How and where to buy Bild Lilli dolls? Only 130K of the dolls that inspired Barbie were ever made
The Bild Lilli doll, a German fashion toy, was launched on August 12, 1955. It was produced until 1964. Approximately 130,000 of the dolls were produced over the course of the years. More than 1,000 historic dolls, including the Lilli Doll, are displayed in the Coburg Doll Museum.
The Bild Lilli doll was created by Reinhard Beuthien for the German tabloid 'Bild'. The doll was made of polystyrene and came in two sizes. The doll was eventually copied and slightly altered for the company Mattel. This was done under the direction of Ruth Handler, the co-founder of the company. Mattel acquired the rights to the doll in 1964. The German doll's production eventually stopped, with Mattel's new vinyl doll, Barbie, coming to the markets.
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How much is a Bild Lilli doll worth?
The tall dolls originally cost Deutsche Mark (DM) 12 ($6.578), and the small ones DM 7.50 ( $4.111), according to Wikipedia. At the time, the average monthly take-home pay was DM 200 ($109.64) to DM 400 ($219.27). The dolls were mostly marketed to adult men as a joke or gag gift. They now cost up to several thousand euros ($1070.28), depending on the condition, packaging, and clothes.
Where to buy Bild Lilli dolls from?
Bild Lilli dolls are available on Etsy, where some of the dolls cost 450 euros ($481.63), 55 euros ($58.87), 1,119 euros ($1197.64) and 111.90 euros ($119.76).
On Etsy, each item is listed and sold by a seller "who creates handmade items or curates vintage or craft supply goods," the website says. It adds, "There’s no Etsy warehouse. When you shop on Etsy, you’re directly supporting independent sellers who manage their own orders and inventory."
How an auction sold the doll as recently as 2020
An auction sold Bild Lilli dolls as recently as in February 2020, with the price ranging between $1,000 and $2,000. The item overview says, "The original doll is in good to very good condition, she comes with her original stand and Bild Lilli clothing. The outfit is excellent with Prym Snaps, there is no touch upon this doll and she is a very fine example."