Baby doll Polly/Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration. From the book “We are all equal”, by Finn Nygaard. Author Elsebeth Aasted Schanz, PhD, Manager and curator of the Danish Poster Museum.