Best of Barbie [Hardcover]

Sharon Korbeck (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2001

This is a full-colour visual feast that novice and experienced collectors alike will treasure. Scattered throughout the book are trivia facts that test the reader's knowledge of this favourite doll. Plus, accompanying each photo is a handy identification and value info bar - facts readers need at a glance. With complete descriptions, 300 magnificent colour photos and more than 1,200 price listings, collectors, appraisers, buyers and fans will have the tools to identify the most influential Barbie Dolls including Barbie no.1 Ponytail Style, Bubblecut Barbie, Barbie Fashion Queen, American Girl and many more. Features: Over 300 outstanding photographs of Barbie Dolls from 1959 to 2000; Fun-to-read and lively history of this favourite doll; An exhaustive price guide listing the value of every doll.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-Simultaneously retro and contemporary, Barbie is fun to thumb through or read at any age. Written with respect to collectors and admirers of fashion and trends in a diminutive form, the photos and text make an interesting pictorial history. Although her measurements have been unwavering, Barbie's culture and careers have varied over the years. There are African-American, Hispanic, and an array of international Barbies, plus the familiar blonde with an enormous wardrobe. Bedecked in uniform-astronaut, policewoman, military officer-or designer gowns, each doll is described by name (theme), model number, release date, and current dollar value. A glossary, list of resources to pursue more related information, and a price guide end this delightful picture-packed romp through the 1960s, '70s, '80s, and '90s. Oh, and Ken is included as more than a footnote. His history and evolution are in full color, too.
Karen Sokol, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: kp books (August 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873492617
• ISBN-13: 978-0873492614
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #193,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #15 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Dolls

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTING....., June 12, 2004

By 

L (TN, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of Barbie (Hardcover)

As a collector of vintage Barbie,(with an extensive supply of most Barbie reference books), I was thoroughly disgusted at not only the author, photographer and editor, but publishers need to reevaluate whether 'greed' will bring more customers back to them in the future. Most publishers are well aware that publishing a reference book on vintage barbie will MAKE THEM MONEY and more than likely bring out the masses who are looking for a good reference book, but lying about the contents and writing a glowing review on the book, when it isn't, won't bring us back a 2nd time. (You may pocket our money once, but not twice). The book was a mess from beginning to end. The history of the doll and identification was marginal at best, and at worst, just plain INACCURATE. Grammar and sentence structure was grade school at times. The photos were bizarre and scary, (not something, I would want an aquaintance to pick up and look through) if it was on my coffe table... There are a lot of Barbie reference and collecting books out there, steer clear of this one, especially if you're just beginning to delve into the vintage dolls, you'll be turned off real quick.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent text and photos, March 4, 2002

By 

Nancy Hendrickson "Writing Strategist" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Best of Barbie (Hardcover)

I disagree with another reviewer that all photos should be of mint dolls. This book captures a wide range of Barbie's -- both through the years and through various conditions. As a collector, I find it helpful to see the less-than-perfect dolls. It gives me a far better understanding of different levels of grading. If you are a serious Barbie collector, I feel this book is a "must-have" in your library.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Is this Barbie doll book necessary?, January 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Best of Barbie (Hardcover)

Why was this book published? For the asking price, the book should be filled with accurate information. Instead it is a confusing jumble, of often erroneous and poorly organized material written by one of the publisher's employees. And regarding the photographs, I guess the debate will continue whether good photography of poor condition dolls is as bad as blurry pictures of mint dolls, but for the price of this book I expect quality. As a collector I find it continuously frustrating that often "collector books" are really just pictures of someone's incomplete collection instead of reference books. And even if this is is intended to be no more than a coffee table book, it is disappointing that so many dolls in poor condition were included. A rare doll in poor condition may be photographed for a book out of necessity, but there is no reason for the more common vintage dolls to be anything less than mint for an important project. Misinformation makes the marketplace a difficult place to negotiate. New collectors are confused by books like this, and advanced collectors expect substantially more. The book should not be entitled "The Best of Barbie" simply because it isn't. I guess the publishers sell enough of these books to make it worth their while, but if some of us collectors were not so easy to please, perhaps we would have higher quality books on the Barbie doll. We deserve better.