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Maker: Mattel
Original Price: $3*
Worth Today: $27,450*
Before Barbie dolls were invented, dolls were always babies or stuffed toys. Barbie revolutionized the doll market and went on to revolutionize the toy industry as a whole. The small, unrealistically proportioned Barbie evolved every decade with new shoes, new careers, and finally today, new shapes and colors.
Mattel was the first toy company to ever show advertising to children and this contributed greatly to the original sales of Barbie, as they were not without their fair share of criticism due to lack of diversity and polarized gender roles. Barbie dolls are highly collectible today and if you can get your hands on an original 1959 Barbie you have got yourself a small fortune wearing heels.
When you think about the relatively small purchase price of just $3 originally, this marks a great return on investment. However, just like with any collectible, the unboxed, untouched Barbies will fetch the highest price at auction. Barbies missing limbs definitely don’t appeal to the market.
