One of the biggest Barbie doll collections ever amassed has sold at auction for a whopping £40,000.
Nearly 400 of the famed figures, plus hundreds of others including Monster High Dolls, Ever After High, Bratz and Bratzilla dolls were up for sale.
There were 160 lots of single Monster High Dolls, plus 387 Barbies.
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Highlights included Barbie Oreo School Time Fun, a rare African American doll from 2001, never removed from the box with a pre-sale estimate of £100, which sold for £245.
And a Barbie Peace and Love 70s doll with an estimated value of £50, which sold for £230.
They belonged to an unnamed collector who no longer had room for them, as reported by What’s The Jam.
“I have collected many different items of interest from a young age,” the owner said ahead of the sale.
“After watching a programme on the history of Barbie with founder, Ruth Handler, and inventor, Jack Ryan, I became interested in Barbie dolls.
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“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, pop stars, countries and more.
“I considered them works of art like sculptures or paintings.
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“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 searched 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.”
The whole collection went for £40,500 on Apr 1 at Vectis Auctions, Stockton-on-Tees.
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.”
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