She’s the most popular doll in the world, who is set to reach new heights of fame this summer with a blockbuster film about her life to be released.
Barbie was born on 9 March 1959, and the toy shop shelf would never look the same again.
The doll, who is from the fictional town of Willows located in Wisconsin, is still a major hit with children and has gone on to become very successful.
Mattel has released hundreds of versions of the doll, making improvements year upon year to ensure their dolls are inclusive – including releasing first ever Barbie with Down’s syndrome this year.
But many of the dolls could actually have increased in value by thousands of pounds.
Here FEMAIL reveals some of the most valuable dolls, according to new research by BonusFinder, and how much you could get for them today.
Barbie #1 – 1959
To own the first ever Barbie you had to be quite privileged to own the stylish doll, as the original price is thought to be around £24.88 today when adjusted for inflation
The first ever Barbie – made in 1959 – is worth a staggering £21,995, despite only being priced at around £2.40 when it launched.
However, you had to be quite privileged to own the stylish doll, as the original price is thought to be around £24.88 today when adjusted for inflation.
The distinctive toy wore colourful makeup – with blue eye shadow, red lipstick and heavy eyeliner.
Her signature blonde hair has a permed fringe and she wears her locks in a high ponytail, paired with gold hoop earrings.
Most notably, the slim doll is wearing a vintage-looking monochrome patterned strapless swimsuit.
She paired this stand-out piece of clothing with simple open-toe black stilettos.
This Barbie was only available with blonde or brunette hair at the time and having a red haired doll wasn’t an option until number three went on sale.
She was originally marketed to youngsters as a ‘Teenage Fashion Model’ and became a hit, as 350,000 sold in the first year.
Although she came with just the one outfit, parents were able to buy their children additional clothing, which ranged from around 80 pence to just over £4.
In their first ever television advertisement – which was in black and white – a woman can be heard singing: ‘Barbie you’re beautiful.
‘Barbie’s small and so petite, her clothes and figure look so neat.
‘Someday I’m gonna be exactly like you, until then I know just what I’ll do.
‘Barbie, beautiful Barbie, I’ll make-believe that I am you.’
In 1971, Mattel changed Barbie’s eyes so they looked forward rather than looking sideways.
Six years after that, Barbie traded in her pout for a smile, as Mattel released the first Barbie with her teeth showing.
In 2006, someone sold their first Barbie doll in perfect condition and it fetched more than £22,000.
Dahlia Barbie – 2006
The next most valuable Barbie which you could have in a box at home is Dahlia Barbie, was made in 2006
The next most valuable Barbie which you could have in a box at home is Dahlia Barbie, which was made in 2006.
The resell value on this doll is £1,940 and the toy was designed by Robert Best, who has been designing Barbie dolls for more than 25 years.
This toy stands out from your regular Barbie doll – with vivid red hair worn in a sleek low bun and glitzy makeup with sparkly eyeshadow, red lipstick and a mole on her cheek.
She wears large oversized flower earrings and a brooch which are both embellished with Swarovski crystals.
The doll was part of Mattel’s Platinum Collection and has ‘The most collectable doll in the world’ written on the back of the packaging.
Dahlia Barbie can be clearly identified by her stunning strapless gown of white on black lace, accompanied by shiny white satin opera gloves.
On the back of the box, a description of the doll reads: ‘Say “adios” to the commonplace!
‘Influenced by the exotic romanticism of Spain, a beautiful white on black lace gown is pure perfection!
‘Dahlia Barbie doll personifies la mujer de moda!’ – which translates to ‘the fashionable woman’.
Only 999 Barbies were made of that kind and each collectable comes with a certificate of authenticity, which lists what number it was out of that amount.
Golden Gala Barbie – 2009
Golden Gala Barbie celebrates the 50th anniversary of Barbie and only 1,200 of the strikingly glamorous toys were made
The Golden Gala Barbie was first released in 2009 and was also designed by Robert Best.
It celebrates the 50th anniversary of Barbie and only 1,200 of the strikingly glamorous toys were made.
Since then, she has become the third most valuable Barbie doll, selling for figures of up to £1,162.
This retro-inspired Barbie doll wears a sophisticated, golden gown with a skirt shaped like a mermaid’s tail.
She also wears a vintage-inspired golden jacket with long, ruffled ivory opera gloves.
She was dressed in glamorous old-Hollywood style makeup and has her styled wavy hair pinned back.
This Barbie doll was given as a gift to attendees of the 2009 National Barbie Doll Collector Convention.
Each attendee had the choice of a Barbie with lighter skin tone and blonde hair or a darker skin tone with dark brunette hair.
The doll is described as being for the ‘adult collector’ rather than for children to play with.
Happy Holidays Brunette Barbie – 1997
Happy Holidays Barbie was released in 1997 and has since attained a value of £962, making her the fourth most expensive Barbie of all time
Happy Holidays Barbie was released in 1997 and has since attained a value of £962, making her the fourth most valuable Barbie of all time.
This vintage Barbie doll has long, flowing thick and curly brunette hair down to her waist.
She also is wearing a highly detailed scarlet and cream crinoline-style gown which has festive patterns on it.
Accessories include a golden tiara with six ruby-coloured gemstones, accompanied by a jewelled gold choker necklace and matching earrings.
City Smart Barbie – 2003
This Barbie is another collectors item and her maximum resale value has reached £922 which makes her the fifth most valuable
This Barbie is another collectors item and her maximum resale value has reached £922 which makes her the fifth most valuable.
Only 600 of these sophisticated -looking dolls were made – making this item extremely rare.
The City Smart Barbie wears a stylish black pencil dress, which has a bow on each shoulder.
She has her blonde locks in an elegant updo and has a thick fringe across her forehead.
In terms of accessories, the toy has a white mesh floppy hat which has a black bow tied around it.
She also has a matching belt which is flattering on her waist, stilettos, ivory gloves – which match the hat – and a onyx coloured bag with a pearl it and also dangling pearl earrings.
This doll is a Silkstone Barbie – along with the Golden Gala and Dahila Barbies – which means they are crafted from a higher quality plastic than regular dolls. This gives them a porcelain look and feel.
Byron Lars Coco Barbie – 2007
This Barbie was crafted by the American fashion designer Byron Lars, and this model has garnered a resale value of up to £882
This Barbie was crafted by the American fashion designer Byron Lars, and this model has garnered a resale value of up to £882.
The Byron Lars Coco Barbie is dressed head-to-toe in bold, statement-making pieces.
She wears a quilted white puffer vest, a lace skirt, bright pink gloves, and a jewelled hatpin twice the size of her head.
The doll also has a large pearl choker and lace socks which go over her shoes for that added dramatic effect.
In terms of her makeup, she’s unique and unlike many Barbies as her eyelashes are large and three dimensional.
Special 2000 Edition Celebration Barbie – 2000
This Barbie model – made for the millennium – wears a glitzy ball gown with a layered silver and gold skirt, featuring small details of gold stars and snowflakes
The Special 2000 Edition Celebration Barbie was released at the turn of the millennium and has since reached a value of £842.
This Barbie model wears a glitzy ball gown with a layered silver and gold skirt, featuring small details of gold stars and snowflakes.
The doll also wears a white faux fur shoulder wrap with gold earrings and a matching necklace and a tiara.
In her hand, she is holding a white and gold bauble which ‘2000’ written in gemstones.
On the back of the box, it says: ‘Celebration Barbie is the first in a new series of dolls that symbolise the holiday period of the 21st century.
‘She is stunning in a golden and ivory that defines a new elegance for the holiday season.
‘Enjoy this special moment with Barbie!’
Barbie Baby-Sits Outfit – 1963
This set was released in 1963, just four years after the creation of Barbie, and is now worth up to £830
Not a doll, but the next most valuable item is the Barbie Baby-Sits outfit and toy set.
This was released in 1963, just four years after the creation of Barbie, and is now worth up to £830.
The retro set includes a baby, a baby bottle, a pink bassinet with a floral liner and blue stripe blanket, white diapers, a pink dotted flannel square with blue trim, a pink pillow, a black clock, black glasses, a Coke bottle, a pretzel box, and a telephone list.
The valuable play set also has comes with three books – named How to Travel, How to Get a Raise both with men on the front cover and How to Lose Weight which had a woman weighing herself on it.
Just two years later in 1965, Slumber Party Barbie came into circulation.
She wore silky pink pyjamas a fancy blush coloured robe and a pink scale which was permanently set to 110 pounds (7.85 stone).
As part of the set, she also came with the same book – How to Lose Weight – which simply had one instruction ‘Don’t Eat!’
The scale was removed just one year later, and the 1966/7 version was renamed to Barbie Sleepytime Gal, but she still came equipped with her diet book and its one simple rule.
If Barbie was five feet and seven inches tall and weighed 110 pounds, according to the NHS BMI calculator, she would classed as underweight.
Harvey Nichols Special Edition Barbie – 1995
This Barbie doll is from 1995 and was a special limited edition model made for Harvey Nichols – an English luxury department store
She wears a fashionable pink silk collared jacket with a thin black belt, worn over an elegant black dress
This Barbie doll is from 1995 and was a special limited edition model made for Harvey Nichols – an English department store.
It was therefore only available to buy in England, but now it is highly sought after across the globe.
Only 250 of the toy were made for the store, making this Barbie ultra rare, and it fetches £721.
She wears a fashionable pink silk collared jacket with a thin black belt, worn over an elegant black dress.
She wears her golden hair in a sleek high ponytail with a thick fringe and gold hoops.
It says on the box that Barbie has celebrated her 36th birthday by flying across the Atlantic to London for their Fashion Week.
It also says: ‘Barbie loves to wear the latest designs so she’ll be heading straight for the ultimate high fashion store – Harvey Nichols.’
Bob Mackie Countess Dracula Barbie – 2011
Fashion designer Bob Mackie collaborated with Mattel to produce the Countess Dracula Barbie which goes for £709
Fashion designer Bob Mackie collaborated with Mattel to produce the Countess Dracula Barbie which goes for £709.
It may say Barbie on the packaging, but this doll certainly does not have her trademark luscious blonde locks and feminine style.
This doll is a gold label collection, which means there are 25,000 dolls or less in circulation worldwide.
For this particular Barbie – which was made in 2011 – only 3,200 of this edition exist.
On the back of the box it reads: ‘Master fashion designer Bob Mackie invites you to open the lid and discover the immortal glamour of Countess Dracula Barbie.
‘This gorgeous creature only comes out after dark.
‘Forever young and eternally beautiful, this royal lady offers immortal love and style.’
This model wears a bold, velvet black cape gown which curves out either side for a dramatic look.
She is wearing a patterned leotard which has an an enchanting collar that extends up behind her four-inch high fiery red hair.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk