Book Strap & Supplies (RETIRED)
Nov 13, 2007 22:43:51 GMT -5
Post by maggiedoll on Nov 13, 2007 22:43:51 GMT -5
This set was released in 1986 and retired in 2008 with Samantha's first archival.
A book strap was the practical "modern" way for girls to carry their books in 1904. Put Samantha's school supplies under the two straps and fasten the buckles tightly. Her wooden pencil box has a sliding top. Inside are two pencils and a nib pen - the kind she dipped into an inkwell. There's also a green felt pen wiper to clean it. You can write on the little pages of her Composition Book. When Samantha taught Nellie to read, she used The Baldwin Primer. You can read this tiny version of the original book, too. It's filled with stories, pictures, and songs. Fill out the Report Book with grades for her subjects and proper deportment!
Samantha is sure to get good grades with all of these supplies:
A practical book strap with buckles for carrying her books
A wooden pencil box with a sliding top; it carries two pencils and a nib pen, the kind Samantha dips into an inkwell, plus a green felt pen wiper to clean it
A tiny version of The Baldwin Primer, the book that Samantha uses to teach Nellie to read
A composition book and a report book with grades for her subjects and deportment
My set was purchased in 2006, with Pleasant Company books and Mattel bookstrap and pencil case. This is what you get:
The book strap is made of basic Mattel wood, soft leather and metal buckles. I don't recommended undoing the straps for they get wear easily but you can take the books and pencil case in and out of the bookstrap with out undoing the buckles.
Samantha uses a pencil box made of cheap, thin wood that is heavily stained. Inside are two standard issued American Girl school pencils, pen and a felt wipe. The Looking Back section of Samantha Learns a Lesson explains that it was very important for Samantha to keep her pen clean so impress on Samantha to use to tiny felt piece to wipe up dripping ink. Furthermore make sure Samantha understands to keep her pen and pencils in the box since they are tiny and easily lost.
The The Baldwin Primer was a standard issue schoolbook for the time and is a fascinating read. Like all other historical books, it is reproduced faithfully.
The composition book is a bit of a let down after the Primer and report book because only Samantha's handwriting is on the front of the book. It is possible for you to help Samantha fill her notebook but it is very hard to hold it flat to write. At least you can blame you little doll for the bad handwriting.
Along with the Primer the report book is fascinating because if you can receive an insight into Samantha's character. Apparently, Samantha is terrible at sewing, drawing and arithmetic but good at spelling, writing and reading. According to the report books, Samantha need to improve controlling her temper but is great at public speaking.
(The pictures are fuzzy due to a camera with dying batteries, but you get the idea)
I did not buy this for Samantha, but for a doll that I created, and other than the fact that Samantha's identity is all over the supplies (not American Girl's fault, that's my own issue) it can fit most students from around 1850-1920, with a bit of a stretch and imagination. My major complaint is that like most accessory sets the school supplies seem to be the wrong scale with the dolls. The books could stand to be a little larger, but they are not any different than the other accessories that American Girl/Mattel has made. In all, I think the Book Strap & Supplies deserves an A in historical detail, usefulness and effort.
The final picture is to show scale of the bookstrap and supplies in relation to a doll and other school-related pieces.
Edited to fix pictures!
A book strap was the practical "modern" way for girls to carry their books in 1904. Put Samantha's school supplies under the two straps and fasten the buckles tightly. Her wooden pencil box has a sliding top. Inside are two pencils and a nib pen - the kind she dipped into an inkwell. There's also a green felt pen wiper to clean it. You can write on the little pages of her Composition Book. When Samantha taught Nellie to read, she used The Baldwin Primer. You can read this tiny version of the original book, too. It's filled with stories, pictures, and songs. Fill out the Report Book with grades for her subjects and proper deportment!
Samantha is sure to get good grades with all of these supplies:
A practical book strap with buckles for carrying her books
A wooden pencil box with a sliding top; it carries two pencils and a nib pen, the kind Samantha dips into an inkwell, plus a green felt pen wiper to clean it
A tiny version of The Baldwin Primer, the book that Samantha uses to teach Nellie to read
A composition book and a report book with grades for her subjects and deportment
My set was purchased in 2006, with Pleasant Company books and Mattel bookstrap and pencil case. This is what you get:
The book strap is made of basic Mattel wood, soft leather and metal buckles. I don't recommended undoing the straps for they get wear easily but you can take the books and pencil case in and out of the bookstrap with out undoing the buckles.
Samantha uses a pencil box made of cheap, thin wood that is heavily stained. Inside are two standard issued American Girl school pencils, pen and a felt wipe. The Looking Back section of Samantha Learns a Lesson explains that it was very important for Samantha to keep her pen clean so impress on Samantha to use to tiny felt piece to wipe up dripping ink. Furthermore make sure Samantha understands to keep her pen and pencils in the box since they are tiny and easily lost.
The The Baldwin Primer was a standard issue schoolbook for the time and is a fascinating read. Like all other historical books, it is reproduced faithfully.
The composition book is a bit of a let down after the Primer and report book because only Samantha's handwriting is on the front of the book. It is possible for you to help Samantha fill her notebook but it is very hard to hold it flat to write. At least you can blame you little doll for the bad handwriting.
Along with the Primer the report book is fascinating because if you can receive an insight into Samantha's character. Apparently, Samantha is terrible at sewing, drawing and arithmetic but good at spelling, writing and reading. According to the report books, Samantha need to improve controlling her temper but is great at public speaking.
(The pictures are fuzzy due to a camera with dying batteries, but you get the idea)
I did not buy this for Samantha, but for a doll that I created, and other than the fact that Samantha's identity is all over the supplies (not American Girl's fault, that's my own issue) it can fit most students from around 1850-1920, with a bit of a stretch and imagination. My major complaint is that like most accessory sets the school supplies seem to be the wrong scale with the dolls. The books could stand to be a little larger, but they are not any different than the other accessories that American Girl/Mattel has made. In all, I think the Book Strap & Supplies deserves an A in historical detail, usefulness and effort.
The final picture is to show scale of the bookstrap and supplies in relation to a doll and other school-related pieces.
Edited to fix pictures!
