Passing of an Era

I'm so sad .... I was really excited, but now I'm sad.

American Girls has announced that it is going to retire the 'Samantha' doll and stop producing the items for her set as well.

So sad.

I love Samantha - though I don't own one (I have a Kirsten doll, still in its original packaging) - I have always looked at her things longingly. I don't know why I never bought any of it -- I mean I spend plenty of money on other things, but for some reason it is just impossible for me to justify spending money on dolls.

Samantha is based in the Edwardian Era ... I know most people say Victorian era ... but what its about (women's rights, child labor, orphan trains, titanic's sinking) takes place in the Edwardian period ... although the later book (newer books?) mentioning the titanic would actually be outside the normal scope of the books -- normally surrounding two years around the dolls time (in Sam's its supposed to be 1904 ... and titanic was 8 yrs later)

Edwardian era is from 1901 - 1915 or so (it actually extended past his period of reign since it took that long for its influences to fade). Although the Samantha stories never get into the aspects of World War 1 ... some of the stories do tell of the sinking of the Titanic (1912) and women trying to get the right to vote (which US women got nation wide in 1920)

I am really really sad. the company has changed a lot since Mattel took it over - although all in all the prices have remained fairly steady (the dolls went from like $80 to $90 for doll & paperback book, a bit more for the hardcover) ... but the emphasis has changed.

I remember when I first saw their catalog ... I was still in college and boy did it make me want to be a kid again! I fell in love with Sam's bed & trunk ... but Molly was more my style ... but then at the same time I was very attracted to Kirsten who had that very 'Laura Ingalls' background to her even if she did come from another country.

but sam -- she was the one I've always wanted deep down ... well her furniture is what i wanted really. now she will be gone ... gone forever.

ah ... to win the lottery before she is retired would be a great thing -- but then ... I've got better plans for that than buying dolls.