The first Barbie doll, launched in 1959, originally retailed for $3.00.
Mattel introduced Barbie at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. Ruth Handler developed the concept after observing that her daughter preferred paper dolls representing adult women rather than baby dolls. The first Barbie wore a black-and-white striped swimsuit, carried a gold hoop earring and sunglasses, and was sold with a ponytail hairstyle.
The $3.00 price refers to the original doll’s suggested retail price in 1959, not the value of an original example today. Vintage #1 Ponytail Barbie dolls can sell for far more depending on condition, packaging, hairstyle, and the presence of original accessories. The doll’s early fashion presentation helped establish Barbie as a mannequin for changing clothes rather than a fixed-character toy.