About Anne Hoffmann Expertise As a modest collector of appropriately vintage age, I'm good at identifying American vintage dolls (largely late 1940's-1970's) and have the interest and resources to research particularly challenging identifications. I would hesitate to make specific value estimates, however, as markets fluctuate and I am not a professional appraiser. I can recommend at-home repair methods and resources for particular repair instructions and supplies. I can differentiate repairs that will enhance or devalue the historical significance of your doll.
Experience For one, I am 58 and a life-long doll lover. I played with many of these dolls! I am an adult collector, hampered only by my inability to afford the high-end and rare collectibles. I do some doll identification for sellers on eBay and am in demand for local yard sale and church pricing of doll "finds". I like folks to be able to realize a good return for their offerings by correctly identifying their dolls for collectors. I am highly literate and like people as well as dolls! I was briefy a customer service associate for JC Penney (one of those "filler" jobs) and enjoyed resolving issues to customer satisfaction. I am retired and spend a lot of time studying dolls. On the down side, while having an excellent command of the English language, I am a poor typist.
Education/Credentials None for doll collecting. I was a draftsman and machine programmer for an architectural metal firm.
Question I have a 1962 Barbie and Ken that are still in there box and still have all the clothes and everything with them. How much do you think they are worth???
Answer You don't include the marks on the dolls nor a description, so I haven't enough to go on to make a specific valuation. Barbie dolls and the family of Barbie, including Ken, Midge, Skipper and the many others added over the years, are identified by manufacturer's marks and hair and makeup styles, which pinpoints particular values. There is a wide variance in the values according to issue.
A useful link to start with is: http://www.dollreference.com/barbie1.html.
I don't know how current the values are in the dollreference.com pages, but it gives you a starting point.
Then, having identified your dolls exactly, check the listings on ebay in the category of Dolls & Bears> Dolls> Barbie Vintage (Pre-1973). Watch the auctions for your doll or ones similarly-marked to figure an average value.
Ebay has set the secondary market value for dolls because of its worldwide availability and competitive auction format.
Ebay stores generally price items quite a bit higher than auction realize. Other online and real vintage collectible stores, having an overhead and less direct competition than an auction generates, are frequently higher still. While your dolls ARE valuable, don't make the mistake of over-valuing them according to the highest comparison value you find. Your dolls are worth hundreds, but not the thousands that the original 1959 Barbies are realizing on the secondary market.
The original issue has also the historicity of being the introductory model of an unprecentedly popular modern toy of enduring commercial success. Its historic value adds the steep increase to its monetary value.
How MANY hundreds your dolls are worth is dependent on their issue, as their condition is excellent. A rare make could be valued at over a thousand, but the make must be identifiable.
I'm not sure from your description if the clothes and accessories are on the boxed dolls or separate outfits. Separate outfits, complete, in good played-with condition, are also bringing in good prices, sometimes over $100.00. Compare to similar listings in ebay for comparative values.
If the clothes you refer to are those on the doll, they are obviously included in the entire valuation of a NRFB doll, not added as a separate value.
