Happy Birthday Barbie! (Updated)

Childhood dolls (all except the one on the far left, which was given to me by my niece)

Dear Barbie,

You and your friends gave me several hours of enjoyable play during my childhood. By the time I was 13, I shunned you. Boys were more interesting and, after all, in my 13-year-old mind, I was too old to play with dolls.

Even as an adult collector, I paid you no mind. My desire was to incorporate Black dolls made during my childhood into my novice adult collection of a mixture of porcelain cookie cutters (beginner's dolls) and higher-end artist vinyl dolls. Eventually, I shunned the cookie cutters and artist vinyl dolls and began to chase after vintage Black Barbies and friends. Alas, you had your hooks in me again. 

I still continued to fight the Barbie collector label by telling others emphatically that "I am not a Barbie collector." I still say this from time to time, but you and Mattel know that when they release you in a melanated doll that becomes a must-have in my eyes, I don't fight the feeling and bring you home.

Happy birthday, girl. You and your friends still look good. You remain the most popular fashion doll among collectors and children to date. No other fashion doll company has met or surpassed your success and doll-icon status.

***

According to Barbiemedia.com and other online sources, "Barbie's official birthday is March 9, 1959, the day she was unveiled to the toy industry during New York Toy Fair. Barbie first appeared in her iconic black-and-white striped swimsuit. Barbie was joined by Ken in 1961."

                                    ***

Below are photos of current gatherings of Barbie's Black friends (girls and guys) along with a few of my favorite Black friend-of-Barbie photos from the past. The final photo is a link to a preorder that might interest other Barbie enthusiasts.

Girl Gathering

This is a variety of Barbies on display in the doll room that illustrates the diversity in complexion, hair texture, height, and body size in today's Barbies.

This is a closer view of the same dolls shown in the previous photo.

A Small Gathering of Guys

Mattel is beginning to diversify the African American male doll offerings. This is a small example of Ken and other Barbie male friends that are on display in the doll room.  (A couple of these are customized.)

This is a closeup of the guys.

Some of My Favorite Barbie and Friends Photos From the Past

Three Top Model Nikki dolls

Redressed dolls: Princess of South Africa; Barbie Basics Model 4, Collection 1 (wigged), and Model of the Moment Nichelle

A closeup of the dolls in the photograph immediately above this one

Redressed Travel Nikki, Fashionista #80, and rebodied Fashionista #93.

So in Style Marisa and Grace and Princess of South Africa (all are redressed, Marisa wears a wig, and Grace has received a boil perm).

Poplife Christie and Halle Berry "Die Another Day" in Poplife Barbie's fashion

A closeup of the Christie and Halle

So in Style Kara and Chandra, Barbie Basics Model 4, and Glam 'n Groom Christie wear hats.

2014 So in Style Fan Club Exclusive Chandra

So in Style Darren is wigged and dressed in Ken's 1970s Playing It Cool Fashion

In this final favorite Barbie and friends photo, Darren wears another wig and models Ken's Fashion Avenue #13567 brown and tan suit.

New Barbie Extra to Preorder

Rush over to Amazon where, as of this writing, a new Barbie Extra doll is currently available to preorder with planned shipping of May 1, 2021. A preliminary picture was posted illustrating a medium complexioned Black Barbie that uses an articulated Curvy Barbie body. Wearing round silver shades, her black hair is styled in two long thick side ponytails that are colorfully banded. A lavender polka dot blouse is worn with dark colored short pants. The preliminary photo has since been removed. To preorder, click/or tap here.

Reference:

Barbiemedia.com

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Thank you for reading. To contact me, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

Check out what I am selling here. 

Check out my eBay listings here.

Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.

*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum

Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!

A Girl and Two Guys

I haven't added very many dolls to my collection this year (it is only March). That trend will probably continue unless a doll is extra special or is one of the few that is on my want list (and that is a very short list). Between January and February, I did add three dolls that I have not written about here. One was a gift from a dear artist friend who shall remain nameless, but she knows who she is. :-)

Barbie Fashionista 161

Fashionista 161

I was initially on the fence about purchasing Barbie Fashionista 161. The overused Mbili head sculpt, the light complexion, and the blonde hair combination did not interest me. But with Amazon Prime cash credits leftover from Christmas purchases, I splurged the $9.99 and free shipping to get this girl. The one they sent had a black scar on the back of one arm. It was returned and replaced with the one shown in these photos.

The facial close-up illustrates her light brown eyes, pink lip color, and middle parted blonde hair.

The straight blonde hair is almost waist-length.

A full-length view illustrates her clothes and shoes.

Fashionista 161 uses the Curvy Barbie body with high-heel feet. She wears a pink and black plaid dress, charcoal see-through ankle boots, and has a yellow waist bag. 

Bubby

Daddy's Long Legs Bubby was a club member exclusive from 1994.

Daddy Long Legs Bubby was a gift. I had mentioned to a doll artist-friend that I wanted a DLL little boy doll from the company's original line (not Daddy's Babies that were released after the company reorganized under that brand). After purchasing Lizabeth, I realized I didn't own a little boy. I was offered this one and accepted him with open arms.

 

Made of resin, Bubby has life-like sculpted facial features.

This 1994 DLL Collector's Club doll is 10 inches tall, made of resin, has sculpted black hair, and brown sculpted and painted eyes. He wears a brown and tan check shirt, blue denim jeans; and because he is an angel, he has white wings.

Bubby's cloud chair

Bubby sits on a white resin cloud chair. He has a hangtag that bears his name and his 1994 Members Edition status as illustrated next.

Bubby still has his hangtag.

The inside of Bubby's right leg is signed by the artist.

Karen Germany (the creator of Daddy's Long Legs dolls) signed the inside of Bubby's right leg. Also written on his leg are Bubby's edition number (#1142), ©1994, and Mem. Ed.

Sue Johnson Male 

A 1987 painted cloth doll by Sue Johnson

As indicated by Bubby's purchase, often one doll purchase leads to another.  This holds true for the next doll. After purchasing my first Sue Johnson doll, a resin girl named Moselle, I wanted to add one of the artist's cloth dolls to my collection. I preferred a girl with a doll; however, this male was available for a price I could not refuse. Initially, the eBay seller offered him in a buy-it-now or make-offer auction. I offered a few dollars less than the buy-it-now price. That offer was declined. The auction closed without bids. It was relisted in a buy-it-now for a lower price than I offered. So, I bought it then. 

This guy has painted facial features and big brown eyes.

This 21-inch male doll has a hand-painted head, hands, black socks, and brown side-button boots. He wears a red heart-print shirt, and blue and white ticking overalls that have a heart on the front made from the shirt fabric. 

The Sue Johnson doll has handwritten identifying marks on the back of both legs.

On the back of the left leg is the artist's signature and ©1987. The back of his right leg has #72 written on it to indicate the doll is the 72nd doll made. The edition number is not included. 

With an original name that is unknown to me, I named the Sue Johnson doll Frank after my paternal grandfather and great-grandfather. I knew Grandfather Frank briefly but never met my paternal Great-Grandfather Frank.

I would like to know more about the artist, Sue Johnson. I have yet to find anything written about her online. If you know about her, please share what you know using the contact field on the home page of this blog. Thank you in advance.

(Happy International Women's Day and Happy Birthday, Mama!)

dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. To contact me, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

Check out what I am selling here. 
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!

In Case You Missed It

Baby Nancy, Shindana's first doll

The Strong Museum's Zoom event, Black Toys and Toymakers: The Story of Shindana was held on Friday, February 26, 2021. The recorded presentation can be viewed below. After the video, view The Strong Museum's Google Arts and Culture Online Exhibit at the link that follows the video.

 

Google Arts and Culture Online Exhibit

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There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. To contact me, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

Check out what I am selling here. 
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!