28 cm
Typical representative
Uniformly scaled by Smithsonian museum-object overall height; the pose is not stretched to every descriptive dimension.
Original No. 1 Barbie Doll (1959)
The first No. 1 Ponytail Barbie model 850 is represented in its 1959 black-and-white striped swimsuit, without stand or accessories. The Smithsonian museum object measures 28 cm high with an 8.4 cm maximum transverse envelope. Identifying No. 1 features include foot tubes for the original stand, pale vinyl, sharply arched brows and black-and-white eyes.
Dimensions
- Height
- 28 cm
Quick facts
- Museum-object height
- 28 cm
- Maximum transverse extent
- 8.4 cm
- Model
- No. 1 Ponytail #850
- Debut
- 9 March 1959
- Outfit
- striped swimsuit
Original No. 1 Barbie Doll (1959) · Size infographic
Related objects
Sources and measurement44 References
Dimensions were cross-checked against independent sources before publication.
Measurement basis
The Smithsonian object's 28 cm height controls this page; the familiar 11.5-inch figure is a rounded convention and is not averaged with it.