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184) BLONDE SAMPLE COLOR MAGIC BARBIE NRFB

• Buckle your seat belts; this girl is better than your favorite thrill-seeking theme park ride!
• You may have seen her featured in our Doll Attic Facebook video, as she was such a hit with
viewers
• The incredible thing about this doll, is that the Mattel sample tag was affixed to her box bottom
(came loose with age), and indicates to us the process that Mattel went through to test/authorize
new products. We feel this is a specification sample doll, which shows that Mattel was testing
product for the color change idea for the Color Magic hair and swimsuit
• The sample tag is dated 3/4/66, and reads “Dyeable Barbie Giftset, sample of dressed doll used,
poly wrapped doll box”
• We feel that this sample was the product that was ultimately manufactured for the Sears Exclusive
Color Magic Giftset #4043 from 1966
• Her golden mane of hair is a striking vibrant yellow color, held in place with a turquoise barrette
• In contrast, her all original face paint is very subtle with soft blue eyes and shadow, with lips that
have oxidized to a beautiful butter color
• As was noticed in a previous doll, her hair is a blunt shoulder length, showing that many of these
Color Magic Dolls came with varying hair lengths
• Included in this amazing sample set is her booklet and turquoise OT heels in cello
• Body is in pristine condition, with a mint wrist tag and pristine s/s
• Also present is her original liner and copper stand
• The sample box is the typical ivory box bottom, found in the Barbie Gift Sets, and is wrapped in the
original cello and sealed with scotch tape that has aged to a brown color. Mattel sample tag has
come loose from the bottom of the box with age
• There is no lid to this sample box
• It is interesting to note that this sample doll has the soft color facial screening, which probably
originally featured coral lips that have oxidized (like early American Girls) to a lemon/butter color
• We feel that the soft color Color Magic dolls that are found in the marketplace are probably the
early version of the Color Magic concept, and at some point after this sample doll was tested, a
design decision was made to use the high color face paint that was being produced with Long
Hair American Girls on the Color Magic dolls.
• The Sears Giftsets that we have seen, have this later high color make up, and the vibrant red lips
and blush really compliment the bright colors of the fashions and hair of the Color Magic Doll
• To own this incredible early Color Magic sample, is truly a chance to own a piece of Color Magic
history
• Suggested $3900-$5500