Newbie Here, Lots of Questions

Hellow to you all--I am brand-new here, and I have enjoyed reading so many of your posts!

I just got my first AG--Josefina! I've gotten the catalogs for years (I'm 53), and hoped my daughter would want one, but she was never into dolls, and is now 16. A friend had Nellie sent to our house to hold as a surprise Santa gift for her nine-year-old daughter, and I admired her so much, and poured over the catalog admiring Josephina and Felicity especially, that my dear husband bought ME Josefina for Christmas!

I just found this board and I have lots of questions, especially about pre-Mattel and Mattel dolls and other products. Can anyone summarize the differences, or direct me to a sight that compares them?

Are they different sizes--I've heard the new ones are slimmer? Are the molds for the faces different, or is just the materials and workmanship different? Or is it--and if so, how? I've heard here that the newer furniture is not solid wood but veneer? Is the hair different?

Are there different marks on the dolls to tell what country they were made in? On ebay, I've seen someone ask a seller if a doll had an "X" on her bottom? What would that mean? Are there "seconds" out there in the market, and if so, how can they be distinguished?

I saw some clothes for sale on ebay that don't claim to be AG, but "for AG dolls," but they have the same style, and even some look-alike fabrics--but not as nice-looking. What's the story with those?

Any other info I should know about before I look for items on ebay or from other sellers?

Finally, and most important--how do you stop at just ONE American Girl?????

Thanks so much for any replies!!

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Originally posted by LindaB from VA:
Hellow to you all--I am brand-new here, and I have enjoyed reading so many of your posts!

I just found this board and I have lots of questions, especially about pre-Mattel and Mattel dolls and other products. Can anyone summarize the differences, or direct me to a sight that compares them?

Are they different sizes--I've heard the new ones are slimmer?

On ebay, I've seen someone ask a seller if a doll had an "X" on her bottom? What would that mean? Are there "seconds" out there in the market, and if so, how can they be distinguished?

I saw some clothes for sale on ebay that don't claim to be AG, but "for AG dolls," but they have the same style, and even some look-alike fabrics--but not as nice-looking. What's the story with those?

Finally, and most important--how do you stop at just ONE American Girl?????

Thanks so much for any replies!!

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hi and welcome ^^
The links in my sigs are of my dolls that are both PM dolls. Felicity is from 91 and Josefina is from 97. I'm still not sure of the differences myself, since I've never seen a nonPM ag in person before. From what I have gathered here is that the PM's are "fatter", the eye lashes are black and hard on the newer dolls, the vinyl isn't as soft on the newer dolls, generally PM felicity dolls are the ones to have the redder hair, etc.

I think the "x" is from a benefit sale for a childrens hosiptal. The x is so people don't return the dolls (thats what some autions say).

As for those look-alike- but not as nice-looking outfits what I thinkis that people are using the AG patterns (that you could buy once?) to create a sort of AG outfit but at a lower cost. *shrugs* But personally, I think there are some nicer home made ones that aren't copies. (My Felicity has a home made one, not by me, can't sew).

Aaaanyway, how I stopped at just one hahaha no money and lots of debt. My felicity was from when I was 9 and Josefina was my sister's I rescued from the closet. [img]smile.gif[/img]

Welcome to the Dollie World! [img]smile.gif[/img]

Congratulations on your Josefina! I have her, too, along with Kit and Susie May, my AGOT who I would like to turn into a Southern Belle.

Are you going to get Josefina's accessories? She has so many beautiful clothes and fun items. Her oven and picnic lunch and cocina accessories are my favorites.

I'm sure you will love it here. [img]smile.gif[/img]

How do you stop at one? LOL talk about asking the wolves.

We can't stop at one! That's why we are here, hehe. I only had one a year ago, now I have 7. It's an addiction.


I have 2 pre-mattel dolls(Sam and Felicity) and a the rest are all Mattel. I haven't noticed any real quality differance, they are all made very well. They are slightly differant, but made equally well.

Hi!
Im not too sure about PM and mattel dolls. i have a PM Molly, but nothing really to compare her to (havent seen a Mattel Molly). Some people have albums comparing the two, ive seen some people with a PM and a Mattel Sam and a PM and mattel Felicity, with pictures of them next to each other. maybe theyll reply with their albums or you could look around for them.

a lot of people just make doll clothes that look like the catalog clothes but arent, or they make completely different clothes, and sell them. some are beautiful and some arent, i would just look for what i liked if i were you. some people here make clothes too and they are gorgeous.

and if you want to stop buying AG dolls, watch out before you come here! ive hardly been here a month and i bought marisol and recently ordered samantha. i also bought a TON of clothes. youll want everything.

im glad youre here! its really great and addicting!

Willkommen Linda - nice meeting you!

Congratulations on your Josefina, she's gorgeous - mine is a souvenir from NY.

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Originally posted by LindaB from VA:
Finally, and most important--how do you stop at just ONE American Girl?????

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<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm afraid there is no 'stopping at just ONE American Girl'. When I bought Felicity 15 months ago, I would have never believed in a million years that I'd have a total of 8 girls in just over a year (you can see them in the picture below - Lindsey and a surprise girl are still on Xmas vacation with Ria).

Hi Linda and welcome,
Ohhh, Josefina is so pretty. Dd12 has a PM Josie and dd9 has an early Kit, may be Mattel. Kit has the same face mold as the Nellie you saw (a friend of girls has Nellie and comparing the two Nellie is slimmer body, of course different skin tone and hair color), isn't she a pretty doll!
I don't know about the furniture, depends on the pieces, Felicity has just been reinroduced into the catalogue, has always been around almost retired then a huge campaign with movie and some of her things revamped, I think that is where alot of comparing is that you are reading. The quality is there but not like some of us remember and still wish it could be.
Early dolls were made in Germany and are tagged as such in clothing and on dolls. And cloth area was white early, early (WB,white body), I'm not sure when or tags on those, they were the very first, then some were signed. The ladies here can help with that.
Check out curtdanhauser.com/AG_Collecting, you will see the complete (I think) AG collections, this includes the retired items. But beware, you'll just see things you want, wish you had and feel you must have.
Again welcome to the board, you all keep convincing me it is OK for ME to get my own doll, now wouldn't have to share it with my girls Right?

Hi LindaB and welcome,
Ohhh, Josefina is so pretty. Dd12 has a PM Josie and dd9 has an early Kit, may be Mattel. Kit has the same face mold as the Nellie you saw (a friend of girls has Nellie and comparing the two Nellie is slimmer body, the face is skinnier also if you really really look, and of course different skin tone and hair color), isn't she a pretty doll!
The furniture depends on the pieces, Felicity has just been reinroduced into the catalogue, has always been around almost retired then a huge campaign with movie and some of her things revamped, I think that is where alot of comparing is that you are reading. The quality is there but not like some of us remember and still wish it could be.
Early dolls were made in Germany and are tagged as such in clothing and on dolls. And cloth area was white early, early (WB,white body), I'm not sure when or tags on those, they were the very first, then some were signed. The ladies here can help with that.
Check out curtdanhauser.com/AG_Collecting, you will see the complete (I think) AG collections, this includes the retired items. But beware, you'll just see things you want, wish you had and feel you must have.
Again welcome to the board, you all keep convincing me it is OK for ME to get my own doll, now I wouldn't have to share it with my girls Right?
Enjoy the board, alot of great advice here.

Mary D

Welcome to the board. We got into AG about 18 months ago (although Bitty has been a member of the family for 6 years). We have some Mattel and some Pre-Mattel dolls. The PM's have all come form ebay (of course) and because they were a good price so they weren't mint. I'll go against the norm and say I really like our Mattel dolls better. They have more color and better hair (just because it's new). I hope you will enjoy collecting as much as most of us do.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by LindaB from VA:
[QB]

Finally, and most important--how do you stop at just ONE American Girl?????

Your dont I got 4 in a matter of 1 month ( ouch)
DD has so much fun with them its a pleasure to see her enjoy them so much.
Welcome to the board its very addictig ..Congrats on your Josefina doll!!