Barbie Doll

Barbie Doll

The Barbie doll is one of the few dolls that has remained in production and seen no dip in popularity. Very few toys can lay claim to this fact. Barbie first made her first television debut way back in 1959 and the years have been kind to her. Her face has remained unchanged. While other toys were reinvented and restyled to suit the modern age, the Barbie doll knew that she already had it all and shunned the fickle fashion world and rose above the changing decades with grace.

The original Barbie doll has become a major collectors item; everyone wants to own her. If you can hunt one down, expect to pay roughly $8,000 USD. Not cheap. Make sure she comes in her original 50's zebra-print bathing suit, for maximum 50's fun.

The woman responsible for the creation of the Barbie doll was Ruth Handler, who is also the co-founder of the toy company Mattel. She had a daughter named Barbara and that was the inspiration for Barbie's name. Two years later, in 1961, Ken, Barbie's soul mate was introduced. Ken was named after Ruth Handler's son. Imagine being immortalized in the most famous pair of dolls on the planet. This must have been a great honor. No other doll has been so imitated as the Barbie doll. There have been countless imitators, but all have come and gone and only Barbie remains.