Collector Books is proud to release the second edition of this book, now including all Barbie exclusives produced and discovered by collectors since 1997. This all-in-one resource features over 1,800 vibrant color photos of Barbie exclusives with close-ups of each doll and descriptions. This encyclopedia includes the unusual and rare ultra-limited Jubilee series of dolls, the porcelain and vinyl dolls produced for Disney, the complete Barbie Festival collection, every national Barbie doll Collectors' Convention set, a spectacular collection of one-of-a-kind Barbie dolls auctions by Mattel for charity, and much more. 8.5 x 11. 2002 values.

The most comprehensive work on Barbie dolls ever. Over 1,000 color photos cover the complete line of Barbie dolls and family members, from her emergence in 1959, all the way through 1989, as well as newer Barbies. In total, over 1,000 dolls are featured. The book also itemizes all outfits sold up to 1972 (more than 1,000 sets), as well as countless accessories, such as cases, houses, displays, and gift sets, all priced at their current values.

Provides comprehensive coverage of the history and manufacture of the popular dolls, describing and photographing numerous dolls in the Barbie collection

A must for all fans of 111/2-inch fashion dolls, this newest book by Margo Rana is an identification and price guide to all of the variations of Barbie play and collector dolls which were manufactured by Mattel in the decade of the 1980s -- the favourite period of the 'pink box collectors'. Also included are versions of Ken, P J, Whitney, Midge, Christie, Skipper and other Mattel favourites, including the trendy dolls that were 'the Rockers'. The 80s were also a prime period for the wonderful Black, Hispanic and Asian versions of the Barbie family. The costuming ranges from beachwear to wedding gowns. In almost every case, the different variations of each type of doll is shown and described -- from Magic Curl to Super Star dolls, from Beach Blast to the Astronaut group, every collector will find a favourite in this smashing book which is illustrated with 450 colourful photographs.

Shows three decades of domestic and foreign dolls, and lists current prices for the Barbie figures and accessories

Take an enthralling and richly illustrated trip through the official real-world story of the Barbie™ doll—from groundbreaking toy to beacon of female empowerment. Created in partnership with Mattel to celebrate Barbie doll’s 65th anniversary and featuring rare images from their archives, Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy is a stunning tribute to the beloved pop culture icon that has echoed the taste, style, and events of every decade she has experienced. Recall the joy of opening a brand-new Barbie box with this sumptuously designed book chronicling every step in the beloved doll’s journey, from entrepreneurial pioneer Ruth Handler’s creation of Barbie in 1959 to the record-breaking film in 2023, and beyond, including: The Birth of Barbie – Learn how Ruth Handler came up with the idea of a doll that allowed little girls to play at being women, then overcame a parade of challenges—including disbelief from her male colleagues that mothers would buy their daughters an adult doll with full-grown breasts—and persevered to create the wildly successful Barbie doll and prove her doubters wrong. Breaking Boundaries – Follow the path that Barbie took from teenage fashion model to over 200 different careers, including trailblazing roles like astronaut in 1965, beating the first American woman, Sally Ride, into space by nearly 20 years, to surgeon in 1973, at a time when the total number of women physicians in the US was around 5 percent, to other male-dominated roles like Marine Corps sergeant, a business executive, and President of the United States. Reflecting Diversity – See how a doll that started with a choice of either blonde or brunette hair now boasts 35 skin tones, 97 hair styles, and 9 body types, with those numbers growing each year. Barbie in Fashion and Art – Explore how the fashion and art worlds have influenced and been influenced by Barbie, from limited edition Barbie fashions from premiere designers like Christian Dior and Michael Kors to a portrait of Barbie by Andy Warhol. Barbie in Pop Culture – Discover all the ways that Barbie has influenced pop culture, from Barbie bloggers and collectors to how her movie smashed records as the highest-grossing domestic release in history, granting its female director, Greta Gerwig, the prize for the highest-grossing film directed by a woman. Barbie: Her Inspiration, History, and Legacy reveals how Barbie is more than a toy—she is an ideal that lives forever, encouraging girls to persist through to become whatever they dream to be.

This thesis is a cultural analysis of: a) women's idealized perception of the Barbie doll, & b) the construction of the Barbie doll image through marketing. In addition, both areas will provide a concentrated emphasis on "respectability." The analysis will be focused on Barbie's creation in 1959, & on the current practices of representations in 1999. The thesis is divided into two phases. Phase one illustrates the interpretation of how women perceive Barbie, & how they see themselves in her likeness. It further explores the determined impression of the doll as "respectable." Phase two examines the way that Barbie is presented in the market & the techniques used to formulate the intended representations of the doll. The analysis of the thesis focuses solely on her introduction in 1959, & on her current distinction. The Barbie doll is an iconic image. The symbol of the "feminine ideal" which has caused women to perceive & recognize this figure in a personal light. Further, her existence in the marketplace creates a continual awareness in women to identify & evolve with this object as she captures the culture. It is critical to examine the conception & portrayal of an icon such as the Barbie doll. As a predominant feature in American culture & society, she is a fictitious character that many have contrived into a reality. She is a name that strikes instant familiarity, & she is a name that evokes controversy, emulation, & success. This thesis achieves a comprehensive look into her importance to women, & the ways in which her corporate creators make her accessible to fulfill this need. Therefore, this thesis accurately makes a connection between the marketing of the Barbie doll, & the building of an icon.

Lu Jiang goes to the United States to study in 1989 when her marriage breaks up. On the airplane, she happens to sit by a sad Chinese writer, also a political exile. Their story starts to develop and ends a decade later when he dies in her arms. In New York, she meets a group of Chinese students who become her lifelong friends. Two years later, Lu Jiang returns to China to teach and to bring up her son. When routing through Europe, Lu Jiang meets an ambitious man in London whose aspiration is to build a strong and prosperous China. Their friendship evolves into love after they meet again in China. Yet their relationship brings them more pain than they can possibly foresee. Years later, many of her friends return to China, too, and become pillars of society. This book tells the life stories of Lu Jiang and her friends over a span of thirty plus years. Tasting all flavors that life has to offer, they age as they witness in pride the advancement of their motherland, which their generation helps to bring about.

Beautifully illustrated biography of Ruth Handler, from childhood to adulthood, the creator of Barbie with intent "to inspire little girls to use their big imaginations and big dreams about their futures".