Rare Barbie toys worth £1,600 as people urged to check their attics

09 March 2024 , 07:00

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Ruth Handler created the first Barbie in 1959 (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Created by Ruth Handler in 1959, Saturday, March 9 is National Barbie Day, a time to celebrate and appreciate everything to do with the doll that changed history. And not only is she valuable to popular culture, but some old versions of her could be worth a small fortune.

After the recent billion-dollar success of the Barbie film, starring Margot Robbie and directed by Greta Gerwig, London’s Design Museum has announced there will be a new exhibition to coincide with her 65th anniversary.

If you grew up playing with Barbie and wondering if some of your favourite toys have more worth than sentimental value, then you might be in luck. The team at Buzz Bingo has rounded up the Barbie collectibles that could be worth up to £1,000 ($1,276).

After analysing hundreds of pieces of merchandise on eBay to find some of the most unique (and expensive) toys, they discovered some of the classic limited edition finds and rare and exclusive accessories could be worth a fortune now.

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The Barbie classroom set is one of the most valuable items out there

The most expensive item on the list, priced at £1,668.50 ($2,128), was the vintage Barbie watch stand, complete with pink trimmings and white leather crocodile detailing. Although the creation date has not been confirmed by the sellers, the item is considerably rare and could bag you a profit of at least £1,500 ($1,914) if you have it at home.

Some of the other items to make the list were the Barbie classroom playset (1997) - valued at £1,228.07 ($1,567). The perfect addition to any Barbie collection, it only has 12 pieces, and is made entirely of plastic. Next up is the Barbie and Ken ‘Little Theatre’ set (1963), valued at £1,135.26 ($1,448). Pictured here, it is made solely of paper and includes tickets, scripts, and bits of furniture.

The fashion maker looks so fun!

If accessories were more your thing, check out this Barbie bedside lamp from 1999, valued at £490.45 ($625). Despite only being 32cm high, this light is one of the most expensive items on the list. Other bedside lamps in the franchise made during the same year have even been priced as high as £106.94, despite displaying a $12 label on the box.

Next on the list is this Barbie DVD player, from 2007, valued at £316 ($403). It’s the most recent item to be included and with its glossy pink decor complete and matching remote, it perfectly encapsulates the 2000s.

Barbie is known for her incredible sense of style and this Barbie ‘Fashion Maker toy’ from 1980 could be worth £58.88. This particular item is believed to be in mint condition abd comes complete with a mechanical printer, coloured pencils and fashion stencils. Mattel later released a PC fashion designer game, which reportedly sold one million copies in 1998.

Eve Wagstaff