A PUNTER was left stunned after finding a 60-year-old “first release” iconic toy for just $11 at a thrift store – which is worth a whopping $500.
The Virginia woman was left speechless after finding the collector’s item that sells for almost 50 times its price tag in the Christmas decor aisle of a second-hand shop.
The 1962 vintage Barbie doll, still in her original box, seemed too good to be true.
But when Caroline looked closer at the find, she realised how incredibly lucky she had been to find it.
Initially believing it was a reproduction, she was lost for words after realising it was authentic.
And the astonishing find had a few imperfections but was almost in pristine condition.
The shopper said: “I just thought, there’s no way this collector’s item was just sitting out.”
“She is still in her original box from 1962 and looks mostly untouched.
The lucky customer added: “She does have a case of what Barbie collectors call green ear, where the original metal earrings she once wore oxidized into the vinyl of the face.
“She is missing her hand tag, but still luckily has the original booklet with her, still sealed.”
Caroline didn’t even blink before buying the Barbie – especially since it cost just $10.99.
The original price sticker was still stuck on the box — showing the doll once sold for just $2.
The price equates to about $21 in today’s money.
Although Caroline isn’t a Barbie collector – she does collect Pokémon cards and understands the value of an original vintage item.
She explained: “Once the doll was confirmed not to be a reproduction, I immediately recognized the significance of this Barbie as one of the first releases.
“I wanted to ensure that it was saved from the thrift to be in the hands of a Barbie collector where it can be cherished and appreciated after 63 years in storage.”
She shared her jaw-dropping discovery in a Reddit post, which went viral after amassing over 12,000 votes and 270 comments.
Amy McKune, curator at the National Museum of Toys and Miniatures, said the doll was an incredible discovery.
She explained that its near-perfect condition makes it even more special.
McKune told Newsweek: “She does appear to be in her original box, wearing her original swimsuit and red sandals. Often the thin strap on the tops of those sandals has split as the plastic has aged.
“I can’t see her ears to know if she still has her original earrings. The pearl earrings often have left an area of green discoloration around the ears.”
She believes it is a rare #6 Barbie, first released in 1962 – a model that marked a major change.
The #6 was the first to wear Barbie’s now-iconic red swimsuit, while earlier versions wore a black and white striped one.
McKune continued: “Isn’t it amazing that after only three years, Mattel had introduced six models? The model number on one end of the box (Model 850) was used for all of the Ponytail Barbie dolls.”
Social media users went into a frenzy over the gobsmacking find.
One user said: “That’s an impossible find! I’m so jealous!”
While another said: “Amazing find. Never even seen one in the original box!”
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