Does anyone know anything about Barbie doll stuff?

[Vinca]

I picked up a life size, cardboard cutout of Barbie in a gown. It's by Enesco and dated 1997 and called "Solo In the Spotlight." I thought it might be a store display item because it appears to be "standupable." Anybody collect Barbie or know a rabid Barbie collector who might know?

[Kat45]

1. "Solo in the Spotlight" is the name of that outfit, the black gown

and whatever came with it (probably the shoes, and there might have been a mic but I'm not sure). I remember that outfit from when I was a kid with a Barbie in the sixties (and I may still have the outfit), and I believe they brought the outfit back again, probably in the nineties. I'm guessing the cutout was tied in with the outfit's re-emergence.

I don't know anything about the value, I'm sorry to say, but I figured I could at least shed a little light on what the item is. Barbie items are something I also need to learn the value of, since I still have my old Barbie, Ken, Midge, Skipper (I think), and a bunch of Barbie outfits and accessories.

[Vinca]

2. Thanks - I didn't know it was the name of the outfit.

I'm so old I predate Barbie, so I really have no interest in them at all. My era was Tiny Tears and Ginny dolls. I keep running into Barbie everywhere, though, so I ought to get a book and learn about them.

[Kat45]

3. I think I had a GInny doll too.

I'm not surprised you keep running into Barbie--all things Barbie are quite collectible.

[InvisibleTouch]

4. Not familiar with that particular item, but...

...in my experience older lots of Barbie clothes sell pretty well.

[Vinca]

5. Barbie is driving me nuts.

I can't find anyone who's ever heard of anything like this, which of course makes you want to put it on ebay and rake in a fortune. I actually found a box that can be cut up and adapted to shipping, but the thing is so big the post office won't take her and it could cost nearly $150 to ship by UPS to the opposite coast. Do you think Barbie collectors would spend that kind of cash for shipping? The whole thing is going to be a hassle, so I don't want to list it if it doesn't go for a decent price. At the moment she's standing in the sun porch as cat bait. Why, oh why, oh why, does this thing have to be so BIG?