The allure of Barbie spans across multiple generations with collectors of all ages.

Some collect Barbie dolls that are vintage and NRFB (Never Removed From Box), others are drawn to the dolls they played with as children, while some just collect Barbie accessories and playsets.

The Barbie collecting craze took off in the 1990s, with the rise of eBay and the introduction of Barbie partnership dolls, including the Bob Mackie Gold Barbie, which featured 5,000 hand-sewn golden sequin accents.

Today, a mint condition "#1" (1959 Barbie doll) can fetch as much as $27,450 at auction, as was the case with an extremely rare #1 blonde doll in a May 2006 auction held by Sandi’s Doll Attic. The most expensive Barbie, however, was designed in partnership with Australian jewelry designer Stefano Canturi (shown left) to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. The doll sold for $302,500 at auction in 2010.

The Barbie Fashion Model Collection, designed by Robert Best, elevated Barbie to the world of haute couture, with exquisitely detailed fashions and an exclusive Silkstone® body created with the look and weight of porcelain. Other collections highlight Barbie doll’s storied past (the Willows, WI™ Collection), or take Barbie to realms beyond your imagination (the Faraway Forest™ Collection).

To see what’s new with Barbie collecting today, visit Barbie Signature