The Barbie Closet by Patricia Long (2000, Hardcover)

The Barbie Closet by Patricia Long is a great reference for Barbie collectors and sellers. The book is no longer in print, and finding a copy at a reasonable price is difficult. The book originally retailed for about $40.00. Expect to pay anywhere from $100.00 to over $300.00 for a copy today.

What I enjoy about this book is the detail to which Barbie Dolls, Family and Friends and their outfits are described. The book includes a valuation guide for each doll, outfit, or part there of. Color pictures of each doll or ensemble are also included in a life like vignette. The author identifies Hard to Find pieces also.

I also have found the Barbie Fashion Books by Sarah Sink Eames very helpful in identifying a complete outfit, however they do not include price guides right next to the item as does The Barbie Closet, nor does Sarah Sink Eames books break each item of an ensemble down into individual values, as does The Barbie Closet.

What I dislike about The Barbie Closet book is it covers the time period from 1958 through 1972, and that it now commands such a high price because it is no longer in print.

What I have also found with price guides is that they are just that a guide. I will also research Ebay closed prices on Vintage Barbie items to get a better idea of the marketplace for Vintage Barbie items on Ebay.

I won my copy of The Barbie Closet in an Ebay auction. It has saved me hours of research, and gives a good stating point for pricing or valuating a vintage Barbie item. I use it as a guide for purchases also. It prevents me from paying too much for an item, however if something is rare or hard to find, I know I will need to pay more than the guide suggests in some instances. It is also worth noting that some values in The Barbie Closet are now higher than what the actual item is selling for on Ebay today.

I love to collect and sell Vintage Barbie items. I would be at a loss without my book The Barbie Closet in identifying parts or pieces of an outfit. I would highly recommend this book for a collector of Vintage Barbie.

Watch the auctions or buy it now on Ebay for this book. Sites outside of Ebay tend to be charging at the higher end of the price range for this out of print book. You can also let Ebay notify you when auctions for this book are listed under My Favorite Searches.

What was fab about this book is that from 1959 up until the early seventies this one book covers it all! Up until I had it I had to use three different books just to get the info I needed. This book is fantastic! The pictures didn't blow me away but it is so complete that it is a must have!