American Girl dolls are back in their original historical styles

American Girl has reissued the original eight Historical Character dolls for its 40th anniversary; preorders are open and the company says dolls will begin shipping May 1 from AmericanGirl.com and retail locations.

American Girl has reissued the original cast of its Historical Character dolls as part of the brand's 40th anniversary. The relaunch brings back the eight original characters in forms close to their original designs. These 18-inch dolls were first popular in the early 1990s and were sold with books and period outfits. The article notes that preorders are available and that shipments are slated to start May 1. Known details: - The original eight historical dolls named are Molly, Felicity, Samantha, Addy, Kirsten, Josefina, Kit and Kaya. - Preorders are available through AmericanGirl.com and at retail locations. - The article references a preorder price of about $175 for a replica of an original doll. - Shipments are scheduled to begin May 1. Summary: The relaunch returns the original historical line to retail after years of retirements and marks the brand's 40th anniversary. Preorders are underway and the company has announced a May 1 shipping date. Availability is described as both online and in American Girl retail stores.