Billed as the largest private collection of Barbie dolls, the lifelong passion of a Dutch mother will go under the hammer in London next month.

Up for sale are 4,000 dolls spanning the entire history of Barbie and her friends, family and fashions which stretches back to 1959.

“This is a collection of virtually everything — and most of it is in mint condition as it has never been taken out of its boxes, making it particularly highly prized,” said Daniel Agnew, toy expert at auction house Christie’s.

Conservatively priced at around £100,000 pounds ($190,000), the collection will go on sale in London on September 26.

It was started in the early 1960s by Ietje Raebel, who bought her first Barbie for daughter Marina.

Marina spurned the doll which remained untouched in its box but Raebel got the collecting bug, inspired by Barbie’s ever-changing wardrobe.

Posted: 08|12|06 at 7:38 am. Filed under: UK News.