What bids for exotic Barbies?

From the glamorous My Fair Lady Barbie to the free-wheeling Harley Davidson Barbie, the X-Files Barbie to Scarlet O'Hara Barbie ? some 250 of the iconic dolls will go under the hammer next month.

The assortment of Barbies, some dating back 20 years, come from one private collection. They will be auctioned at Watson's Auction and Real Estate on May 4.

Barbie has been around since the 1950s after Harold Mattson and Ruth and Elliot Handler launched the toy company Mattel. The doll celebrated her 46th birthday last month, having been first introduced to buyers at the 1959 Toy Fair on March 9.

Auctioneer Barry Watson said this was the second time his firm had held a Barbie auction. The first was held four years ago.

He said although most people would expect children to be attracted to the doll auction, it was mainly adult "Barbie fanatics" who attended.

The dolls are expected to fetch between $5 and $500, the price originally paid for the Madame Butterfly Barbie.

Watson's auction assistant Catherine Clarke said there would be something for everyone at the auction.

"There is a huge range, from the pink box Warehouse type to the collectors items," she said.

The dolls will be auctioned off along with the owner's collection of 45 Lladro china pieces.