Barbie's name really Barbara Millicent Roberts? Saw this on a snapple lid.

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  7. Yes it is. Barbie was actually named after Ruth Handler's daughter Barbara. Ruth is the creator of Barbie. And the rest of her name was published in fictional Story Books in the 1960's. If you look in those story books you'll see her full name used in them.

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