Many came from eBay and not even because I was looking to buy; on a few occasions I simply saw a bargain I could not resist, like last week, while searching for a good photo of George Washington Barbie for one of these cards, I saw that someone was selling one in near-mint condition for $15 and could not help myself. There have been a few dolls I grabbed off bargain shelves at KB Toys and Toys R Us as well, like the Arthur & Guinevere set which marketed for $79.99 and now sells used for nearly $200, which KB had priced under $20 because of a rip in the back of the box.
In the case of a very few Barbies, I knew I had to have them just from photos. I ordered all three Legends of Ireland Barbies from TRU at Amazon.com because their advance prices were so good. My usual Barbie dealer for collectibles (The Lord of the Rings, Cher, Glenn Close as Cruella De Vil, etc.) is Sandi Holder's Doll Attic, which is run by one of the nicest people imaginable and whose prices are often lower than Barbie Collector which is Mattel's official web site for high-end Barbies. I swiped most of the images on these cards from those sites and a few from MiKelman, a store run by a pair of men who are longtime collectors, doll designers and vocal George W. Bush haters.
All images of Barbie dolls, the background imagery from the boxes and the names Barbie, Ken, Teresa, Stacie, Christy, etc. are copyright and trademark Mattel Inc. All Rider-Waite card images are copyright US Games Systems Inc. No infringement is intended and no profits are being made; this is a labor of love. If you want to save these for your own personal use, fine, but please don't repost them or hotlink directly to the images.
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14 Temperance Heartstring Angel from Angels of Music This is a card of inner and outer harmony, moderation and balance, focus and skill. On the Waite decks, the illustration portrays an angel in a tranquil setting, which brings to mind this calm, confident violinist. (Rider-Waite)
15 The Devil Catwoman from Barbie Loves Pop Culture Licentiousness, lack of self-discipline and being a prisoner to one's own desires are all faults of the Devil, though the positive aspect of all this are lost inhibitions, passion and the understanding that comes with experience. Here is Barbie as Catwoman, gleefully waving her whip and celebrating her physical and erotic power. Does that disguise liberate her or entrap her? (Rider-Waite)
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16 The Tower Princess of Imperial Russia from the Princess Collection The title of this card is deceptive, for its focus is not on the tower's height but its downfall, symbolizing abrupt changes, shocking events and complete disruption of the familiar. At the least, it certainly gets one out of a rut. This Grand Duchess, a daughter of the Czar, may have lovely clothes and live in a beautiful palace, but she comes from an era that ended in violence and can only be remembered with nostalgia if its violent excesses are repressed entirely. (Rider-Waite)
17 The Star Lady Liberty from the Bob Mackie Series The Star stands for bright prospects, hope, inspiration and self-sufficiency, which is what the Statue of Liberty represented to generations of immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island from various countries where they fled hunger, ignorance and intolerance. In this version she does not stand beneath the star but wears the star as her crown and carries its light in her own hand. (Rider-Waite)
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18 The Moon Galadriel from The Lord of the Rings Often associated with goddesses, women's rites, force and renewal, with negative aspects of fear, deception and danger, The Moon is almost always female and mysteriously powerful. Galadriel is not quite a goddess but she is immortal, wise, mysterious and not a little terrifying. (Rider-Waite)
19 The Sun Princess of the Incas from the Princess Collection
This Barbie wears the golden headdress and bracelets that indicate her to be a descendant of the sun god Inti. The card represents growth, satisfaction, happiness and the optimism of knowing that with each new dawn comes new opportunities. (Rider-Waite)
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20 Judgment Le Papillon from the Bob Mackie Series Not judgment in a legal sense but The Last Judgment, this card signifies forgiveness, atonement, transformation and rebirth. This butterfly was designed for Barbie's 40th anniversary, wearing a dress that pays homage to both Barbie's original striped swimsuit and the pink that became her trademark color as she evolved.
21 The World Whispering Wind from Essences of Nature The traditional World card shows a naked woman floating in the sky and holding wands of power, surrounded by images of balance and completion. This Barbie has the ethereal beauty of the sky and holds a bird in the palm of her hand, smiling a fulfilled smile while her gown seems to float around her. (Rider-Waite)
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