Website Update

Good Morning!

I wanted to let everyone know that MyVintageBarbies.com (the website) is up and running again! I had a few glitches this week and had to pull it down for a bit.

I love hearing how you all are using the site and appreciate the support you have shown by clicking through the affiliate links to help keep the site live.  I'm happy I don't have to run all those pop-up ads that get in the way of your viewing enjoyment!

The incident that occurred on my website this week is the reason I wrote My Vintage Barbies (the reference book).  I wanted to preserve my hours of research in case the site had to be taken down, or the software became too outdated to maintain.  The book also contains information that is not found on the website.  Fortunately, for now all is well.  I hope to keep MyVintageBarbies.com running for many years to come.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their lovely messages and emails expressing how much you have enjoyed my book.  Thank you to everyone who has purchased it.

It's starting to feel like fall here in Oregon.  Enjoy the rest of your summer! 

Happy Hunting!

Marie

My Vintage Barbies (The Book)

After a year in the works, I’m excited to announce My Vintage Barbies is completed and for sale at Amazon!

This large 348-page reference book is sure to capture the interest of all Barbie enthusiasts. My Vintage Barbies covers the Barbie era in detail, from 1959 to 1979 and beyond. Although the book spotlights the vintage era, it includes unique and historically relevant dolls after 1979, including foreign, holiday, and current collectible dolls. Vintage clothing ensembles from 1959 to 1972 are also included for Barbie, her friends, and her family, as well as gift sets, furniture, structures, and scores of other vintage Barbie items. Readers will enjoy over three thousand (many never-before seen) color photographs, while discovering a few of the author’s personal favorites and other fun surprises along the way! Collectors will appreciate the descriptions about each doll, and the detail with which the author explains their variations and specifics. The book includes a table of contents with an extensive, organized, and detailed index, making it quick and easy to find a specific clothing ensemble, doll, or other item. This is a must have book for any Barbie collector, enthusiast, or fashionista, and will make a cherished gift for the Barbie aficionado!

Buy: My Vintage Barbies

Happy Hunting!

Letter for You...

Hello to all my Barbie friends!

I wanted to send a quick update as it has been awhile since my last blog.  I continue to monitor and update my website and this blog as needed.  I found some links from the blog and the website that were not working correctly, and those have now been fixed.  If you find any other issues as you are using the site or blog, please let me know, and I will work on those as well.

I have enjoyed all your emails, comments, feedback, and support over the years, and have loved hearing how much my website and blog have been helpful to you.  I also appreciate you clicking through the links to help cover the costs of keeping the website up and running.  Thank you!  💗

I so love my Barbie collection, as I know you love yours as well.  You won’t be seeing as many posts as before, because I am not finding as many “new” topics to write about! 

Be sure to keep popping over to the website,  because when I get new information I always add it there!  Also, thank you for following this blog, Facebook, and bookmarking my website!

Happy Hunting!

Marie

Click here to go to www.MyVintageBarbies.com

Barbie of the Month: Pep Rally Gift Set

With fall approaching and football season already in full swing, the perfect gift set to showcase this month is Barbie Midge & Ken Pep Rally Gift set, stock #1022".

This fabulous gift set didn't come with dolls, but included three complete outfits for football season and a booklet.  #875 Drum Majorette, #876 Cheerleader and #775 Drum Majorette.  Barbie, Ken, and Midge were set for the big game!

The set was released in 1965.  The big square box that the set comes in measures 16 1/2 x 14 inches.  The box is marked:  ©1964 Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, California, USA  / Costumes imported from Japan. / Printed in U.S.A.

The sides of the box

Barbie wore a red and white drum majorette ensemble, which included a white skirt, red jacket trimmed in gold and silver, sheer tights, plush hat, white boots, white gloves, and she carried a gold baton. Ken wore a matching drum major ensemble. His included a plush hat, red trousers with a white stripe on the side, white jacket with gold and silver trim, white shoes and socks, and he carried a gold baton as well.  Midge was the cheerleader.  Her outfit includes a full red skirt and white sweater, emblazoned with the letter M.  She also wore white socks, red shoes, and carried red and white pompoms, and carried a megaphone for cheering.

This darling set retailed for $5.97 in the Sears catalog, but the ensembles could also be purchased separately, which would be at a slightly higher cost of $7.04.

A year earlier, 1964, the #1014 Barbie, Ken and Midge on Parade was released.  This is the same set as the Pep Rally Gift Set, but it included all three dolls; Barbie, Ken, and Midge.  The set is shown in the 1964 Mattel catalog, but it was not available in either the Sears or Penney's catalog that year. 

Mattel Catalog:  Notice the word "NEW"
The first picture is from 1964 and the second picture is from 1965

Interestingly, I did see the #1022 Barbie, Midge, and Ken Pep Rally Gift set" listed in the Sears Catalog in 1964 with a retail price of $5.87, but it was not in the Mattel catalog that year.  

Since the Pep Rally Gift set was "new" in 1965, why would it be in the Sears catalog in 1964?  I'm thinking it was a printing error and the Barbie, Ken and Midge on Parade was supposed to be the one featured in 1964.  But anything is possible in Barbieland!

These were taken from the 1964 and 1965 Sears Catalog.

I love the gifts sets, and love collecting them.  I hope you find some for your collection too!

Happy Hunting

Be sure to visit my website for more Barbie!

http://www.myvintagebarbies.com/

Barbie of the Month: Barbie and Ken (Tennis) Gift Set

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

Happy Hunting!



Be sure to visit my web site for more Barbie!
www.MyVintageBarbies.com

2017 Barbie Tree

Christmas wouldn't be the same if I didn't put up my little Barbie tree.  

My Little Barbie Tree

My tree is full of replica's of my favorite vintage dolls, their cases, and many other darling Barbie items.  

Number 1 Barbie dressed in Gay Parisienne
which is one of my very favorites!

The cases are so cute.

Midge dressed in Suburban Shopper
and barbie dressed in Silken Flame and Red Flare.

Barbie is all about her accessories.

Another favorite is my tree topper
 with Barbie and Ken dressed in Wedding Day and Tuxedo.

Do you have a Barbie tree? I'm sure everyone would love to see pictures and hear your story.

Merry Christmas!

Barbie of the Month: Reissue Skipper

Reissue Skipper

In 1969 Mattel added a last minute update flyer to their spring catalog. One of the six items featured was Barbie’s little sister, the #950 straight-leg Skipper doll.  She was packaged wearing the same swim-suit as she wore back in 1964, when she originally debuted.  She was available through 1970, when she was only included in the 1970 Sears catalog, priced at $1.97.

Photo from the 1970 Sears Catalog

This young girl wasn’t exactly identical though.  Even though she had the same swim-suit and hair style as the 1964 version, she had a pinker skin tone and a modified box. 



#950 Reissue Skipper in the updated box



Just glancing at the box you’d almost think it was identical, but if you take a closer look you will see that the new box features Mod Barbie dolls dressed in 1969 and 1970 Mod clothing, rather than early dolls dressed in early 1960’s clothing.

1964 and 1969 boxes

Reissue Skipper has blue eyes and pink, peach, or yellow lips, and was available with blonde, brunette, or titan hair colors.

1964 and 1969 boxes

1964 and 1969 boxes

1964 and 1969 boxes

She is marked: ©1963/Mattel, Inc.

The similar box included skipper in her one-piece red and white swim-suit, red flat shoes, brass headband, white plastic brush & comb, black or gold wire stand, and booklet.  Note:  the brass headband often tarnishes and caused some green to transfer onto Skippers head and hair when left on her head.

Since Skipper was only available from 1969 to 1970 and was only featured twice, (once on a flyer and once in the Sears catalog), she is extremely rare to find in-box.   She is certainly a very popular doll among collectors.

Happy Hunting!