​​​​​​​Behold The Valley of the Dolls

by David James Mansour 

The collection in the mid-1990s. 

Social media sites like Instagram are a great way to connect with fellow collectors, share your collections and make friendly connections. In the past, we didn’t have that outlet. For many years, I felt like a Barbie collector on my own, "the lonely doll collector," not knowing there were many other collectors out there just like me (and a lot of male collectors too). 

Barbie collecting has been a passion of my life! My favorite pastime, for sure! I’ve enjoyed every second of Barbie and imagine I’ll be collecting until the end of time... 💗

Early photos of me and my Barbie collection, circa 1990. 

My Barbie collection as it stands in 2025... 

 I used to have all my dolls on display when I lived in a larger home in Kansas City, in fact I dedicated a large room to an extensive toy collection where my Barbies stood beautifully in the center on a set of shelving units I dubbed "Barbie Island" (see photos below). 

The phenomenal success of 2023's Barbie movie gave rise to a new legion of Barbie collectors, and what they will discover is Barbie collecting is fun! It can also be competitive and expensive. Not only has the price of vintage dolls skyrocketed since the Barbie movie release but the cost of newly issued dolls by Mattel are higher than ever before. 

As a long-time collector I'd would like to share some advice...

I didn't acquire my collection overnight. I started in 1987, and it grew one doll at a time. 

When I started collecting Barbie in the 1980s there wasn't the pressure of the internet to buy dolls, nor were there eBay or Amazon to do so. Collectors found our dolls at brick and mortar retail stores, such as Toys R Us, Children’s Palace, KB Toys, Walmart, Target and Venture (these were my go-to stores). 

If you were into vintage dolls, you’d scout out antique malls, flea markets, yard sales, and doll shows. It was so exhilarating to enter a store, head to the Barbie aisle wondering, what new dolls are here? And they were there! It was all about the search, and we all had an equal shot of acquiring the doll. 

What I miss about Barbie collecting today is the lack of actual stores to buy them. It’s seemingly mostly on-line, you have to be quick to purchase the new dolls, particuarly the collector dolls, or they’re “sold out” within hours of release. And if you’re late to the game, you'll find them on the secondary markets at double the price or higher. Some important advice in regards to that matter...

Patience is key when it comes to Barbie collecting. One thing I've learned over the 37 years of collecting is if you just wait, the doll you want will come around, and an affordable price. I'm always happy I didn't pay double or triple the price on eBay or other doll seller venues.

Then there's the element of surprise when you discover a prized doll being sold at a Goodwill store or yard sale for mere dollars. That's a good Barbie day! 😊

The pivotal moment of Barbie collecting for me took place on September 21, 1987. I’m a newbie hairdresser, first year in a salon, living in the university town of Lawrence, Kansas after my family’s relocation to the Kansas City area. It's my birthday and as a present I received the Barbie and the Rockers, a new wave band comprised of six neon-fashioned dolls.

This birthday gift reignited a love for Barbie I hadn't felt since childhood. Overight these dolls grew into an addiction, an obsession, a collection numbering over 1,700 today.

I'm happy to find a 1970 New Good Lookin' Talking Ken

a Kansas City antique mall for a very lower price! 

My advice for the new collector is simple. "Buy what you love." 💗

Don't buy a doll because you're supposed to, or because everyone else is buying it. These days, it's so easy to get caught up with Instagram and YouTube. Before you know it, you've spent a ton of money and looking at dolls in your collection wondering, why did I buy that?

Take the dolls out of the box... or don't. It's your privilege to do what you want with your own dolls. And that includes switching their fashions.  I free every Barbie out of the box, including the vintage dolls, because that's how I roll...

Most importantly, ENJOY and let your doll collection be a reflection of you. 💗

The dolls that started it all!

Barbie & the Rockers: Ken, Barbie, Dana, Dee Dee, Diva and Derek 

My how the collection grew! Me, among Barbies and other toys in 2008.

I currently live in a small condo home in San Diego so I don’t have the space to have the entire collection out on display. Our guest bedroom serves as the "Barbie Room." This is my happy place where I currently have 500 vintage dolls out on display.

Buy What You Love ... and most importantly, HAVE FUN! 

​~ David Mansour

Me, today in my "happy place." 

New Barbie collector Me in 1987, side by side with 1987 Rockers Ken

(the first Ken I collected). ​

My Collection