Barbie of the Month: Happy Holidays Barbie

We are well into the holiday season, and with Christmas just around the corner I hope you all are enjoying this beautiful season.

What a perfect month to take a look back at why so many people started collecting Barbie.

Did you know that the very first official collectible Barbie doll happened to be the 1988 Happy Holidays Barbie?  Many adults became enthusiasts for the first time when this adult version of Barbie was introduced. 

This brand new Barbie doll was dressed in a beautiful long red shimmering gown that was trimmed with a silver satin bow, highlighted with a red flower and green leaves which she tied at her waist.  A matching ribbon worn in her long blonde hair complemented her ensemble.

 

1988 Happy Holidays Barbie Doll

The Happy Holiday series was a huge hit, and the dolls sold out fast. Collecting Barbie at Christmas was just so much fun!

The last Happy Holidays doll from the series debuted in 1998, for a total of 20 dolls released.  Each year the dolls were available in two versions; white or black, except for in 1988 and 1989 when Barbie was only available as a white doll.

In 1993 Hallmark released a replica of the 1993 Happy Holidays Barbie in the form of an ornament.  Since that time Barbie Christmas trees have become a big hit with collectors, who would buy up new ornaments every year to add to their cute little trees.

 

1993 Hallmark Ornament

One of my favorite things to do each Christmas, is to dress up my vintage girls in one of the fabulous holiday gowns that are found on the various contemporary Holidays Barbie dolls.  Thanks to Mattel, there are now a lot to choose from since 1988!

 

 

1965 American Girl Barbie dressed in the 1989
Happy Holidays Barbie ensemble.

1967 Twist 'n Turn Barbie dressed in the 1991
Happy Holidays Barbie ensemble.

Mattel continues to release new Holiday Barbie dolls - as well as ornaments - every year, but the very first official collectible doll, the 1988 Happy Holidays Barbie, still commands the best price on the secondary market. 

Merry Christmas and Happy hunting!

To view the complete line of Happy Holidays Barbie dolls, click this link to take you to my website!

The Beautiful German Bild Lilli

 We’ve all seen pictures of the amazing Bild Lilli doll, but few of us are lucky enough to own one. The Bild Lilli has a fascinating history, and if you thought she started as a beautiful doll, have I got a story for you!

It all started back in 1952, in the bustling city of Hamburg, Germany.  Reinhard Beuthien, a cartoonist for the Bild-Zeitungm Newspaper, (or the Bild for short) created a new cartoon for the enormously popular tabloid style newspaper.  The paper published gossip stories, had topless women on the front page, and reported other (often inflated) dramatic stories.  Today it is still Germany’s largest newspaper, in terms of circulation.

 

The star character in Beuthien’s cartoon was named Lilli.  She was a beautiful, sexy, blonde woman who you’d often find sitting in a fortune-tellers tent. The cartoon showed her with her girlfriends, men, and sometimes even her boss.  Despite the era, she had no problem talking about rich men and sex.  During the day she worked in a newspaper office, and after hours enjoyed the company of rich men. She wore tight skirts and low cut shirts. She would often ask taboo type questions such as “Can’t you tell me the name and address of this rich and handsome man?” or “I could do without balding old men, but my budget couldn’t”. The highly popular cartoon ran daily from June 24, 1952 to January 5^th, 1961. 

 

In 1953 the Bild contacted Max Weissbrodt, a designer from the O. & M. Hausser Toy Company in Germany, and asked him to design a novelty doll based on the cartoon character. Using Reinhard Beuthien’s drawings he designed the first prototype doll.  On August 12, 1955 the first Bild Lilli doll was available for purchase.   She came in two sizes;   7 ½ and 11 ½ inch.  Each doll came in a clear plastic tube, with a tiny Bild Newspaper, and eventually a round stand captioned “Bild Lilli”.  The majority of the dolls had blonde hair, but there are a few rare brunettes out there too.  The dolls are unmarked and very fragile. They have unsealed hand painted faces that can be washed off with water.

Bild Lilli was originally marketed as a gag gift.  She could be found in bars, cigar shops, and other male establishments.  Some people even referred to her as a sex toy. Parents did not approve of the doll, but in spite of their disapproval, she eventually became very popular with children. Many beautiful clothes were created for her in the styles of the 1950’s.  There were furnishings and other accessories designed specifically for her too. 

Over 130,000 dolls were produced in the eight short years she was for sale.  In 1964 Mattel acquired the rights to the doll and production was immediately halted.  The Bild Lilli doll was removed from the marketplace.  

Today the German Bild Lilli is extremely collectible and commands a high price on the secondary market. The 11 ½ inch is more popular to collectors than the shorter version. She was exported to the United States and other European countries, but her name was changed to Lilli Marlene” or just “Lilli”.  Don’t get her confused with all the clones (such as Hong Kong versions) on the secondary market that were produced in the 1960’s.  Once Mattel owned the rights, the Hausser Company sold her head molds to a British Hong Kong based company (Dura-Fam Ltd.). Later they leased or sold other head molds they still had on hand to other companies around the world.  Even though the dolls look similar, they are much lower quality and they are not the true Gorgeous German Bild Lilli.

 

My Barbie Display Cabinets

The months of waiting for my Barbie display cabinets to be built seemed like an eternity, but was certainly worth the wait!  I designed the cabinets exactly how I had envisioned them. First, I carefully measured my dolls and their boxes.  Next, I applied painters tape onto the wall, making sure I wasn’t going overboard in size.  Then I presented my drawing to my neighbor Jim (the guy who can make anything) for his input.  His only major change was two smaller cabinets side by side rather than one really large cabinet.  And then there was all the little stuff I didn’t think of! 

 

                                                                (Photo Removed)

Before, most of my dolls were displayed in a jamb-packed curio cabinet in an area of the house where I couldn’t enjoy looking at them nearly as often as I would like, and it didn’t showcase them like they deserved.  I moved my entire Barbie collection (well, the majority of it) to my home office, where I spend probably way too much of my time.  In my office I still have a couple large curio cabinets with my gifts sets, rare dolls, Skipper size dolls, furniture, and cars displayed. With the new “Shadow Box” style cabinets for my Barbie and Ken size dolls I am now set.  Of course I have other Barbie memorabilia on the walls and anywhere else I can make it fit without it looking cluttered.   With my office located just off the kitchen behind double French doors, there’s still a great view even from the kitchen! 

My museum quality collection had to have labels. So being the organized person I am, I made table tent cards.  I listed each doll by name and the year they debuted.   Next I put them in order by year, but at the same time keeping the Ponytails, Bubblecuts, etc. grouped together, which I think makes a more interesting display.  It also helps me find the dolls I want to see quickly or the ones I would like to sell and upgrade in a pinch.

My new display cabinets have made collecting Barbie’s just that much more fun! 



Visit my web site at: www.MyVintageBarbies.com



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!