The #892 Barbie
and Ken (Tennis) Gift Set is one of my favorites. Interestingly, we all
call it the “Barbie and Ken Tennis Gift Set”, but Mattel didn’t include the
word “Tennis” in the name, although the picture on the box depicts the couple
with their tennis racquets.
The set was
released in 1962 and 1963 only. The early set came with a #750 flocked
hair Ken and #850 Ponytail Barbie doll or #850 Bubblecut Barbie. Later it
could be found with a painted head Ken as well.
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| Ponytail Barbie and Flocked Hair Ken |
This fabulous
set included so much. Barbie in her red one-piece swim-suit and Ken in his red
swim trunks and yellow towel, or red swim trunks and matching striped
terry-cloth lined jacket. Both dolls were placed in their plain
white boxes, box liner (no top), black metal stands, and proper wrist tags. Ken wore cork sandals and Barbie sported her red open toe shoes and pearl
earrings. Barbie’s box included the blue 1962 Barbie and Ken booklet as well.
The clothing
consisted of nearly the complete #941 Tennis Anyone ensemble: Jacket, socks,
shoes, tennis book, sunglasses, tennis racquet, and tennis balls. The white
tennis dress was replaced with a white scoop neck playsuit. Ken had the
complete #790 Time for Tennis ensemble: shirt, sweater jacket, shorts, socks,
shoes, sunglasses, tennis racquet, and tennis balls. Each tennis ensemble
for Barbie and Ken include two tennis balls, but the gift set had a total of
two.
This beautiful
set also included Barbie’s pretty yellow silk sheath dress, orange gathered
pak skirt, pink bra and panties, orange clutch purse, orange open toe heels,
red wide pak belt, and pearl necklace. Ken also had a pair of white
undershorts, green corduroy pants, green socks, red and green sport shirt, and
brown shoes with white tops.
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The box is one
of the bigger gift set boxes. It measures 17 inches deep by 27 inches
wide (for those of you wondering if you have room to showcase it!). It
has a blue liner to which the clothes are attached by white string.
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| End of box showing the stock number |
The set was
featured in the Mattel Catalog in 1962 and 1963. It retailed for
$15.00. In 1962 and 1963 the Montgomery Ward catalog contained the set as
well, but the box was replaced with a plastic doll carrying case. The
retail price for that set was 13.77, or $10.99 without the case.
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| 1962 and 1963 pictures of the set in the Montgomery Ward Catalog |
This is a very
difficult set to find, both complete in the box or the box alone! It’s
such a treasure once you acquire it.
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ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI recently purchased a lot of vintage Barbies with clothing. I have a partial set of #892. I'm missing socks, glasses, panties and the balls. Is there anyway to figure out what this set may be worth? I do not have the packaging. Items are in good condition. Thank you for any advice you may be able to give! Leah
The box (and dolls) as well as conditional adds much of the value to this set. Your best bet would be to look at the sold listings on eBay to find the item that is the most like what you have, and that will be your best indication.
DeleteI have all the pieces in this set, and it came with a Bubblecut Barbie. Unfortunately, the box is long gone.
ReplyDelete