EVERYTHING to know about the first Pleasant Company Catalog (1986) by American Girl

[@tinmanlover1994]

Pleasant Roland Knew what she was doing and now almost 40 year's later The doll's and books are still being played with and read. If I could meet pleasant Roland herself and give her a hug I wold thank her because I learned to read from the American Girl books

[@Valentineatelier]

I’ve always wanted to meet her and ask her so many things about creative direction and expanding a business and the fact she did it all on her own like

[@zabavnaya-xt8tb]

Pleasant Rowland*

[@tinmanlover1994]

@@Valentineatelier I know the luck people who have met her know Alot about AG

[@nanasewdear]

This video is bringing back all of the warm, fuzzy feelings I had when ordering my older daughter's first Pleasant Company doll. That was in 1991 and she is 42-years-old now. She got Molly and I sewed the clothes from the patterns sold by the company at the time. I remember that you could request a different book if you already had the book included with the doll.

[@All.DolledUp]

Wow! I never thought I'd get to "flip" through the pages of this. PLUS to have you sharing... I'm just settling in for a real treat. Thank you!

[@moanahopkins713]

Oh my goodness, this was such a wonderful video! I learned so much. And it brought back so many memories of ordering our first dolls back in 1991. We thought getting them mailed to us within the 6-week window was fast. And there was no free shipping in the 90's. (Also, photoshop wasn't a thing until 1999). My older daughter, age 7, got Kirsten for Christmas 1991, then the following year, 1992, she got Felicity and my younger daughter, age 3, got Molly. I managed to get most of Kirsten's outfits over the next 3 years. I did buy all the patterns for Kirsten, Molly and Samantha, and sewed everything. Back in the early 90's Pleasant Company did lend dolls to schools to get interest in the books and dolls. I tried to get the Loaner collection but there was a 2-year wait. I wanted to feature the collection in 1993 at the elementary school book fair. By this time we had 3 dolls, and a friend had just purchased Samantha, so I used our 4 dolls and accessories at the book faire. It was success. Pleasant Company did send me quite a lot of the pins and bookmarks that I handed out to girls, since we couldn't get the loaner collection in time. My dad was an excellent woodworker so using the dimensions given in the catalog of 1992, I drew up patterns for Kirsten's trunk, bed, table, chairs, and wardrobe. My dad cut down a cherry tree in his backyard to make Kirsten's school bench. It's beautiful, heavy, and a keepsake. My oldest daughter still has everything. Dad made 4 trunks, all the same as Kirsten's, even made the tops rounded with a birchwood he special ordered. I painted and tole painted and papered all the trunks. They are still in excellent shape. My older daughter still is collecting American Girl dolls, she has every Historical, except Molly. I collect some. We've been to a Santa Fe rancho to see the historical furniture that Josefina's collection is based on. I will keep an eye out for the video you will do about showing your 1986 Molly and collection. Thank you, Jonny, for your excellent knowledge of these beautiful dolls.

[@nanasewdear]

I love your story! It is so nostalgic as I remember sewing for Molly and Addy, my older daughter's 2 dolls and later for Samantha and my younger daughter's #4, Lily. It was so much fun adapting patterns to make them seem more of the time period and the PC patterns were wonderful to work on. I envy your family history of woodworking. Those items made by your dad must be precious. The best we could do was haunt thrift stores and yard sales for things of a proper scale. After my girls grew up I realized how much I love these dolls and now I'm a collector.

[@shannonplunkett4301]

The girl who modeled for Kit's illustrations posted in the subreddit a year or two back and talked about her experience. It was a fascinating read, but she said she got a Kit doll and Kit's whole collection! I wonder if the illustration models for the original 3 were gifted dolls as well.

[@janinagans]

So cool! I really want to find one of the OG catalogues. Thanks for sharing with us!

[@Anon4a2cp]

According to the labor statistics calculator an item worth 68$ in 1987 would be worth $188 (177% increase) in 2024, so actually about the same, if even a little cheaper. (:

[@MeraLee82]

Oh wow! I have a catalogue from the late 80’s but I’ve never seen this before. Thank you for sharing!

[@Anon4a2cp]

Just googled it that is still their number today (:

[@stephaniefriend9912]

that’s awesome!!

[@tinmanlover1994]

My First catalog was Kaya launch in 2002 and I wish I had my first catalog still then the 2003 holiday catalog with Kailey in a Christmas stocking on the cover who's my first doll I want my first 2 catalogs back in my life

[@The_Alexandra_B]

Great video, thank you for sharing this! I just found out the Charlotte, NC store is closing and thought of you.

[@Lynn17]

I miss my collection of old Pleasant Company catalogs. I was obsessed with American Girl as a kid, I remember begging my parents for Samantha and being over the moon when I got her.

[@clairewatkins1720]

Learned so much from this video, thank you! 😊

[@Ibelieveinpluto]

I discovered pleasant company around 1990 and got my Samantha in 1991. I was obsessed with the catalogs. I have always noticed that Kirsten’s braided loops look “too” long in most dolls. I realize now that I’ve been subconsciously comparing them to the images in the catalogs for all of these years, where the prototype doll’s hair was shorter!

[@stephaniefriend9912]

this maybe my favorite video! i could listen to you all day talk about Pleasant Company with all the knowledge you have about them Thank You so much for sharing all your info with Us ❣️❣️

[@houndsofhawaii7261]

It’s interesting to hear all the details! I had listened to an interview by one of the owners of Ruby Red Galleria. This is a doll company that started out with wig making only and he stated that they were the original wigmakers for pleasant Company. Not fact checked of course, but perhaps the bangs were so long because the wig and the doll were coming from different companies?

[@tinmanlover1994]

When I think of Samantha Christmas dress I think feel of the fabric is just like Felicity Christmas dress

[@sarahbishop6187]

Love your videos! New collector also from nc and I'm so sad they are closing our store! You called it :( is there an ag nc community?

[@GurmChannel]

I don't think the reason Samantha is second in the catalogue instead of first is that they didn't think she would be important or popular. I'm pretty sure it's that the dolls are listed in chronological order. That being said: I really love this deep dive into the catalogue. Do more of these, please.

[@tinmanlover1994]

Maybe Samantha's brass bed is why she was more expensive

[@tinmanlover1994]

Samantha was invisible but now she's popular

[@OnlyJT73]

I have the 1992 reissue of the cover so only the four dolls were in the collection and felicity was in there and it’s the oldest catalog I have

[@makeupwithmiranda9098]

Pleasant Rolland knew this would be a hit. Otherwise IMO she wouldn’t have signed the early dolls. What makes me sad is that she really won’t talk much about it anymore. A documentary with her would be incredible and now that we are adults we would love to hear from her. Or even her life story would be amazing.

[@Webkinzlover064]

I hope that covergirl eventually got her own Molly. That’s so interesting she chose Molly because usually Molly is the least popular of the 3. I definitely think the cover wouldn’t be the same with Samantha or Kirsten

[@dollwhirled]

I LOVE the original Molly illustrations. Looks more of the time, in my opinion. More Norman Rockwell style wise.

[@helloitmedenae]

Did you see where the Charlotte location announced it is closing on Feb. 17th? I am sad! I barely got to enjoy it! :(

[@AndreaA127]

Kirsten with book and accessories is 160 on the ag website, and hooray shes back ordered till january 24th , i hate to say this but i hate how much mattel has KILLED this brand!

[@tinmanlover1994]

I lost it with the price of the 9 book set price I laughed so hard because I borrowed the books from the library and still do

[@tinmanlover1994]

Question with kit releaseing in 2000 did AG release all her storey's at once books 1-6 wíth her whole collection. Cause I remember Kaya release they put everything out all at once books 1-6

[@tinmanlover1994]

Does Kirsten Trunk have a pleasant company plack?

[@poroshya]

Pretty sure kirsten was first in catalogue and book collection because she's chronologically the first girl, not because they expected her to sell best

[@tinmanlover1994]

Question was Gitl of the year apart of pleasant company because their were First part of girl of today line?

[@Anon4a2cp]

Girl of the year came out after Mattel took over. But it was still transitional and had pleasant company on the neck stamp of Lindsey and Kailey

[@ellenhantzsche-yk6lw]

Also on Marisol Luna and Elizabeth Cole. When Mattel bought the company that included their stock (head molds).

[@Anon4a2cp]

@ yes but thats the year they started switching some of the head molds so I did not include that they just switched Josefina later even my 09 Julie still had a PC head mold which is many years after

[@tinmanlover1994]

When you said collocters fight Over original Samantha do you mean just White body doll Sam or just an og Sam in general like in classic dress PC doll like from whatever era

[@Anon4a2cp]

Mainly just white body Sam. White body Sam had a lot of variations too. Pleasant company tan body Sam’s are still popular and also have variations but generally don’t go for as much.

[@tinmanlover1994]

My smanth hair is maybe longer darker brown hair 2004 era I love my I think PC Samantha who's my 2nd doll.

[@tinmanlover1994]

10 plus year's too late I took Kirsten,molly and Kaya braids out

[@tinmanlover1994]

I wonder if anybody's had the Samantha Granger bread house built it ànd ate it. I'm sure Samantha ate it too because she loves gingerbread cookies

[@Webkinzlover064]

That would be a very expensive treat considering you could buy a regular size gingerbread house for cheaper at the time

[@tinmanlover1994]

@Webkinzlover064 true we can buy a gingerbread house down at Walmart cheaper