Best of Barbie

I disagree with another reviewer that all photos should be of mint dolls. This book captures a wide range of Barbie's -- both through the years and through various conditions. As a collector, I find it helpful to see the less-than-perfect dolls. It gives me a far better understanding of different levels of grading. If you are a serious Barbie collector, I feel this book is a "must-have" in your library.

You don't have to be a serious collector to enjoy "The Book of the Century", THE BEST OF BARBIE. Ms. Korbeck and her photographer, Kris Kandler should be congratulated for capturing America's favorite doll through pictures and knowledge. If you only purchase one book on Barbie in your entire life, this is the one to get.Editor, Dan Stearns, exhibits his enthusiasm throughout this dynamic collection of text, photos, and information. What makes this poetic tribute to Barbie so dynamic is the way each picture is carefully captured to show the Barbie Doll in a way never before seen. Simplicity and beauty are the only two words to describe its artistry.Steve Hart AKA Steve HorwitzEmmy Award Winner and Former Writer/Producer for National Public Radio

I love this book! The photos are simply outstanding. I honestly was astounded at the photography, especially the close-up shots of incredibly rare Barbie dolls and accessories. The tone of the book is fun and lively yet well-informed. I have many books on vintage Barbie dolls, and they are all great collector resources (especially the Ultimate Barbie Doll Book), but this book is wonderful to browse (bringing back fond memories)and use as a resource for pricing. As one reviewer noted, a few of the dolls are not mint in box, but no claim is made that those dolls are mint. Plus, when a photo is zoomed in such that the doll's face covers an entire page, you are going to notice subtle blemishes that only that kind of magnification can see! This book is truly the best of Barbie. I only hope that the author can provide a book in the future covering accessories, houses, cars, etc, in this kind of detail.

This brand new, year 2001 hardback, 256 page volume contains more than 350 full color, large photos covering Barbie dolls up to the year 2000. It has complete descriptions and over 1,200 listings. It's fully indexed and has current pricing. Most of the 350 full color photos are full page in size, showing great detail. Many photos are nearly actual size !! Many of the pages contain "The Best Because" section, that describes what makes this particular Barbie special. Collectors will surely enjoy this work.