The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book [Paperback]

Marcie Melillo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2004

Barbie swept into our lives in 1959 and grew up before our eyes. Now The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book sets the record straight.

This exciting new guide to America's fashion diva bursts with more color photos than any other book dedicated to Barbie.

Designing for beginning through advanced collectors, dealers and Barbie fans, this one-of-a-kind book clearly and chronologically identifies U.S.-issues Barbie dolls, friends and family.

Inside The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book you'll find:

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  1,000 U.S.-issued Barbies, friends and family from 1959 - 1995
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  Ken, Skipper, Francie, Midge and others
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  Complete detailed descriptions for each doll
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  All body and head markings when available
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  Head and full-view shots for easy identification
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  Model numbers and box dates
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  Coverage of series and limited edition dolls
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  Average issue prices for every doll
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  Current market values in two grades of condition
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  Index with extensive cross reference
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  1,800 full-color photos

Author Marcie Melillo sets this book apart fro mothers with meticulous attention given to accurate descriptions of clothing, accessories, hair color and style, and facial paint. She confirms body and head markings, as well as identifies arm and head molds.

Simple facts, striking photos and outstanding organization mark this comprehensive guide as the best ever. Your guesswork is over.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

Not included are foreign market dolls unless available for sale in the U.S. and ordered directly from Mattel® by a primary retailer. Every doll in this book could be purchased by the general public from 1959 through 1995. Not included are special event Barbie® dolls, which are usually very small productions of regular issue dolls with a different hair color or one-of-a-kind items created for charitable auctions, conventions, etc. Also excluded are regular issue dolls repackaged in gift sets or repeatedly reissued with minor box changes. These dolls are already pictured once, and for completeness, relevant detail is included in the "Notes" section of the corresponding regular issue doll. Finally, not reported are dolls produced by Mattel®, Inc. with no direct stated association with a Barbie® doll.

Chapters include Regular issue Barbie® dolls 1959-1995, Regular issue Midge® dolls and other like-sized friends 1963-1995, Regular issue Skipper®, Francie®, Tutti® dolls and other like-sized friends 1964-1995, Regular issue Ken® dolls and other like-sized friends 1961-1995, all series dolls available to the general public like Happy Holidays®, Internationals® and Hollywood Legends® until 1995 and store specials which includes all Mattel® issue dolls including store specials, toy store exclusives, and miscellaneous. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Krause Publications (July 10, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0873498763
• ISBN-13: 978-0873498760
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #163,657 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Dolls
  • #30 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Antiques & Collectibles > Toys

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Barbie Collector's MUST-HAVE!, July 4, 2000

By 

Andrea Egger, author of Grave Accusations (Gallup, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book (Hardcover)

The title of the book tells it all. The book takes you back to the very first Barbie doll and shows you how you can tell if you have an authentic doll. It also goes through many of the boxed, collectible Barbies and gives a price list for the older and newer boxed dolls and their value if never removed from the box (NRFB) and if they HAVE been removed. Usually, it's a dramatic difference, so if you can handle it, leave these lovely beauties in their boxes! As the boxes get more and more modern, the box itself is going to be valuable.

I was reading in a doll magazine the other day about whether boxes really are all that important, and one collector/seller said if she just saw a box being sold alone for one of her sets at an antique shop, she'd purchase it just to complete her set!

This book was recommended to me by a very reputable Barbie doll seller who sold me my first vintage Barbie (a #5 brunette who is gorgeous!). I agreed as soon as I took a look at it. Not only does it describe Barbies, but it shows the pictures in more than 1,800 photos! A detailed index allows you to look up specific dolls without having to search through the whole book. Collectible, designer, porcelain and children's favorites are described in this 1996 book, which is well worth the price! If you have any interest in collecting Barbies, buy this book!

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Barbie collector, March 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book (Hardcover)

This book clearly organizes an enormous amount of detail such as head molds, body markings, arm styles and more for over 1,000 dolls produced from 1959 through 1995. The book sticks to the dolls most collectors need identified -- those in general release in the US. The book lists the accessories and outfits the dolls were packaged with so it is possible to dress a loose doll found at a flea market. There are extra sections showing popular shoes, arm and head molds. There are 1800 color pictures of the dolls -- my only complaint is that I wish the pictures were bigger. The price list doesn't just assume the collector has a boxed doll or mint complete doll. And the index saves so much time because it is well cross-referenced so even if you don't get the name exactly right you can still locate the doll. I use this book more than any other. This is the definitive book on Barbie dolls.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of "The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book" by Marcie Meillo, February 26, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Ultimate Barbie Doll Book (Hardcover)

This book REALLY is the ULTIMATE! No Barbie Doll Collector should be without it! I loved the full color pictures of each doll, a Full length shot of the doll in the box, and close up on the face. The lists of accessories that each doll came with is indepensable to someone trying to complete a doll! The Face Picture help identify dolls by hairstyle and makeup..I cannot praise this book enough! It also is a great "Wish Book"!