American Girl Bringing Back Classic Dolls + Which Ones Are Now the Most Valuable?
If you grew up in the ’90s like me, you might remember the hype around American Girl dolls. It was a big deal when I got my doll and I chose the one you could customize to look like yourself. I also loved many of the original characters and read their books, which aimed to showcase the struggles and triumphs of girls growing up in different decades. Now, American Girl is banking on that nostalgia and re-releasing three of its most popular dolls: Kirsten Larson, Addy Walker and Josefina Montoya.
Kirsten was one of the first three historical characters who debuted in 1986. She was archived but re-released in 2021 for her 35th anniversary and now she will be brought back in her original outfit. Addy and Josefina were never archived but the re-release will bring back the dolls in their original outfits and all dolls will be in the retro burgundy box. American Girl is also reissuing the doll’s original birthday party dresses and Happy Birthday books for the first time in years.
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The general manager of American Girl, Jamie Cygielman, shared, “We’ve heard countless inspiring stories from our fans about how the brand has played an impactful role in their lives, such as learning more about American history from the books and how their American Girl dolls were a cherished part of their childhoods. We’re thrilled to re-introduce these classic characters with the new tribute collections that celebrate American Girl’s roots—stirring up a wave of nostalgia and inspiring a new generation of fans with these timeless stories and products.”
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If you still own an American Girl doll, you might be wondering if they’re worth any money these days. They have always been pretty expensive and currently run around $115, not including all of the iconic accessories. The most valuable American Girl dolls are the first three released back in 1986 including Kirsten, Molly McIntire and Samantha Parkington. According to eBay, some of these dolls are being listed for over $2,000 if you have the doll with the box and accessories unused.
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More likely though, if the doll has been well-loved, no matter which one it is, it isn’t worth much more than it would cost today. Doing a quick search on eBay, most of the dolls are being sold for around $100-200. Felicity Merriman and Addy were the next dolls released after the original three and can be worth some cash. The accessories that could bring you in the most dough (think a few hundred dollars) are Addy’s trunk, Molly’s Christmas box, Felicity’s writing chair, Kirsten’s wooden trunk and Samantha’s wicker table and chairs.
Tell us, which American Girl doll do you have? Did you carry on the tradition with the children in your life?
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