Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) has been traveling the nation in search of precious metals, watches, aged coins, antiques and vintage toys since 1996. The company has lately expanded their search of treasures into Spain and the United Kingdom. Their world wide hunt for treasures gives THR with a chance to purchase gold, silver and all varieties of collectibles for their international network of potential buyers and collectors.
Scarce and exclusive toys are exciting to play with and collect. Though mainly a childhood hobby, collecting toys is also popular with adults, who appreciate reminiscing with toys they used to play with in their early years. As the desire for vintage toys, in particular classic Barbie dolls in excellent condition continues to rise, these classic toys can bring a excellent paycheck at a Treasure Hunters Roadshow function. Their buyers have been instructed to give top-dollar for vintage mint-condition Barbie dolls.
The very first Barbie doll was introduced at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. Mattel debuted the doll after co-founder Elliot Handler’s wife, Ruth, came up with a design for a new doll for her daughter, Barbara. Although hesitant to release the doll at first due to the fact that Mattel did not feel younger girls wanted an adult-looking toy, Barbie went on to become one of America’s most treasured toys of all time.
Ruth Handler came up with the Barbie doll concept during a household vacation to Europe, where she came across just what she envisioned for her daughter – Bild Lilli. Bild Lilli was a doll marketed in Germany in the 1950s. She was inspired by a comic strip, in which she was an incredibly self-empowered woman who, at times, was rather controversial. Barbie, or Barbra Millicent Roberts as her fictitious biography reads, has also had her share of controversies throughout the decades. Criticized by health experts and child psychologists for her unrealistic and unachievable body shape, Barbie has undergone many alterations over the decades, but continues to be a toy icon all over the world.
Classic Barbie dolls can be worth hundreds to serious collectors. First introduced as a series, number one coming in 1959, Barbie actually had inserts in her feet to help her stand on her own. This original Barbie is the only one to include this copper insert and is very valuable if in good condition. In the Barbie collection, dolls one through three, and a handful of the fourth, were created with a solid torso and solid legs. Every single Barbie manufactured after these has a hollow body.
Classic Barbie dolls still in mint condition, which include ones that have remained in the box for over 5 decades, are a toy collector’s dream. The potential buyers at THR are wanting to purchase these rare, collectible items and all vintage toys on behalf of their network of buyers and collectors. A list of things that the Treasure Hunters Roadshow buyers are searching for can be found on the company’s web page.
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