1959 Mattel No. 2 Ponytail Barbie

Early Vintage Barbie with Period Box, Stand, Booklet and Accessories

There are vintage dolls, and then there are artifacts from the moment an American icon was born.

Offered here is an early 1959 No. 2 Ponytail Barbie, representing the second production variation of the doll that transformed the toy industry and became one of the most recognizable figures in twentieth-century popular culture.

Barbie debuted at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. Her adult fashion-doll concept offered a dramatic alternative to the baby dolls that had traditionally dominated the market, allowing children to imagine fashion, careers, travel and an independent adult life. More than sixty-five years later, the earliest Ponytail Barbies remain benchmarks of serious vintage-doll collecting.

This example displays the unmistakable early Barbie appearance: dramatic arched eyebrows, red lips, side-glancing eyes, curled bangs and the famous black-and-white zebra-striped swimsuit.

An Important Early Production Barbie

The No. 1 and No. 2 Ponytail Barbies were produced at the very beginning of Barbie history and are visually very similar. Identification of these earliest dolls can involve several details, including body construction, facial paint, markings, hair, stand configuration and the construction of the feet and legs.

Because published identification references do not always agree about every distinguishing characteristic—and because this doll has received restoration—the photographs and disclosed details should be carefully reviewed when assessing its precise production variation. Early No. 1 and No. 2 dolls are commonly grouped among the most historically significant and desirable Ponytail Barbies.

Included with the Doll

This ensemble includes:

• Early vintage Ponytail Barbie represented as a No. 2
• Vintage blonde No. 850 Barbie box bearing the registered ® symbol
• Vintage Ponytail display stand
• Vintage 1959-style fashion booklet bearing the ® symbol
• Black-and-white zebra-striped swimsuit
• Black open-toe mules
• Gold-tone hoop earrings
• White sunglasses with blue lenses
• Additional pearl-style earrings

The box, stand and booklet are period Mattel Barbie pieces but are not represented as the original pieces issued with this particular doll. The internal box insert also appears to be a later replacement.

That distinction is important. This is an attractive vintage presentation assembled from authentic-period components, rather than an untouched, all-original boxed set.

Condition and Restoration Disclosure

The doll presents beautifully for display, but buyers should understand that she has undergone restoration and shows age-related wear.

According to the previous owner, the original ponytail had been cut and was subsequently rerooted or restored. The original front curls were reportedly retained. Facial paint, including portions of the lips and other details, has been touched up or retraced.

The doll shows fading, scattered marks and smudges consistent with age and use. Some pale or greenish discoloration may be visible; prospective buyers should study the photographs carefully and make their own assessment regarding vinyl color variation or possible green-ear effects.

The gold-tone hoop earrings show tarnishing. The doll retains all fingers, and the painted fingernails remain largely visible. Both arms move, and the limbs are described as tight. No obvious nose nip, neck split or major structural damage has been observed.

The zebra-striped swimsuit displays well and does not show obvious major staining. The sunglasses remain intact with visible wear. The fashion booklet is complete, with age-related handling wear and oxidation to the staples.

The vintage box remains presentable and fully recognizable, though it shows expected wear, including splits, tears, edge wear and minor discoloration or staining. The included insert is not believed to be original.

Because condition terminology can be subjective, the photographs should be treated as an essential part of the description.

Why an Early Ponytail Barbie Matters

Millions of Barbie dolls have been made, but the earliest 1959 examples occupy a category of their own.

They represent the point at which Barbie was not yet a nostalgic brand or worldwide entertainment property—she was a new and daring idea. The striped swimsuit, ponytail, dramatic makeup and fashion illustrations established a visual identity that remains recognizable around the world.

The earliest numbered Ponytail variations continue to command strong collector interest, with condition, originality, hair, facial paint, accessories and packaging causing substantial differences in value. A documented 1959 No. 2 example described as unplayed-with and retaining original hair sold for nearly $5,000 in 2024, illustrating the premium the market may place on high-grade, minimally altered dolls. Restored examples should be evaluated separately and should not be valued as untouched originals.

This doll offers a more accessible opportunity to own and display one of Barbie's earliest forms while retaining numerous vintage presentation pieces.

It is not being represented as untouched, mint or entirely original. Its restoration history and assembled accessories are disclosed plainly. What it does offer is the unmistakable presence of an early Ponytail Barbie—the doll that helped launch one of the most enduring names in toy and fashion history.

A striking vintage display ensemble and a tangible artifact from the first year of Barbie.