All of the information provided is strictly based on my own experience and observation, and in collaboration with other collectors. I’m not affiliated with American Girl or Pleasant Company in any way and do not have any insider knowledge or connections with either company.
1987 Samantha is known for her deep chocolatey brown eyes and big teeth. As always, the doll went those production changes as the year progressed, where the dolls made in the beginning of 1987 had big teeth, but also amber eyes (like an ’86), later transitioning to the Merlot color that 1987 Sam is known for. 1987 dolls have a gorgeous bubblegum pink to pale petal pink. The teeth changed a lot in 1987, but kept the large shape.
Samantha’s bangs were still a bit wispy at this time, more obviously at the bangs. The wig cap seen at the neckline had many variations, including the solid elastic cap seen in 1986 dolls for the earliest part of 1987, only in light brown, to varying colors of the “ribbon” wig cap with a large scalloped edge. In the earlier half of the year the color was light brown and became a dark brown for the latter half of the year. By the end of 1987, Samantha’s meet dress was transitioning to the one piece velcro, although they still had a paper dress tag stating “Made in West Germany for Pleasant Company” with the copyright of 1986. (Some early ’87 dolls also have the 2 piece velcro, like 1986 dolls). The tights still had the earliest single elastic waistband and it is common for dolls of 1986 and 1987 not to have bloomers. Her handkerchief embroidery changed in her collection along with many other changes to her accessories.
All 1987 dolls arrived in the earliest “ribbon” style box that was maroon with a single beige ribbon vertically placed on the top of the box and labelled with a Pleasant Company logo sticker. Dolls were fastened at the neckline with a plastic neck holder and rubber band, and the body was held in place with a very long rubber band that held the doll at the waist and feet in one single piece. It also came with “American Girls Collection” tissue paper. The hand sticker was a gold rectangle that says “MADE IN WEST GERMANY” in black letters.
Box Top: Maroon with vertical ribbon and red ink (on early ’87 dolls) and black ink (on Spring ’87 and later dolls) on the heart sticker. Codes are: SDP, SDH, or SDC (depending on what type of book was included: paperback or hardcover, and if the doll was signed, the code was SDC, along with a hand-written number coinciding with the number of the doll).
Box Bottom: Folded and stapled corners. Rectangular sticker with SMO or handwritten number.
Numbered and Signed Dolls: Dolls numbered about 900 through 2,500 were signed in 1987, but not all were sold this year. In early 1987, the dolls were available to purchase signed for $95 (just $20 additional). In the later part of 1987 the signed dolls were only sold exclusively to buyers of the doll’s entire collection and by invitation to customers who purchased signed dolls previously. It is unclear about what happened to the unsold dolls after 1987, but it has been suggested that these remaining dolls were sold exclusively to employees and for special events, as evidenced by some receipts and insider stories.