What do you know, Annette?
I’ve heard that the first Black Barbie was made in the 1960s, but I haven’t been able to find one. The oldest one I can find seems to be from the 1980s. Do you know anything about this doll, Annette? I’d love to add her to my collection.
Mod Black Girl
Here’s what I know, Mod Black Girl:
The doll you’re thinking of is Francie. Mattel introduced her in 1967 and she lasted on the market for exactly one year. Now, I know what you’re thinking: Wasn’t Francie Barbie’s cousin from London, and wasn’t she white?
Yes. There was a white doll named Francie Fairchild who was Barbie’s British cousin whose clothes aped the Carnaby Street look. The company produced her from 1966 - 1976. She was available in Bent Leg and Twist ‘N Turn varieties and had different hairstyles over the years.
She also -- for a brief period -- came in a different skin tone. “Colored Francie” was the very first Black doll Mattel made for the Barbie universe. She had the same facial features as the white Francie because they used the same head molds which is why you may notice that she looks less like Ronnie Spector and more like a WASPy New York socialite who spent too much time in the sun while cavorting on Capri. She came with either black or “red oxidized” hair.
Black Francie only stood on toy store shelves for a year before she was mothballed for being ‘unrealistic.’ In 1968, Barbie’s friend Christie materialized. She was the first Black doll made to look like Black people. And the first doll named Barbie to have Black skin and Black features came out in 1979.
Now, Mod Black Girl, I bet I can guess what you’re thinking: is the Black Francie rare, and is she worth some coin?
Yes and yes.
When you go on eBay, you may see some Francie dolls for about $100. Skip those -- they’re reproduction. A real Black Francie from 1967 will be harder to find, but she’ll be worth some dough: as of this writing, eBay lists a genuine 1967 France for $4,000.
Are you ready to invest, Mod Black Girl?
Granted, I can’t tell you what the rate of return will be on an item like that, but owning a piece of history could be priceless. FYI: an original 1968 mint-in-box Christie with a Twist ‘N Turn waist is selling on eBay for $1299, and she looks like she walked out of Beyonce’s family album.
Happy collecting!
PS: God bless these folks who keep these toys in such pristine condition. My kid sure didn’t. Her Prince Eric doll got a crack in his…er…personal area. I fixed it with black electrical tape and she told all her friends it was a condom. Clutch your pearls all you want, but she never came home pregnant!