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Antiques Roadshow viewers fume as iconic first ever Barbie doll given ‘too low’ value

Antiques Roadshow viewers were left fuming after a woman was given a much lower value for an original Barbie doll than they expects.

In the clip from the US version of the show, which airs on PBS, the guest appeared before collectable doll expert Marshall Martin to get an estimate on a Barbie doll her dad bought for her when she was nine.

She explained: “First got her when I was nine years old. My dad worked for a drugstore as a pharmacist.

READ MORE: Antiques Roadshow guest floored at ‘crazy’ value of Winston Churchill hat ‘found in dump’

“New toys came in and I have a feeling that he either brought her home for me because she was brand new or bought her for my birthday that year.”

The original Barbie doll was released in March 1959
(Image: roadshowpbs/Tiktok)

The doll, which features a black and white swimsuit, was the first-ever Barbie to hit the shelves back in 1959.

She was famous for her arched eyebrows and side-eye look, which looks very different from the iconic blonde doll we see today.

Martin explained: “There are three main things that you can tell that she’s a number one Barbie.

“One is she has very arched, triangular-shaped eyebrows. They’re very distinctive compared to later Barbies.

The doll wasn’t in mint condition in the box but maintained all of it’s original clothing
(Image: roadshowpbs/Tiktok)

“She also has a white iris that’s very distinctive there. Eyes always look to the side.”

He also added that the doll had holes in her feet for a display stand.

However, he claims that because the doll was slightly worn due to being played with and having her hair brushed and not in mint condition with the box, the doll was only estimated to be worth up to $4,500.

“The number one Barbie, including everything on display here, would probably sell in the market today in a retail setting for 3,500 to 4,500,” he added.

The guest had owned the doll since she was nine
(Image: roadshowpbs/Tiktok)

“If she were pristine and in the original box, the price would go up a little bit more.”

To which, the guest replied: “Oh wow, I had no idea. My goodness.”

The clip has gained more than 12,400 likes since it was shared on TikTok — with hundreds of viewers taking to the comments disappointed that it wasn’t worth more.

One user said: “That’s actually way less than I thought it would be worth.”

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Another added: “My mom bought a mint in box #1 Barbie when I was 3 (1976) at a garage sale for $1 & put it away to pay for my wedding. Sold it for $27,000!!!”

A third commented: “I thought he was gonna say 60K or something.”

“Seriously thought it would be so much more!!,” a fourth wrote.

Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk


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