Barbie doll started out as a toy for the daughter of toymaker Ruth Handler, for her daughter Barbara.  She debuted at the American Toy Fair in New York City in 1959 as a 1 1/2 inch fresh faced doll with a ponytail and a black and white bathing suit, selling more than 350,000 in its first year.  Since then Barbie has become an touchstone of cultural politics and has remained a fabulous doll.  Throughout the years, Mattel has made some really beautiful Barbie dolls.  Some are made for specifically for collecting, while others are made for playing.  Any of the dolls are great to add to your collection or for a child wanting a nice doll to play with.  Barbie has changed throughout the years.  She has collected lots of friends and pets.  And even gotten married.  Some of Barbies friends have been ethnic and some have disabilities, with one in a wheelchair.  Her pets were cats, dogs, horses, etc.  She has been portrayed in a lot of different careers throughout the years, as well as being a cheerleader for most leading colleges throughout the US.  She is portrayed as Princess from all over the world.  If you are looking to buy for a child to start a new collection, Ebay is a great place to start, you can find anything from collectable dolls to loose dolls ready to played with.  If you are looking to add to your collection, Ebay is still a great place to start, looking for dolls that are NIB (new in box), NRFB (never removed from box), is a great way to get dolls that are still in their original boxes and are collectable regardless of their age.  Buying a book on Barbie doll prices will also help the collector to know how much the doll is worth and how much it will add to the collections worth.