Barbie 65 years – Ulf Wahlberg Collection at Stockholms Auktionsverk

As Barbie turns 65 – she is more popular than ever, and Stockholms Auktionsverk celebrates her birthday with an online auction so mmonumental that it had to be split into two parts. First up is Congrats Barbie 65 years - Ulf Wahlberg Collection Part I. The first part of Ulf Wahlberg's incomparable collection consists of 349 lots of dolls, clothes, and accessories – a significant portion are sold in their original packaging.

"It is both a cultural phenomenon and a piece of fashion history that goes under the hammer in this auction. Ulf Wahlberg's Collection contains a lot of exciting items that are rarely seen on the market, but personally, I can't get enough of the clothes in this auction. They have fantastic quality and exclusive material choices that we do not come close to today. With a level of craftsmanship that permeates every aspect, down to the smallest button and zipper. It is a wardrobe with an irresistible richness of detail, like little jewels," says Maria Björkman, specialist at Stockholms Auktionsverket and responsible for the auction.

Collector Ulf Wahlberg has been fond of Barbie since childhood, and after almost 60 years, his collection is finally complete.

"When I was growing up, my family lived in the city during the winter, and in the countryside in the summer, where I mostly hung out with my girlfriends. With them, Barbie was the name of the game. Even then, in the early 60s, I was fascinated by her clothes and fashion. The family's finances did not allow for a real Barbie back then, but I got a plastic doll that hung among the toys at the grocery store. So I started saving my allowance and buying the real ones on my own. When I was old enough to start traveling, there were suddenly opportunities to buy Barbie abroad; then came the internet and eBay - a whole new world opened up. Where you could find things that you had previously only seen in books and catalogs. If you hit that collector's nerve, then it's over and done, and you're not satisfied until the collection is complete – which it is now. And that's why I've reached the end of the road," says Ulf Wahlberg.

"What if other collectors find this auction and are given the opportunity to complete their collections? That would be incredible. And that's my biggest hope with this auction: to delight other collectors or perhaps inspire a new collector to deepen their interest in Barbie. For us, it's never about the money; it's about the items themselves and the amazing feeling of finding what you've been looking for."

In terms of history, Barbie has long since transcended her role as a toy; she has had great relevance both culturally and in terms of fashion. Many of the items in the auction have a high level of craftsmanship with handmade dolls and clothes, with tops tailored with real buttons and pants with actual zippers. The collection traces the evolution of fashion, how Barbie's wardrobe in the 1960s reflected the most influential fashion designers of the time, and, above all, Jackie Kennedy's aesthetic. Among Ulfs Wahlberg's personal favorites are garments that were made exclusively for the American department store Sears and only sold at Christmas time.

"These are clothes I have been searching for, a lot. And for a really long time! But now they are all being sold in the first auction. They are well-made garments with beautiful fabrics and designs. In one set, Barbie had lots of different shoes, a pair of open-toe mules with a slide over the foot, and brown closed-toe spikes – that were released in that particular color only for an anniversary. They were never sold separately, and I chased them for a very long time. But now I hope they will bring joy to someone else."

The themed auction is held online from March 8th to March 20th and a selection of the items will be on display at Nybrogatan 32 in Stockholm from March 15th. View the auction in full here. The second part of the collection will be published for sale in early June.