A 1965 Barbie in Midnight Red fetches a record $17,000 at auction.

Collectors from around the world went to the Christie's auction to bid on a private collection of 4,000 Barbie dolls.

The Midnight Red doll was only expected to sell for up to $1,100. It is now the most expensive modern plastic doll to sell at an auction in the United Kingdom.

The previous high was $5,300 at an auction in 1999.

A Christie's auction house spokeswoman told Reuters, "It was very competitive... People were taking this very seriously. We had interest from all four corners of the world."

A woman in the sale room bought the doll on behalf of an anonymous collector.

The same woman also bought a Gala Abend Barbie for $13,600 and Barbie in Midnight Pink for $9,500.

Both 1965 dolls were only expected to sell for up to $1,100.

At the end of the auction, the entire Barbie family collection had sold for $210,817.