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: Midge’s Ensemble Gift Set



It’s December and a perfect month to feature one of the early gift sets; specifically Midge’s Ensemble Gift set stock #1012 from 1964.  The box is marked 1963, but the set wasn’t available until 1964.



#1012 Midge's Ensemble Gift Set



This colorful set is extremely hard to find intact with the box liner, all the clothing, doll stand, and doll.  There is also very little information on it in the Barbie world!



#1012 Midge's Ensemble Gift Set Complete (missing wrist tag)

 

The gift set includes a #860 straight-leg Midge doll with a flip hair-do and pink hang tag on her left arm.  There was also a black wire doll stand, clothing, and a fashion booklet in the box.  I’ve seen her available in the set with brunette and titian hair.  I’m sure she must have come with blonde too. What is interesting to me about this set is the brunette and titan dolls both wore a yellow swim suit with orange bottoms.  Dolls that were sold separately had a different color swim suit based on their hair color (blonde had a light blue top with darker blue bottoms, brunette had a pink top with red bottoms, and titian had a yellow top with orange bottoms).

 

The dolls in the set all wore
a orange and yellow swim suit



 The Dolls sold separately wore a different color

swim suit based on their hair color



This set came with a whole mix ‘n match knit wardrobe which included both a stripe and a solid pattern.  The striped colored clothing consisted of a long gathered sparkle knit skirt, a knit sheath slim skirt with elastic waist and matching wide sash featuring orange fringe on the ends, a straw hat with striped knit headband and attached striped scarf. There was also a striped knit clutch purse with button clasp.

The solid colored clothing comprised of blue knit pants and a blue knit top.  The set also included royal blue open toe heels and white open toe heels.



The clothes that were included in the box set were also sold separately in 1963 as Pak items, which are single items that were less expensive to purchase.  In 1964 a clothing ensemble, #1602 Knit Separates, was available. It included four items (blue knit skirt, striped top, gold pants, and blue shoes).  That ensemble is also part of this gift set.

 

#1602 Knit Separates

My set originally sold for $6.99 at Meier and Frank (but was marked down to $2.99).  Today, if you can even find it, you will certainly pay significantly more.  I also love that old familiar slogan written on the front of the box: “You Can Tell It’s Mattel…It’s Swell!” What a nostalgic reminder of the early days of the Barbie doll! 

Happy Hunting!