One of largest Barbie doll collections ever to appear at auction set to sell for £48,000

One of the biggest collections of Barbie dolls is set to sell for up to £48,000 at auction.

Nearly 400 of the famed figures plus hundreds of others including Monster High Dolls, Ever After High and Bratz and Bratzilla dolls are going to auction.

They were amassed by an unnamed collector who no longer has room for them.

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The collection is estimated to sell for £34,000 to £48,000, as reported by What’s The Jam.

“I have collected many different items of interest from a young age,” the owner said.

“After watching a programme on the history of Barbie with founder Ruth Handler and inventor Jack Ryan, I became interested in Barbie dolls.

“I was fascinated with all the development, design and details that went into each doll.

“Over the last 15 years I have collected hundreds of Barbie dolls of many different varieties depicting celebrities, film characters, fashion, popstars, countries and more.

“I considered them works of art like sculptures or paintings.

“When Monster High was first produced I found them to be unique and high-quality designs.

“I added these to my collection of dolls as well as searching for other doll varieties.

“Over the years it has been a challenge to find some dolls to complete sets, and the prices seemed to be going up along with the scarcity.

“Many of the Mattel items had to be imported from the USA but with high shipping costs and tax this was a financial restriction.

“The intention was to display all the items but due to volume and house space they were boxed and stored, with their true aesthetic value not fully realised.

“With this and the need to make space later in life I sadly decided to give up my collection with a view that they would be sold and other people could treasure and enjoy them.

“The end of an enjoyable era in my life and the pain of loss will soon be at an end.”

A spokesperson for Vectis Auctions added: “This is one of the largest, most significant Barbie collections to appear at auction.

“We have never had such a comprehensive selection of Barbie and Monster High Dolls at Vectis and we are delighted to hold such a significant auction.

There are 160 lots of single Monster High Dolls plus 387 lots of Barbie.

The sale is on Apr 1 at Vectis Auctions, Stockton-on-Tees.

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