Cases up through 1964

1962 Barbie Trunk and Barbie Case

This article is the first in a long series that I plan about the cases, houses and accessories up through 1999 and the dolls for which they were particularly designed.  I also want to show you the interiors of some of the cases, which you seldom see.  The lists are organized in five- or 10-year increments, depending on how many I have.

These lists are not of everything, just the dolls and other items that I own.  In regards to the pre-1983 merchandise, much of it was purchased used and is not in mint condition.  These are all American-market items.

I’ve tried to pose the dolls as best I could in how they are standing in the screen-printings.

1962 (dated 1961) (no stock number)

Barbie doll trunk (see photo directly above)

Made by Ponytail

Available in black or blue.  My doll is a 1961 blonde Ponytail Barbie in Let’s Dance.

• 1959 white Ponytail Barbie (which was never sold) in her original swimsuit
• 1959 brunette Ponytail Barbie in a blue version of #976 Sweater Girl (blue wouldn’t be sold until 1963 as #957 Knitting Pretty)
• 1959 brunette Ponytail Barbie in a yellow version of #983 Enchanted Evening from 1960 (which was never sold)
• 1959 blonde Ponytail Barbie in a red version of #978 Let’s Dance from 1960 (which was never sold)

1962 (dated 1961) (#5030)

Barbie Doll Case (see photo directly above)

Made by Ponytail

Available in black, blue, red or white.  With one exception, the dolls and outfits pictured are from 1959. My dolls are a 1960 #4 blonde Ponytail in Busy Morning and a 1961 brunette Ponytail in Peachy Fleecy.  The hard plastic gloves will no longer bend to fit over the doll’s hands, which is why they are in the coat pockets.

• blonde Ponytail Barbie in a green version of #916 Commuter Set (which was never sold)
• redhead Ponytail Barbie (which wouldn’t be sold until 1961) in #975 Winter Holiday
• blonde Ponytail Barbie in a red version of #969 Suburban Shopper (red wouldn’t be sold until 1963 as #956 Busy Morning)
• brunette Ponytail Barbie in a green version of #915 Peachy Fleecy (which was never sold)

1963 Barbie and Ken cases

1963 (dated 1962) (no stock number)

Barbie Case (see photo directly above)

Made by Ponytail.  Available in black, blue or red.  My doll is a 1961 brunette Bubblecut Barbie in Friday Night Date.  The handles of the tray can be molded a bit so that Barbie can hold them.

• 1961 brunette Bubblecut Barbie in #979 Friday Night Date from 1960
• 1961 brunette Bubblecut Barbie in #983 Enchanted Evening from 1960

1963 (dated 1962) (no stock number)

Ken Doll Case (see photo directly above)

Made by Ponytail.  Available in lavender, turquoise or yellow.  The Ken case was the first of the heavier, sturdier cases.  My doll is a 1961 blond Straight Leg Ken in Dream Boat.

• 1962 brunette Straight Leg Ken in an orange and blue version of #788 Rally Day from 1962 (which was never sold)
• 1962 brunette Straight Leg Ken in a blue and black version of #785 Dream Boat from 1961 (which was never sold)
• 1961 blonde Bubblecut Barbie in #979 Friday Night Date from 1960

1964 Midge case and Barbie and Midge double doll case

1964 (dated 1963) (no stock number)

Midge/Barbie’s Best Friend case (see photo directly above)

Made by Mattel

Available in black, blue or red

• 1963 blonde Straight Leg Midge in a gold version of #939 Red Flare from 1962 (which was never sold)
• 1963 blonde Straight Leg Midge in a pink version of #939 Movie Date from 1962 (which was never sold)

My doll is a 1964 blonde Straight Leg Midge in Red Flare.

1964 (dated 1963) (no stock number)

Barbie & Midge Doll Case (see photo directly above)

Made by Mattel

Available in blue or red.  Note the attractive interior of this case.  These cases are much thicker than the other double doll cases.  Also note that the pocket on Victory Dance on the case is the reverse of what it is in real life.  My dolls are a 1962 blonde Straight Leg Ken and a 1961 Bubblecut Barbie in Movie Date.

• 1962 blond Straight Leg Ken in a pink version of #786 Saturday Date from 1961 (which was never sold)
• 1962 blond Straight Leg Ken in a gold and white version of #1411 Victory Dance from 1964 (which was never sold)
• 1961 blonde Bubblecut Barbie in a pink version of #939 Movie Date from 1962 (which was never sold)
• 1962 blonde Straight Leg Midge in a yellow version of #937 Sorority Date from 1962 (which was never sold)

Exteriors of two Barbie and Midge cases

Interiors of two Barbie and Midge cases