Nostalgic Barbie Paper Doll By Peck-Gandré Vintage 1989 No. 00040 NEW

THE STORY OF BARBIE

Barbie, the diminutive clothes horse, is more than just a doll. She is a symbol of popular American society. Through the years she has reflected the changing roles of women in the career world. She has been a confidante, big sister and best friend to millions of little girls around the world.

The idea for the Barbie was conceived when Ruth Handler, wife of the co-owner of Mattel, was watching her daughter play with paper dolls. "How nier it would be," she thought, "if there were a three-dimensional doll that could be dressed in various fashions." This idea was shared with her husband and Ruth and Elliot Handler together set out to turn their dream into reality.

Elliot took Ruth's plans for the fashion doll to Japan, where mass market toys could be manufactured more economically. The first prototype was finished and brought home. Ruth wasn't totally pleased, but space had been booked in the 1959 New York Toy Fair and time was of the essence. The bugs would have to be worked out later. Ruth and designer Charlotte Johnson began the delightful task of creating the miniature wardrobe. The first twenty-one ensembles and most of those to follow were designed by Charlotte Johnson. The garments were exquisite, with tiny buttons, satin linings, miniature zippers and great thought given to every detail.

Barbie was named after the Handler's daughter Barbara, the very same little girl that inspired the idea of the fashion doll all together. Ruth Handler has stated that she designed Barbie with a blank face so that children could project their own dreams of the future. "I want the child to create a personality for the doll herself."

The 1959 or number one Barbie was 11½ inches tall and had long shapely limbs and a solid forso. Her eyebrows were shaped like an inverted "V" and her eyes with white irises and black pupils. were lined with blue and black. The small tubes that extended from her feet fit into a pronged platform that held Barbie tall and erect, ready to be dressed in her beautiful wardrobe. Her lips and fingernails were a true red. Her hair was styled in a pert ponytail and you had your choice of a blonde or brunette.

Barbie was named Barbie Millicent Roberts and her birthday is March 9. She graduated from Willow High School at seventeen years of age. Her mother's name is Margaret Roberts and Barbie Doll's best friends are Ken Carson, Midge Hadley, Jody Perkins and Francie Fairchild. Barbie has dabbled in many vocations throughout her life. She has been an airline stewardess for three different airlines, a registered nurse, a doctor, a fashion editor, a business woman and an astronaut. In 1976, Barbie, because she was a chosen doll of the century, was sealed in the bi-centennial time capsule to be reopened at the tri-centennial.

In creating the blonde Barbie paper doll, Peck-Gandré has chosen the very collectible number one Barbie, the first created, because of her delicate beauty. In recreating this three-dimensional doll into a two-dimensional paper doll, Barbie has come full circle from the day when little Barbara Handler was playing with her fashion paper dolls and sparked the idea for one of the greatest children's toys of all time.

We hope you will enjoy dressing Barbie in all of her fashions. Eight of the designs are presented in color and eight of the designs are presented in black and white so that you can add your own creative touch to the Barbie doll wardrobe.

Enclosed: 1 Exquisite 11.5" BARBIE Paper Doll, 16 Authentic BARBIE Fashions, 8 Fashions in Full Color and 8 Fashions to be Colored. - Unpunched and uncut! - For the adult collector, age 14 and over. - Printed in the U.S.A. - Perfect for any Barbie collector or fan!

The package is still sealed. The package has some minor edge wear, creasing and bends.