Samantha Parkington (doll)
The Samantha Parkington doll was released in 1986, along with Kirsten Larson and Molly McIntire. They were American Girl's first three Historical Characters. Samantha was officially archived in May 2009 after selling out Feb 3, 2009 but was re-released in 2014 with the launch of BeForever. A Special Edition version was released for the 35th anniversary in 2021. The BeForever version retired in December 2024, and Samantha was re-released with her classic outfit in January 2025.
- Face Mold: Classic Mold (debut)
- Skin: Light
- Hair: Dark Brown, wavy, bangs.
- Her hair is pulled into a half-ponytail in the back.
- Eyes: Brown
- Samantha has decal brown eyes, which are different from the standard brown on most dolls. The only other doll that these have been used on is Ivy Ling.
Meet Outfit
Classic Meet Outfit
Samantha's Classic meet outfit is an example of what girls her age and class would have worn during the Edwardian era. However, until around 1998, the only illustration of it was on the cover of Meet Samantha. The dress is also referred to as her Afternoon Tea Dress.
Dress
Checked cotton-weave drop waisted dress. Cloth pattern of small checked burgundy, maroon, and cream. High collar. Pleated front into slightly flared A-line skirt. Wrist length gathered sleeves with plain cuff. Burgundy satin ribbon waist sash tacked at low ("dropped") waistline with attached plastic oval buckle. Plain back with no pleating. Velcro closure at center back and cuffs.
Bloomers
White cotton bloomer-style underpants. Elastic at waist and bottom cuffs.
Stockings
Long black ribbed tights. The official descriptions called them "stockings"; however these these are full tights which, on a dressed doll, are placed under the bloomers.
Authentic stockings of the time and accompanying garters are more similar to what are included in the Lacy Whites.
Shoes
Black plastic slip-on Mary Jane style shoes. The shoes are identical to Molly's.
In the books, Samantha is shown with high button black boots most of the time; Mary Janes existed, but were just starting to emerge as a style of children's shoe. The shoe style was likely chosen to allow only one style needed to be manufactured for both dolls.
Hair Bow
Wide taffeta bow made from the same print as the dress.
BeForever Meet Outfit
The BeForever Outfit for Samantha was available alone for $36. It was released in 2014 and retired as a separately available purchase in 2018. It is also called the Pink Lemonade Dress.
Dress
Light pink dress with short puff sleeves. Sheer white mesh layer on top with white polka dots. White lace collar. White lace trim on sleeves and hem. Burgundy velvet ribbon at waist with a bow tied in the back. Dress closes in back with velcro.
Bloomers
White cotton bloomer-style underpants. Elastic at waist and bottom cuffs.
Stockings
White tights.
Shoes
Black shiny vinyl Mary Jane-style shoes. Black strap with velcro on side. Black soles.
Hairbow
Burgundy velvet bow sewn to a matching hair elastic.
Meet Accessories
Classic Accessories
Hat
Burgundy faux-velvet hat with rose, dove grey, and gold colored ribbons tied into bows and allowed to dangle in the back.
Samantha is generally not shown wearing the hat in illustrations and is instead carrying it in her hand; this was also true for many of the catalogs. Older hats have a rose ribbon also around the band.
Locket Brooch
Golden bow-shaped brooch with a heart-shaped locket. The locket has an engraved flower and heart on the front.
It comes with pictures of her mother and father to place inside and is shown pinned to the front of the dress near the collar.
Purse
Rose velvet clutch purse. Golden clasp and chain that slips over doll's wrist.
Indian Head Penny
Reproduction Indian head penny. The coin was an authentic Indian Head penny until it was replaced with a reproduction penny in 1994.
Handkerchief
White lace-trimmed handkerchief with embroidered flowers.
The 1986 version had two pink and blue centered flowers with three diagonal yellow flowers. In 1991 this was changed to pink flowers in a a corner design with additional decorative swirls.
BeForever Accessories
Headband
White lace headband with flower accent on right side. Light pink ribbon rosette with three pearl bead accents at center. Light pink and dark pink tulle around rosette.
Locket
Gold locket necklace. Heart locket with light pink and white flower printed in center. Locket does not open.
Purse
Burgundy velvet purse with gold clasp. Gold chain.
35th Anniversary Edition
For American Girl's 35th Anniversary, Samantha Parkington was rereleased as a limited edition bundle. The bundle includes the doll, meet accessories, the first edition parchment style of Meet Samantha with illustrations by Nancy Niles, and an older-style box (modified with visibility window) for a total cost of $150. This bundle sold out in November 2021.
Unlike standard dolls sold at this time, Samantha has neck strings. The dress has the American Girl oval plastic logo tag on the right front skirt hem. Notably, the accessories are modified: the purse is a lighter pink, the hat has more ribbons and the return of the ribbon band, and the handkerchief is more elaborately embroidered.
2021 Version
With BeForever in 2014, Samantha was sold with Manners and Mischief. Starting in 2021, Samantha was instead sold with Samantha: The Gift, which is an abridged version with added illustrations. The BeForever version of Samantha retired in 2024, but her abridged book remains available for separate purchase.
One-of-a-Kind Edition
A one-of-a-kind Samantha, designed by Carly Cushnie of Harlem's Fashion Row, was auctioned on eBay from September 23 to 26th, 2021, with all proceeds donated to Girls Who Code. The auction initial starting price was $300 and final auction price was $2,513.91.
The doll was dressed in an ivory stretch jersey blouse (with sheer organza puff sleeves), a floral printed sequin bias cut skirt, a pink headband, her BeForever locket, and the shoes from Kira's Casual Outfit.
In coordination with the one-of-a-kind dolls, American Girl released the American Girl Collector Tote, which has an illustration of the first six historical characters in their modern outfits.
2025 Re-Release
A similar version to the 35th anniversary version was made available for preorder in January 2025 for a cost of $160. The dolls began shipping in February 2025. In July 2025, retail cost increased to $175. This version does not have neck strings, and it sold out in January 2026.
Instead of coming with a version of Samantha's meet book, the doll comes with A Keepsake Guide to Samantha's World, which discusses the character and collection. Although this re-release debuted a year before Samantha's 40th anniversary, her re-release packaging already came with a 40th anniversary logo.
40th Anniversary Edition
A similar version to the previous classic re-releases was made available for preorder in early April 2026; the dolls began shipping on May 1. Retail cost remained $175. The packaging does not have any 40th anniversary branding on it. Like the previous re-release, these dolls have maroon packaging reminiscent of 1990s American Girl boxes with the title "The American Girls Collection" on them. However, these boxes now have a unique mark next to the collection title that matches the doll's meet outfit pattern; Samantha's box has a square cross similar to plaid. Like the 2025 edition, this Samantha comes with A Keepsake Guide to Samantha's World.
Dress Like Your Doll: Classic
A children's full outfit was available:
- Afternoon Tea Dress: $80. A pattern was also available.
- High Button Boots (black only): $55 (later $68).[1] These zipped up the inner side.
- Ribbed Tights: $8 each. Came in Black, Burgundy, Ivory, Red, and White.[2]
- French Hairbows (Burgundy): $15
- Samantha's Keepsake Locket: $14 (later $16 and $20). Unlike the doll's, it was on a chain similar to Molly's Accessories, but was golden brass like Samantha's brooch.
The items were released in 1987 and were all phased out around the year 2000.
An outfit inspired by Samantha's BeForever Meet Outfit was available:
- Pink Polka-Dot Dress: $58
- Rosy Headband: $12
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Dress.
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Headband.
In 2025, American Girl began offering outfit sets for children and adults that are inspired by the historical characters in collaboration with Posh Peanut. These include t-shirts, dresses, and sweatshirts with Samantha's likeness and meet outfit prints.
In May 2026, American Girl and Tea Collection released clothing for children that is based on the original six historical characters. Some of the outfits coordinate with the Modern Era Collection versions of the dolls, and some sets use the meet outfit prints for both Samantha Parkington dolls. The Bow Tee and Best Friends Tee have a retail cost of $35, the Tiered Skort has a retail cost of $45, and the Strappy Dress has a retail cost of $59.
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The American Girl x Tea Collection Bow Tee with a bow inspired by Samantha.
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The American Girl x Tea Collection Best Friends Tee with modern Samantha.
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The American Girl x Tea Collection Tiered Skort in Samantha's meet dress print.
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The American Girl x Tea Collection Strappy Dress with modern Samantha.
In May 2026, American Girl and Hill House Home released clothing for children and adults that matches Samantha's meet dress print. This coordinates with the Samantha Ellie Nap Dress for 18" dolls, which was advertised with modern dolls rather than Samantha herself. The children's dress, the Tiny Ellie Nap Dress, is available for $98. The adult dress, the Ellie Nap Dress, is available solely through Hill House Home for $198 with the matching bow, the Belle Bow, sold for $38. The adult dresses were sold as a preorder in May 2026 with an expected shipping date of August 2026.
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The Tiny Ellie Nap Dress for kids.
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The Ellie Nap Dress for adults.
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The Belle Bow in the Samantha print.
A Samantha mini doll has been available since the debut of mini dolls in 1995. There are three versions with her meet outfit: the Pleasant Company mini doll, the Mattel mini doll, and the BeForever mini doll.
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The Mattel Samantha mini doll.
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The BeForever Samantha mini doll.
Pre-Mattel, Mattel, BeForever, and White-Bodied Doll Differences
- White bodied Samantha dolls have a white muslin cloth body; both Mattel and Pre-Mattel Samanthas have matching cloth bodies.
- Most of the White Body Samanthas have lighter brown and curlier hair; Some have darker brown hair that is long. Mattel dolls have darker hair that is more wavy than curly and a little shorter. PM dolls transition between the two.
- Older versions of Samantha have straight-line eyebrows, and the anniversary and classic re-releases returned to that style. The BeForever Samantha's eyebrows are feathered.
Trivia
- The pattern on Samantha's original locket (prior to BeForever) was identical to the pattern on Molly's, but a golden brooch while Molly's locket is a silver necklace.
See Also
References
- ↑ These were shown with the majority of children's sized clothes in the collection.
- ↑ These were also advertised for children's matching Molly outfits, particularly the School Jumper.
- Samantha Parkington
- Samantha's Collection
- Dolls
- Historical Dolls
- Classic Mold
- Meet Outfits
- Historical Outfits
- Historical Accessories
- Light-Skinned Dolls
- Brown and Black-Haired Dolls
- Brown-Eyed Dolls
- Curly-Haired Dolls
- Items Released in 1986
- Items Released in 2014
- Items Released in 2021
- Items Released in 2024
- Items Released in 2025
- BeForever
- Dress Like Your Doll
- 35th Anniversary Dolls