If you’re still hanging on to your American Girl dolls, it’s time to give them a closer look! The company is relaunching eight of its dolls in honor of its 40th anniversary. The historic characters (Felicity, Kit, Kirsten, Josefina, Kaya, Molly, Samantha, and Addy) will come with the original outfit, accessories, a book, and packaging close to the 1986 design. But if you have an original doll and it’s still in good condition, it might be worth some serious cash. Here’s what to look for.
“Samantha is one of the original American Girl dolls,” says appraiser Bene Raia, “however since Pleasant Company was sold to Mattel in 1998 and the company then became American Girl, the Samantha doll was heavily produced.” If yours checks all the boxes, and is still in good condition with her original clothes and accessories, she could go for thousands of dollars.
In order to know if your Samantha doll may really be worth something, Bene says to take a look at the body. “If you have an original Samantha with a white body and she is signed by the original creator Pleasant Rowland, then your doll would be worth thousands. But not all Samantha dolls are worth this much, only the signed and numbered white body dolls with a certificate of authenticity.”
Some of the other early American Girl dolls, such as Felicity, Addy, Molly, and Kirsten, may also be worth thousands of dollars, but again, only if it is a signed number one doll with a white body. The vast majority of American Girl dolls with tan bodies are worth under $100.
What It’s Worth: Up to $12,000 (signed, number one white body Samantha), others up to $7,000 (signed, number one white body)
