11 Barbie Dolls That Could Become Collector's Items

It's not difficult to find lists upon lists of Barbies that are already considered collector's items. What's harder is pinpointing which newer versions of the classic American doll are going to rise in value in the future. We reached out to Dr. Lori Verderame, an antiques appraiser with a doctorate in art history, to get her take on which Barbies could become highly collectible in the coming years. "Collectibility is about what's popular now and what has staying power in the long run," Verderame says. "Experts like me look for a cultural relationship between Barbie dolls and something that is trending now."

Prices and availability are subject to change. Some items may only be available from third-party sellers.

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$469 from Amazon
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A good sign that this Barbie is likely to become more valuable as it ages? The Dia De Muertos doll was released in September of 2019 and is currently sold out at Walmart, Target, and on Mattel's site. It originally was priced at $75 on Mattel's site but is selling from third-party Amazon sellers and auction sites like eBay for around $380 up to $500 or more.

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$38 from eBay
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Verderame says this doll, based on a movie of the same name that was released in 2017, is likely to be more highly collectible "because of the impact of gaming in our culture is huge with kids and adults; it's a no brainer that these Barbie's will increase in value and collectibility." Its value hasn't risen much yet, so now would be a good time to pick one or two up.

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This series of dolls and accessories — which also have their own TV-broadcast film and series — are likely to become collector's items because they "connect with fantasy at play and that is of interest to children and collectors alike," Verderame says.

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Mattel released Star Wars-inspired Barbie dolls in August 2019 — Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and R2D2 models — that are likely to be collector's items "because toy collectibles and movie memorabilia, when united, have traditionally held their value and driven the market values up," Verderame says. 

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$120 from Amazon
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Another doll that resonates with our collective cultural zeitgeist is this Barbie, which was released in 2014 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the magazine's annual "Swimsuit Issue." This model has already increased in value to six times the original $20 price.

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Debuting in 2016, this set was created by lead Barbie designer Carlyle Nuera for Mattel's Gold Label — meaning each set is a sequentially numbered edition of 20,000 or less worldwide. The dolls were inspired by the colorful, Moschino-designed red-carpet looks of Jeremy Scott and Stella Maxwell at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards.

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Another Gold Label model, this undead version of Barbie was released in 2015 as part of a larger series, the Haunted Beauty Collection. Her afterlife ensemble features a lot of fine details, including a lace overskirt and sleeves, brain trim at her neckline and sleeves, a faux pearl drop necklace, and flower tiara with a veil. She's designed by principal Barbie designer and brand historian Bill Greening. Priced at $100 when she debuted, you can find her now for anywhere from $445 to more than $1,500.

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$300 from Amazon
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This incredibly stylish Gold Label Barbie, created in 2013, is smartly dressed in a classic Tattersall plaid trench, striped sweater, and ultrasuede skirt. Her tote, however, is the star here — created in a Coach factory "with the same care and attention given to every Coach bag." It marks the first time Barbie has had a genuine leather bag. She can be found on sites like Amazon and eBay for around $260-$799.

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Just 6,200 units of this stunning and unique Barbie were released in 2013. Designed by longtime Barbie designer Linda Kyaw, Alazne is the Basque word for "miracle." This doll wears a floor-length coral gown adorned in sparkling paillettes, a collar, fingerless opera gloves, and a soaring headpiece and gold hoop earrings. Her value hasn't yet soared like others, but Verderame expects that will change, so now might be a good time to pick up an Alazne.

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Released in 2011 as a Gold Label run of 4,200, this doll was given "over-the-top glamour" courtesy of designer Bill Greening. Her metallic corset is molded and embellished with fuchsia jewels. She dons a shiny layered underskirt, thigh-high boots, striped cape, and shimmering forearm and leg cuffs. She has an elaborate, braided hairstyle topped with an equally elaborate headpiece. She can be found on eBay for between $350-$728.

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This totally rad (and extremely hard to find) Barbie wears a big-shouldered satin black dress, silver heels and belt, and a fluffy, high ponytail. She's another one that Verderame expects will continue to rise in value. Just 100 of these were released in 2017, and today are worth about $1,000.

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