Original Listing Description

Extremely Rare Early Variation Vintage Barbie EVENING SPLENDOUR #961 Outfit Complete Excellent Condition Please read article below and see comparison of variation to more common outfit in last five photos Includes: RARE Early Variation Gold Brocade Satin Lined Fur Trimmed CoatRARE Early Variation Gold Brocade Sheath Dress with Working ZipperFur Pearl Trimmed Hat Brown Opened Toe Mules (one Labeled JAPAN, one not)Graduated Pearl Necklace (with some corrosion on clasps as is common)Pearl Corduroy Bag Pair White Tricot Gloves White Woven Patterned Handkerchief (HTF)Please Read the Article below and examine all photos to fully understand the description of the rarity of this outfit....this article was found several years ago on the internet (don’t know who the author was ). I still am able to find it. I saved the article in case I decided to sell my outfit from my original childhood collection ARTICLE FROM INTERNET : VINTAGE BARBIE “EVENING SPLENDOUR” ~ RARE EARLY Previously Described to my Knowledge! I have recently learned of this through the noted Barbie restorationist and amazing artist Fabienne Martinez ((people also refer to her as Lolaxs)! She noticed this and posted some online photos in 2012 when she acquired one of these rare outfits. She is the one who made this discovery years ago. I have never seen this described before.Here’s a classic with a twist! Barbie’s EVENING SPLENDOUR from 1959 in a previously unrecognized variation! At first glance, this looks like the more usual Evening Splendour that was produced for several years. Look closer! THE PATTERN OF WHITE FLOWERS AGAINST THE GOLD BROCADE IS DIFFERENT. See photos, especially comparison photos with the “usual” outfit. There are more flowers and two different types of flowers in the fabric pattern on this rare ES! There is a lily and a daisy-type flower that are NOT seen on the standard outfit. Also the fabric is similar to the regular version but the quality is slightly better (fabric is a bit thicker) Lolaxs actually solved the mystery by comparing this lily to one that was right in front of our eyes all this time on the early first-issue box! Note the SAME lily on the coat, about the same level as Barbie’s left hand.THE TAGS ARE ALSO DIFFERENT--the usual Barbie-R tag having a little “c” for copyright in front of the words “by Mattel”. This rare outfit has the Barbie-R, but has NO “c”. From my research, Mattel of course labeled the first outfits “TM” before they had the patent, then they switched to “R” some time in 1959. So you have the 1959 outfits with either TM or R. The earliest “R” labels did not have the “c”. My thoughts are, in 1959 Mattel was making Evening Splendour with the standard fabric and this one at the same time in 1959. They clearly made the box graphics from this rarer pattern! Mattel probably didn’t distinguish them as being especially different, and just used both. So in 1959 they made some TM and then some R’s out of this one, and it ran out, or was simply replaced by the other one altogether. Then they ended up using only the standard fabric from 1960 on.THE OTHER DIFFERENCES ARE, THE COLOR OF THE GOLD IS SLIGHTLY “GOLDER” and less bronzey in the rare variation, and it looks a bit richer! The lining fabric is exactly the same ice-blue satiny material. The YKK zipper is a little smaller than the other outfit. This outfit is beautiful RARE VARIATION OF A CLASSIC VINTAGE OUTFIT!” (Condition: Pre-Owned)

Note: This item has been sold and is no longer available. This page serves as a historical price reference for Barbie collectors and appraisers.