Questions & Answers             Back to Barbie Highway

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Table of Contents

*      Advice for the new collector  à   PDF Advice File

*      Buying Barbies Tips à  PDF Buying Tips File

*      Selling Barbies Tips à  PDF Selling Tips File

*      Commonly Used Terms

*      Restoration Advice for vintage dolls  à Also in a PDF file

*      What Barbie books should I get?
           à (has Amazon Review & PDF of all the existing books)

*      How to determine the condition of an item?

*      How to identify the Barbie Item I have?

 

Common Used Terms

·        AG – American Girl

·        BL – Bend Leg

·        CT – Close Toe  shoes

·        EXC – Excellent

·        FQ – Fashion Queen

·        G  /  VG -   Good    /   Very Good

·        Hard Curl – see Hair Part in Determine Value of Doll

·        HTF – Hard to Find

·        M – Mint 

·        M / C – Mint and Complete

·        M / NC – Mint and Near Complete

·        MIB – Mint in Box  (was removed and placed back, without playing with it)

·        MIP – Mint in Package

·        MOC – Mint on Card

·        Mod – Mod era,  1967- 72 / 73

·        NM – Near Mint

·        NRFB – Never Removed From Box  (check for the boxes condition)

·        OOAK – One of A Kind

·        OT – Open Toe shoes

·        PAK – Mix and Matches pieces that where sold during the vintage era (59-73)

·        Ponytail Wrap – In a ponytail it is the Longer Piece of hair that is used to cover the rubber band.

·        PT – Ponytail

·        SL – Straight Leg

·        Silkstone / Silky – It is a barbie made with silkstone material; they belong to the Fashion Model Collection.

·        TNT – Twist and Turn Barbie

·        Vintage Case -  Vinyl product pre 1973, it is thin and holds one doll.

·        Vintage Trunk -  Similar to a case but bigger , holds more than 1 doll.

 

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Restoration Advice for vintage dolls

Two books with good advice: 

v     The Story of Barbie by Kitturah Westenhouser

v     Barbie Doll Collector’s Handbook

 

PDF Restoring File.  This advice has been collected by the experience of several collectors, I have not tried every method, I will not be held responsible for the outcomes. 

 

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What Barbie Books Should I Get?

Follow this link for a review I have posted in Amazon.  You will be able to buy most books there, sometimes you can find them cheaper in ebay.   I wrote those recommendations with full knowledge of all the books about Barbie collecting.  This is a
 FULL LIST of ALL the Barbie BOOKS & VHS (17 pages long) – I have bought most of them to be able to write informed recommendations – If you think I should add any other book to my Amazon review please let me know - email me.

 

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How to determine the condition?

The C  rating system by Barbie Bazaar’s Definition.

 

Grade

Description

C-10

Mint. Factory perfect. Right off toy store shelves. No apologies or anything. No matter what the age, item is factory new.

C-9

Mint. No original packaging,
but un-played with condition.

C-8

Near Mint to Excellent condition.
Very SLIGHT handling.

C-7

Display quality, but "crispness is missing.
It would be obvious that it is not a C-9 doll.
Clothing would NOT be laundered or faded, but might need ironing. Dolls would still be original.

C-6

Gently played with.
Missing important accessories, original paint rubbed.
One knee might not click.
Wear and tear visible to everyone. Can be repaired.

C-5 / C-4

Lots of flaws and spots. Poor,  Heavily played with and damaged in some way. A professional is required to repair or restore it.

C-3

Doll Damaged. In the right costume, it could be used for display. LOTS of work needed here.

C-2

Doll is beyond repair but it may have a couple of parts that a collector wants. Legs or arms still good for transplanting to another doll.

C-1

One part of doll, outfit (snaps and zippers) or item could still be used for parts

 

For MODERN items (after 1979)

            NRFB – Means NEVER Removed, check if it has the Shipper Box.

MIB – Means WAS Removed, but it is complete, and back inside the box.

 

If it is NRFB or MIB and the BOX has PROBLEMS you should state this, keep track of it; because it decreases the value of the doll. Unless it is really minor shelf ware.

If it is MIB make sure everything is inside.  In the BOB MACKIE make sure to have the sketch.

If it is outside of box.  The doll should be in good condition.  When possible NOT PLAYED WITH.

            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If she was played with, it only holds sentimental value. 
I have my late 1980s dolls, and I love them.   I know they are worth nothing. 

Not even my 1992 Happy Holiday.  She was among my favorites.    

FOR 1980’s and 1990’s the dolls will be popular when my generation becomes a serious collector.

And I assume we will want them MIB or NRFB (if we lost ours…).

 

For Vintage Items  &  My thoughts on Repair à  PDF Vintage-Condition File

 

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How to identify the Barbie Item I have?

Vintage VS Modern. ->  Most vintage dolls don’t twist at the waist.  If your doll says 1966 it doesn’t mean it was made in that year.  You can email me and I will help you ID both Vintage Clothing and Dolls, vintage clothing usually has Tags in black and white.  When you email me please try to include pictures or a really detailed description, I will do my best to help you id your doll. EMAIL

 

For modern Fashion Avenues – CLICK HERE

For Vintage Items – CLICK HERE

For Vintage & Modern Items – CLICK HERE

 

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Last revised: September 21, 2009