Barbie of the Month: Dramatic Living Barbie Action Accents Set

 

 
 
This lovely but hard to find red-haired Dramatic Living Barbie doll was only available in the United States as a Sears Exclusive gift set.  She was also sold separately in Japan. 

This doll differs a bit from the Dramatic Living Barbie’s with the “Taiwan” marking that we are all used to seeing.  She has a little bit longer hair that’s a darker red color.  She has the same body, pretty face, and rooted eyelashes as the Taiwan doll, but what sets her apart is her “Japan” marking.

 

Notice the length of hair: (Left) Japan Marked doll, (Right) Taiwan Marked doll

 

These active dolls can pose in almost every way possible. Her original box says: “My elbows, knees and ankles bend, my head, hands and waist turn, my arms and legs swing up ‘n around!”   What a perfect doll to use for this action set.

Action Accents Dramatic Living Barbie

 

 

If little girls were looking for an excellent group of athletic clothes for Barbie, then the #1585 Action Accents was the one to buy!  This exclusive Sears gift set was only sold in the United States in 1970 and 1971.   The collection included the doll and sixteen sporty items for all her many adventurous activities. 

Front of the box

 

The doll came with a wrist tag, clear stand, and was dressed in her hot-pink leotard with matching tights for working out.  She even had a workout rope to use for resistance.  For skiing she wore her same tights and leotard, but added a vinyl pink and orange ski jacket.  There were a set of skis, poles and boots, too.  For snorkeling in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean she had her fins, mask, snorkel, and a one-piece orange and blue swimsuit. For ballet performances she wore her pink leotard and tights along with a pink tutu and ballet slippers.  When she went ice skating in Central Park she wore her tights and leotard again, but this time added her blue skirt with straps that was trimmed with pink faux fur along the bottom. A pink furry hat and matching blue ice skates completed her outfit.

The complete set

The Living Barbie that was sold strictly in Japan came in an open style box with cellophane covering the top.  It is the same box that the Japanese Living Eli doll came in.  They both were packaged wearing tights and leotard, but Eli’s were red.  The small little booklets that came in the box with both these dolls pictured the same clothes that were shown in the U.S. booklets for the Dramatic Living Barbie dolls.

Japanese Eli and Living Barbie Box

 





This wonderful gift set is very difficult to find mint in the box, and if you do, be prepared to pay a pretty penny for it.  It’s an amazing set for any collector!



1970 Sears Christmas Catalog Ad
 

Here is the advertisement in the 1970 Sears Christmas catalog.  The set sold for $9.99.  Even though she is shown with blonde hair, she never had it.  She only came in red.  I wonder what everyone's expression was when they ordered this doll for their little girls at Christmas!

Happy Hunting!

Barbie of the Month: European Swirl Barbie

The exquisite European Swirl Barbie doll was released in Europe in 1964 and is a very challenging doll to find.  She looks similar to the Swirl that was available in the U.S. market, but there are slight differences.

 Barbie dolls from Europe all have some variances from their U.S. counterparts.  It can be anything from a different body to something as simple as a part in her hair.

An illustration of a major distinction would be the 1967 twist ‘n turn Barbie marketed in Germany.  She was actually called the “German Bend Leg Barbie” because she came on the American Girl Body (marked with the raised markings "©1958/Mattel, Inc./U.S.Patented U.S. Pat. Pend Made In Japan").  She wore a one-piece American Girl swim suit that had a striped top and turquoise bottom. But she did have the same long pretty hair style that the U.S. twist n’ turn dolls are so famous for.

There are other dolls that look completely different.  The German Francie doll from 1972 is a perfect example.  She looks nothing like any of the Francies from the U.S.

A slight variance could be found on the side part Bubblecut Barbie. This doll too was not available in the U.S., but she is so similar to the U.S. version that many people have a hard time determining whether they have a true side part doll.

The European Swirl Barbie dolls came in a one-piece swim suit that was white with shiny gold stripes and had a zipper in the back. It’s the identical swim suit you would see on the Fashion Queen Barbie doll from the U.S., but without the turban hat.  I think it is a much prettier suit than the one piece red suit that the American Swirl and the later issue Ponytail and Bubblecut Barbie’s are known for.  My brunette seems to have just a bit longer ponytail too. 

Both versions (The European and U.S.) have the same Barbie/Midge straight-leg body and body markings. They both came in the same identical Barbie Box too.

You can see more of these variations on my web site:

www.MyVintageBarbies.com

As my collection grows each year, I’m hoping to acquire more of these beautiful dolls from Europe and other faraway places.  I hope you find yourself with a few too!

Happy Hunting!

Barbie of the Month: Boater Ensemble Barbie

I thought I would shift gears a bit this month and feature a current Barbie doll.  The 2013 Boater Ensemble Barbie who is part of the Barbie Fashion Model Collection and a Barbie Fan Club exclusive gold label doll.

Here’s some background about the glamorous Barbie Fashion Model Collection if you aren’t familiar with it.  These exquisite high-quality dolls are made of Silkstone®, which is a superior vinyl type product.  This was a big breakthrough for Mattel.  The dolls look and feel much like porcelain dolls but are heavier than your standard Barbie’s.  The actual sculpting of this series was taken from the original #1 ponytail doll that was released in 1959.  Unlike most other Barbie’s, these dolls stand in a model pose that is permanent. 

 

Their "couture style" clothing ensembles are made of fine fabrics, much like the early vintage Barbie doll clothes.  Attention to detail is extremely important; from the tiny handcrafted jewelry to the miniature accessories which complete each outfit.  Their hair is styled by hand and each doll that is released has a distinctive hair do.   Robert Best is the Design Director and he and his team, has created some amazing dolls. 

2000 Lingerie Barbie

 

 

The first two dolls debuted in 2000. They were the beautiful blonde and brunette Lingerie Barbie’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The new 2013 Boater Ensemble Barbie was released in February of this year.  She has a limited edition of just 5300 worldwide which it is noted on the back of her box.  She wears a tailored sleeveless dress featuring a tight pencil skirt with white bodice, and a double-breasted matching jacket that is trimmed with gold buttons.  Her ensemble also includes short white gloves, pearl earrings, a matching brooch, an extravagant boater’s hat, black textured stockings and navy and white pumps.  She also has her “Barbie Fashion Model Collection” hang tag.  She is undeniably beautiful! 



I’m almost an exclusive vintage Barbie collector, but since 2000 when the Fashion Model Dolls were introduced, I couldn’t help myself but to buy a few of these stunning Silkstone creations to add to my group. I love the Fashion Model dolls because, like the early vintage Barbie’s, they embody sophistication, glamour, elegance, and style.

 



2013 Boater Ensemble

So if you haven’t treated yourself to at least one member of this prestigious collection, you should!  You’ll be surprisingly pleased with the quality of these beauties.

Happy Hunting!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Barbie of the Month: Growin' Pretty Hair Barbie

This month I thought I’d showcase the #1144 Growin’ Pretty Hair Barbie dolls that are quite popular with collectors. 

Growin’ Pretty Hair Barbie arrived on the market in 1971 and was only available two years.  She came in two blonde versions.  Both had real eyelashes and a retractable pony tail, but with different hairstyles.  The 1971 version parted her hair on the side. The 1972 version pulled her hair back in the front. 



 

Both dolls had completely different style dresses.  The 1971 doll wore a beautiful pink chic satin dress which fell to a “v” shape at the knee.  Her dress also included a built in gold trim belt. She had matching pink shoes.


 


 

 

The 1972  doll wore a trendy peasant style long red print dress with a blue bodice that included a white shoe lace style tie. She had matching blue shoes. 

 

In the box came two additional hair pieces, styling booklet, hair pins, barrette, comb and brush.  The 1971 version had pink ribbons tied to the extra hair pieces and the 1972 version had blue ribbons. 

 

 

The 1972  doll is a much harder Barbie to acquire.  In the first three months of this year, eBay has had only two of these dolls for sale, and of course both sold!  She is extremely hard to find mint in the box.

 

I think the  1971 version of Growin’ Pretty Hair Barbie is the prettier of the two, but  the 1972  Barbie takes me back to the time period when I wore a very similar type of her peasant style dress. And it seems like only yesterday! 

For a little more nostalgia, check out the link below to see the commercial that was aired when she debuted.  I’m sure you’ll agree, it’s so much fun to watch! 
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94twktaiqRw

 

Happy Hunting!

Barbie's of the Month: Newport Barbie and Yellowstone Kelley

Newport Barbie

The #7807 Newport Barbie and #7808 Yellowstone Kelley were towards the end of the vintage years and  were only produced in 1974.  After the big boom of the sixties, with the Barbie doll and other products making huge profits for Mattel, the seventies became quite a different story. 

 

Problems started arising in 1970. There was a devastating fire which destroyed Mattel’s Mexico plant. July 1971 brought the crippling 130 day dockworkers strike, which stopped shipments from coming into the United States from Mattel’s plant in Asia.  By 1973 Mattel’s stock had fallen, and there were understandable concerns when it was discovered that Mattel had released false reports over a two year period, uncovering a thirty-two million dollar loss.  This eventually prompted an investigation by the Security and Exchange Commission. By 1975 the investigation was complete, and Ruth Handler, the original creator of Barbie and original owner of Mattel (with her husband Elliot), were forced to resign and leave the company. Seymour Rosenberg, who was the V.P. and C.F.O. of Mattel, was fired.  Ruth and Seymour pleaded no contest to the S.E.C. charges, and their sentences (which had included jail time) were reduced to fines and five hundred hours each of community service work every year for five consecutive years.



Mattel was looking for new ways to return to profitability, but by 1973 the quality of the Barbie doll was deteriorating. No longer did we see “real eyelashes”, and they began using more economical vinyl to make some of the dolls. They were looking for fresh ideas to boost sales. The “fitness craze” boom had started, and it seemed like everyone was doing something athletic. Whether it was aerobics, jogging, biking, or just working out, it was the thing to do! And what a perfect time to release these new energetic sun-tanned dolls!



Back of the Box

Newport Barbie and Yellowstone Kelley are both extremely hard to acquire. They are part of the “Sports Set” dolls which are all very difficult to find. There were only four sets of these active teens made; Newport Barbie, Sun Valley Barbie, Sun Valley Ken and Yellowstone Kelley. Yellowstone Kelley (with long, straight red hair with a suntan) was actually the only “new” doll in this line, as Sun Valley Barbie and Ken and Newport Barbie were all Malibu dolls from 1973 dressed in different clothes.





Yellowstone Kelley



Newport Barbie



  Newport Barbie, who came with long blonde hair and sunglasses worn on top of her head, was the exact same doll as the #1067 Sunset Malibu Barbie from 1973, who was stamped with the “Made in Taiwan” marking. She has a twist-n-turn waist with bendable legs. In 1975, Mattel released the same line of sun-tanned Malibu’s who were dressed in Olympic attire, just in time for the 1976 Olympic Games.

 

 

Newport Barbie came with two outfits in the box; a red and white striped bikini and a pants ensemble that included a white sailor style top with red trim along with white wide-leg pants with a built-in white belt with red stitching. Her set also had a white windsurfing board with a red sail (a few had a pink sail) for enjoying the beach in sunny Southern California.

 

 

Yellowstone Kelley

 

 

 

Yellowstone Kelley wore a red long sleeved top with white polka dots and blue and white striped shorts.  She also had a pair of pants in the same fabric.  She wore white knee socks and white tennis shoes.  She came equipped with all the gear she needed for camping; a back pack, yellow sleeping bag, camping mattress, camp stove, cooking utensils, pots and pans, and a brush and comb for her long hair.

 

Newport Barbie and Yellowstone Kelley came in two different style packages. They were almost identical, but one had the large Mattel logo right under the words “the Sports Set” on the front of the package, and the other had the logo in the right hand corner of the package.  Whichever package you find these suntanned beauties, they'll always be a fun one to add to your collection.

 

Happy Hunting!

 

Barbie of the Month: Straight-Leg Francie

 



#1140 Straight-Leg Francie Doll (1966)

Growing up, one of my favorite dolls was the 1966 Francie, who was Barbie’s “mod” cousin.  She was an instant hit the moment she arrived on store shelves.  She had fabulous clothes, which were very groovy and super hip!

It is also believed that Francie was based on the character “Gidget” a book series in the 1950’s.  In the story she was a teenage surfer. Also in the book, she refers to herself as Franzie Franziska, her German grandmother’s name. That is where it’s alleged that Francie got her name.  In 1959 the movie rights were sold and Gidget hit the big screen.  Sandra Dee played her in all three of the popular films, from 1959-1963. 



Larger Print Swim Suit Bottoms

Francie was young, cute, and looked like the all American girl.  She came with either blonde or brunette shoulder length hair, which was styled in a flip with bangs. She had painted on eyelashes.  In her box (marked #1140, which featured only the blonde doll on the front) she came dressed in a red and white two piece swimsuit.  The top had polka dots, and the matching bottoms were either a small or large check print with a draw string tie in front.  She was just slightly shorter than Barbie. 

Interestingly, both the straight leg and the bendable dolls were released the same year, but the straight-leg version came out second.

I’m sure some moms probably preferred buying this smaller breasted young teen for their daughters, over the large bosomed Barbie. Ruth Handler, the creator of the Barbie doll, liked the idea of giving girls (and their mothers) choices of which type of doll to play with. Barbie, who dressed in style and kept up with the times but was still very sophisticated, or Skipper who was a delightful grade school girl, or Francie, who was in between them both, there was a doll for everyone!

Smaller Checks

This trendy teen had her own style that reflected that of young teenage girls in the mid 1960’s.  Francie wore short miniskirts, bold colored dresses, and very trendy styles; which included wide belts, wild geometric patterns, unusual fabrics, boots, and crazy colored socks and stockings!  She could wear anything and always looked put-together!   And the great thing about the straight-leg version was that she was just a bit easier to dress with her smooth plastic legs, when small little hands were doing the work.  Since she was slimmer than Barbie and a quarter inch shorter, they did not share clothes.

 

Happy Hunting!



Barbie of the Month – Beautiful Bride Barbie

 It’s 2013, and I thought I would begin showcasing an amazing doll each Month.  What better way to kick off this group of magnificent dolls than highlighting one of my favorites, the incredible “Beautiful Bride Barbie, stock #9599”.

The beautiful Bride Barbie #9599 is an unusual doll in so many ways.  First, she’s from 1976, a year some people would insist is not a true vintage doll.  But she was the first bride doll to be released to the public (other than a few very early “dressed dolls” that could be found in the pink silhouette or dressed doll boxes, wearing one of the very early wedding dresses).  Her release was very limited and could only be found in a few select department stores.  The box is not marked “special” as you will find on the “Ballerina Barbie on Tour” box that was released at the same time and in the same department stores.

Second, her unusually gorgeous face makes her unique.  She has the twist-n-turn face mold like the 1967 dolls, with real rooted eyelashes.  Interestingly, she was the first doll that was released in the United States with rooted eyelashes since 1972.  She’s on a twist-n-turn bend knee body (marked “Korea”), and only came with blonde hair.  Her hair is parted on the side, medium length with a looser style flip. 

She’s dressed in a lovely white wedding dress, beautiful headpiece, with white closed toe shoes and wore a white single strand pearl necklace.  Also included was a garter, and her bridal bouquet with a blue satin ribbon attached.

Since this doll is so hard to locate, people often get her confused with the “Beautiful Bride Barbie #9907” from 1978.  That doll has a different face mold (superstar face) and painted on eyelashes.  But these dolls don’t hold a candle to the exquisite #9599!

In the last four months, eBay has only sold two of these highly sought after dolls, and both were still mint in box!  You can also purchase just the wedding ensemble, which is just as hard to find.  The stock number for the outfit is #9149.  

Happy Hunting!