When I started..I've been collecting Barbie Doll since about 1990 - my first purchase was Empress Bride. Since that time I've acquired over 300 dolls, (I should count them?) including Ken, Midge, Alan, Skipper and of course, many Barbie Dolls dressed in a great variety of outfits - all of the Happy Holiday Barbie's since 1988 grace an upper shelf of my doll room. I have many of the "career" Barbie's but did not buy Teacher Barbie or FireFighter Barbie - two that I would consider if I were in the right place at the right time.
It's in the family... My sister, Teresa has been collecting Barbie's for many years (about 20 years I think). She grew tired of the Barbie collection in about 1980 and disposed of all her dolls (what a pity!). Became re-interested later on and started collecting again. For her birthday one year I bought a Gold Mackie Barbie - when the doll arrived, I was amazed at how beautiful it was - I did give her the doll - but that was enough to get me to thinking about perhaps beginning my own collection.
Mistakes.... Little did I know that I was giving her a gift that would appreciate among collectors to around $600. The next doll that tempted me was "Neptune's Daughter". But not tempted enough to spend $150! That was one of my major life's mistakes - now "Neptune's Daughter" can be found on the secondary market for $900-$1200, although I have heard of people finding this particular doll for less, I doubt that I'll be that lucky - but one never knows????? It's strange how my attitude has changed over the years and I didn't hesitate for a minute from ordering Empress Bride at the original price of $250. And I don't hold back from ordering the porcelain dolls either, usually at about $200 each...very strange...
Additions....Here's a little history of dolls I've acquired since Empress Bride.....
1995-96 These dolls were added; Spiegel's Summer Sophisticate, Oshogatsu, Great Date Ken, Sapphire Dreams, Valentine Hearts Barbie, Wedding Day Midge and Alan, Lady Liberty Barbie.
Recently...I have recently added Little Bo Peep, Walmart's Skating Star, Midge and Barbie as Mermaids with really long hair and the Enchanted Evening Barbie. This is the fourth in the Nostalgia Series (after 35th Anniversary Swimsuit, Solo in the Spotlight, Busy Gal Barbie's). She's a platinum blonde and is quite lovely! The Great Eras series continues with Victorian Lady and Grecian Goddess.
Others...12/97 It's been such a long time since I've added new information to this section....about a year I think...since these dolls arrived...Pretty Hearts, Sparkle Beach Teresa - a lovely auburn haired doll dressed in the Satin Nights Pink Classique Lingerie Set, Holiday Jewel Porcelain, an absolutely stunning doll in her green and red velvet gown trimmed in gold. She's a beautiful platinum blonde doll and makes a lovely addition to the porcelain Barbie collection, I've added a few new dolls...Pink Rapunzel and Prince Ken, Dorothy and Ken as the Tin Man, Glinda the Good Witch, Barbie as Cinderella, Silver Royale, Sam's Clubs Exclusive Winter Fantasy and the "My Fair Lady" series including Professor Higgins. Recently I've added Target's 35th Anniversary contribution to the melee...
Gone With The Wind...The Scarlett series includes Barbie as Birthday Party Scarlett, she's all dressed up in red velvet for Ashley's birthday party. Picnic Barbie as Scarlett in the light and lovely gown all dressed up for the afternoon picnic at Twelve Oaks. Ken, as Rhett Butler, looks quite dashing in his tux and long overcoat. He does have a little trouble standing on his own (other collectors of this series will understand), so he has been given a little support from a heavy duty doll stand.
To Debox or Not... There is a great deal of controversy surrounding whether to open the boxes or not -- I must say I had such a smile on my face as I opened the boxes that contained the Barbie as Scarlett dolls. I appreciate them so much more now that they're out of those cardboard containers! As soon as I can, I'll take photos of these beautiful dolls for everyone's enjoyment.
The Saga Continues.. The collection also includes Christian Dior, Goddess of the Sun, Starlight Waltz, Silver Screen and Circus Star, FAO Schwartz Shopper; Spiegel's Shopping Chic, Royal Enchantment and Theater Elegance; DKNY Blonde and Brunette, 35th Anniversary Swimsuit, Blonde, Brunette and The Gift Set, Busy Gal, Solo's (blonde and brunette), Winter's Eve, the 97 Happy Holiday (matches the rest of the set from'88 onward). Also included are several of the Classique Barbie's and several Great Era's Barbies - Gibson Girl, Egyptian Queen, and Southern Belle. There's also a shelf which includes the 25th Anniversary Sear's Special Edition Barbie, Alan and Midge as bride and groom...actually there's a whole shelf (rapidly expanding to two) that hold nothing but Barbie dressed as a bride - for which I have a special fondness. Finally, a group of my very favorites... three new (old) porcelains (Evening Enchantment, Sophisticated Lady and Gay Parisienne). The newest porcelain collection has Barbie as a bride in three versions, "Star Lily Bride," "Rose Bride" and "Orchid Bride. All quite lovely! The porcelains go nicely with their "sisters" Prom Night Midge, Benefit Ball, Gold Sensation and Silver Starlight, Royal Splendor and Crystal Rhapsody. Even "Erte" stands regally with this crowd.
Finally, some decent clothes... Recently I have acquired many "Fashion Avenue" fashions for both Barbie and Ken and have enjoyed re-dressing many older dolls in these lovely, detailed, little outfits. Ken and Midge now grace the top shelf dressed in the knit sweater set complete with sunglasses for Ken; Midge is wearing the red knit bodysuit and plaid skirt with boots - they're pretty cute!
The foreign connection One day I received an e-mail message from a young lady who was writing to me from Appledoorn, The Netherlands. I was quite happy to see a note from someone from The Netherlands since I was working on preparing a presentation for my International Business Class on, of all things, The Netherlands! What a pleasant surprise. Gemma was very interested in my collection and wanted to know if I'd like to trade dolls with her. She'd send me an exclusive from The Netherlands, a Department Store Special from "Blokker" if in exchange I'd send her some dolls that are "exclusive" to the US. Of course, I said yes, I'd love to exchange dolls but had no idea which dolls she might like to have in exchange for "Blokker" Barbie.
At any rate, Blokker Barbie is now gracing one of the shelves in the Barbie Room and I've sent Gemma a Brunnete Evening Extravaganza (her choice) and a blonde U.S. Olympics Barbie (I wish I'd known that Toys R Us sold the redheaded Olympic Barbie)...but I didn't and the package is on it's way overseas. I really hope she enjoys the dolls as much as I enjoyed receiving Blokker Barbie and some other treats which she so kindly enclosed in the package. It's great having a fellow Barbie-lover penpal from Europe - the dolls and clothing they have is so very different from what's available here. I'll scan some more pictures of these European clothes and dolls in soon.
If wishes came true...If I had one wish right now, it would be to acquire, at a reasonable price of course a "Solo in the Spotlight Porcelain". After much searching and waiting I finally found a "Ken" in porcelain, along with "Southern Belle" also in Porcelain for a reasonable price from John Nunes. I was so happy to get these two pristine dolls for my collection. They look beautiful along with the other porcelain dolls. I'm impressed with Ken's tuxedo and his dramatic "style" (if you can say such a thing about Ken). In this instance, I think this version looks really nice and is an elegant compliment to the other porcelain Barbie dolls. Still of course, I'm hoping someone will be selling a Neptune...reasonably...for a collector to display...oh well.... there's always hope that someone will be looking for a good home for their Neptune's Daughter......(sigh).... Then there's Gene...the newest addition to the "Doll Room". I've purchased the original three Gene dolls; Premiere, Monaco and Red Venus. Then went on to purchase Sparkling Seduction, King's Daughter and Blue Goddess. I didn't know if I'd like these dolls or not...until I received Premiere. And then she really "grew" on me. The price was right and Ashton-Drake has that "easy-payment" plan..makes it so easy to keep buying their dolls. I keep seeing Gene dolls that I'd like to have...the next will be "Bird of Paradise"....after that, who knows???
