Josefina Doll

[americanmommy]

Your Josefina doll has warm brown eyes that glimmer as they open and close. Brush her long, mahogany brown hair and plait it in a thick braid over her shoulder. Tie it with a blue satin ribbon, and tuck in a tiny sprig of evening primroses - a flower that reminds her of Mama. Josefina's body is soft and huggable, and her head, arms, and legs pose so she can sit, stand, and hold some of the accessories in her collection. When Josefina arrives she'll be wearing golden earrings and a traditional outfit that's pretty and practical for her life on the rancho. Her crisp white camisa - a long, lace-edged blouse - hangs nearly down to her knees. Over it she wears a deep red skirt dotted with tiny flowers, and a dark woven sash. She has white drawers underneath and soft leather moccasins on her feet! Josefina comes, as shown here, with a Meet Josefina book.

Josefina Doll
$87 JDP Josefina Doll & Paperback Book

A+

Josefina comes dressed in her white camisa,her red skirt,a brown woven sash,white drawers, real leather moccasins. She has little gold earrings and her hair is tied back into a braid with a blue ribbon accented with a small sprig of evening primroses.

Josefina is a beautiful, beautiful doll. She has the sweetest face. I have a Mattel Josefina and PreMattel Josefina. So far, the differences I have noticed are the PM Josie has soft brown lashes, obvious brown highlights in her hair, softer vinyl, and no body tag. My newer Josefina looks almost the same, but her complexion appears almost sallow next to the PM Josefina's rosie cheeks.The PM Josefina seems to have nicer hair as well.

My Mattel Josefina has silver earrings, it appears all of the gold coloring is worn away.The PM Josie still has pretty gold
hoops. In the photos below, you will see pictures of both dolls. The girl wearing the summer riding outfit is PM Josefina.There is also a close up of the fabric of the meet outfit skirt.

[princessemily]

Wow! PM Josefina is MUCH prettier and is more mature looking than innocent Mattel Josefina. I'm glad I have my lovely PM girl.

I bought my PM/transitional Josefina from a Hostboard friend after she decided she really hadn't bonded with her in March 2006. I don't always bond with her myself, but I could never sell her because she really is beautiful...

I love her flowing, black hair, her wide brown eyes, and her cute little earrings. I do get frustrated braiding her hair, but only because I'm such a perfectionist when it comes to doing doll hair.



Grade: A

[darklament]

I have 4 of these dolls, 2 PM 1st runs and 2 Mattel version, to be modern boys.

I adore both versions! I would get em another one to rewig if I could! My favorite historical doll just based on personal merits.

I disagree that one doll is prettier than the other. To me their all so pretty! The Mattels have thinner faces, while the PM's their faces are fuller. Skin tone is a bit different as well. Josefian's skin tone is a bit more golden hued than GT2's whose skin has more of a grey look to it.

A+

[wrxgal]

Josie is one of my favorite dolls. I received mine off ebay a few years back and I believe she is one of the earlier ones... Below, she is pictured in her weaving outfit, which is one of my total favorite outfits! I highly recommend it to those that are debating on whether to buy it or not. You will not be disappointed!

[horsemom]

I've had the Mattel Josefina, and she was very pretty, but I love PM best.

My PM Josefina just has a nicer expression to me. And I always love the PM squisher vinyl if I can get it.

Josefina is a lovely doll and has a great meet outfit. The neat thing about Josie is she's one of the few historicals (along with Kirsten) that you can get just a couple outfits for and then mix and match. No, she doesn't have tons of clothes from AG, but she does have the advantage of many combinations of camisas, skirts, sashes, and accessories (like Kirsten has for shawls and aprons).

I have a comparison chart of PM to Mattel Josefina on my website in my siggy (and pictures of my PM Josie).

[shadowrose]

I have both a first run Josefina and a Mattel Josefina. I can't say that either is prettier than the other, either. My PM has a softer rounder face, where the Mattel has a narrower face. I don't prefer either one.

I would give Josefina - both PM and Maattel - an A+.
The dolls is beautiful, and I love her hair. I did cut off a couple of inches from my Mattel's hair (that one's my boy Antef, anyway.) That's the only problem with the dolls with hair that long is that it can tangle really bad, but it is worth the extra care! I absolutely love the face mold, and the skin and eyes. Josefina is about their prettiest historical, in my opinion. Her original outfit is nicely made as well.

[parklife268]

I recieved the most beautiful Josefina from my friend and fellow member Colette. I cannot say just how beautiful Josefina really is! I took her hair out her braid when she arrived because a section had come loose, and let me tell you her hair was very hard for me to get back into a nice braid! I think it was just me, but I had to seek the assistance of my aunt who braided my cousins' hair for years. We got it back in a lovely braid and she looks magnificent! I recommend Josefina, she is definitely one of the prettiest historical dolls in my opinion.

[Thimbleberry]

I bought my Josefina about 1 week after she first came out & have always thought she was extremely beautiful. She doesn't stand too well on her own though. I can now see the differences between my doll & the new ones because I just ordered two for gifts & got them yesterday. The new ones have a much wider, fuller face, a wider mouth with less color, an overall different face color, sort of yellowish with less (or no) cheek color. They also have a shorter braid & lighter color moccasins with synthetic laces instead of leather ones. They are still nice dolls & I'm happy with them but I'm so glad I have the old one.

[scandia]

Josefina has to be the most beautiful American Girl doll that AG/Pleasant Company has ever manufactured. Between her coloring, her luscious hair, her earring, and her clothes, she is just plain drop dead gorgeous. She looks like Salma Hayek. She's just plain alluring. I only have one tiny little detail preventing her from getting an A+: her hair is cut in a weird angle and it is hard to get back inside a braid once you let it down. But otherwise she gets an A.

[Pixiedust]

Josefina is one of my favorite dolls. She is beautiful. I love her coloring and her long silky hair. I'm pretty sure mine is a PM. She looks like the pictures of PM dolls, and I got her not long after she came out. I love her outfits, they are very attractive on her, and she has a versatile wardrobe. Her hair can be difficult to get back into a nice braid, and it is true that it is not straight. Also the ties on her shoes aren't that good, mine are starting to crack and are no longer supple. They are nearly 9 years old though.
I definitely give Josefina an A.

[SproutsMom]

Josefina is a beautiful doll with great stories to build her character. My current doll is a Mattel doll, purchased at the MCM sale in 2007. She has the higher eyebrows and what I believe to be a more narrow face than the PM version. The Pleasant Company version has lower brows and long lashes. I feel she has a more mature look than the Mattel version, yet the Mattel version has a youthful hopeful look that may be more accurate to her character. You can judge the possible difference in face mold yourself.

(Mattel version on the left in this picture.)
With a lovely, accurate skintone, long smooth hair, and a unique character, I give this doll an A.

[American Girl Rescue]

Just wanted to add my pictures of my three Josefinas for a comparison.

Left is an early Mattel/transition Josefina.

Middle is my Mattel Josefina (now known as Speaking Rain)

Right is my first edition Pleasant Company Josefina.

Transition Josefina/Mattel Josefina/Pleasant Company Josefina

[QNPoohBear]

Josefina is a gorgeous girl! She is much prettier in person than in catalog photos. I'm partial to Mattel Josefina, which is uncharacteristic of me. Her skin tone is lighter than PM Josefina, but she is in no way less beautiful. I was lucky enough to host a Traveling Josefina and see her up close and personal.







I love her long, black hair. My biggest complaint is that the ends seem to get dry and frizzy easily. Traveling Josefina was pretty new when she arrived and already her hair was hard to style because of dry ends.

My favorite Josefina is this darker skinned one from AGPC.


I have also met my mom's friend's daughter's Josefina and she is quite lovely as well. Her earrings are very pretty and culturally appropriate.

[Princess Kailey]

I just bought a transitional Josefina for my daughter for Christmas. We had a Josefina previously and right from the beginning her hair was a nightmare to deal with. This doll has the Mattel stiff eyelashes and somewhat hard vinyl but no body tag and the lower eyebrows. Her hair is simply gorgeous. It's a beautiful black with brown highlights- very natural looking. I can run a pick or brush through it with barely a tangle. It's a different texture than the other Josefina we had. It's softer, but less silky-slick feeling. Here's a sneak peek at her before she goes back in hiding.

[ronniestar14]

I was so surprised on Christmas Eve, when I got Josefina. I guess my parents know me pretty well, considering I forgot to ask for her

Pros: Gorgeous.

Cons: Hair falls out pretty often. One of her earings seems to be a little... odd.

Grade: B+

Not great for a first doll. But any serious collecter should get this doll.

[FelicityFan85]

I got Josefina from my dad for Christmas and she is so pretty! I'm not sure if she has the "high" eyebrows but they don't look high to me, which is good. They look about the same distance from the eyes as the other girls. I think Josefina is a great addition to any collection; she's got so much hope and courage and determination in her, but is also shy. A+!

[jayamaree]

I got my Josie off ebay, she just arrived today and I'm in love!

She is PM or Transitional with super soft eyelashes with Pleasant Company on the back of her neck. She's my first doll w/o the regular face mold (I have Kirsten and Samantha). She's so so pretty!

(mod edit to remove broken image link)

[missygirl]

I got Josefina for Christmas 2007. She has some flyaway hairs that won't go back into her pony tail (too short), and has a little dry hair problem at the end of her braid. Regardless of that, she is a beautiful doll who is special to me.

[cookieluva]

Can you put her hair in any other style besides a braid like a ponytail?

[supernonamegirl]

Jul 13, 2008 11:52:11 GMT -5 cookieluva said:

Can you put her hair in any other style besides a braid like a ponytail?

Of course. Her hair is so long, she's really one of the most versatile dolls in terms of hair styles. The part is permanent, but it's easy to work around.

[missygirl]

Jul 13, 2008 11:59:51 GMT -5 supernonamegirl said:

Jul 13, 2008 11:52:11 GMT -5 cookieluva said:

Can you put her hair in any other style besides a braid like a ponytail?

Of course. Her hair is so long, she's really one of the most versatile dolls in terms of hair styles. The part is permanent, but it's easy to work around.

Oh yes, definitely. However, some Josefina's have a dry hair problem, which mine has slighty (but I want to keep her braid in, as I think she looks adorable with it). Her hair has lots of play value, as long as it doesn't get too tangled up (as with any long haired doll).

[cookieluva]

Josefina is probably my prettiest doll. There is something about her. Is it her long, wavy, silky hair? (Which is IMO gorgeous) Or maybe, her big, beautiful brown eyes? Everything about her is just so cute. She looks so sweet and huggable, yet very mature and thoughtful at the same time. She is a wonderful doll, please get her if you don't have her already!

Grade: A+++++++++

[missygirl]

This Josefina is for my mom for Christmas. She was ordered online in October 2008.

She is the most beautiful Josefina doll I have ever seen!

I got mine last Christmas. These are two very different dolls. Mine has dry hair, especially at the ends, but my mom's has very nice hair. (I don't know if you can see, but I tried to show it at the ends)


The faces are a little different too. The new one's eyebrows look a little lower, and her skin is slightly darker.

(mod edit to remove broken image links)

[Ellen]

I have a Josefina from 1997 or 1998.
She is gorgeous and her earings have stayed very gold. I love her skirt. The leather on the mocassins is very soft, and the pieces are mixmatched, so they have a very authentic feel. For example on one of the shoes the sole is a darker less soft leather but the other sole is the soft leather.
However the laces in her mocassins are coming apart. They appear to be pieces of pleather stuck together, but they have separated and are very sticky. I don't know if this is a weird or not. Keeping in mind that my dolls had a rough time during my childhood, I'm not 100% they're the originals.

Grade: A

[Wickfield]

The doll - I got my Josefina in December 2004, after the Mattel takeover but before the revamp of late 2005. My Josefina seems to have the original/transitional face mold - it's rounder and not as broad as the current Mattel girls, and it reads Pleasant Company on the neck. Josefina's arms and legs are not as elongated as, say, our Kit from 2007, and although she has a body tag she lacks the V-shaped fabric insert at the neck. Her eyes are a deep warm brown. Her earrings are permanently attached, and as of four years they haven't even begun to tarnish. Josefina's face paint is pretty and minimal and surprisingly cool-toned, with barely rosy cheeks and slightly darkened lips. To sound conceited, she's one of the prettiest - PC or Mattel - I've seen.
Josefina's hair is a blast to style - she rarely wears her trademark braid but I DO STAY HISTORICAL. : ) It's the silky texture of the Mattel dolls, but mine has a major problem - it is horribly dry at the ends. Some reviewers say they can run their fingers through her hair - mine just get tangled and snagged. I can't even brush it. Fortunately, it's just the very bottoms, so it doesn't show too much, and this is not a problem with all dolls.
To sum it up, Josefina is a wonderful doll. She looks best in clothes from her own period, and she's difficult to photograph, so believe it or not she's even prettier in person. I would recommend hand-picking a Josefina to find the best hair and eyebrows, the face you like best. You will not be disappointed with one of these lovely girls! A+++

The outfit - Since I took so long on Josefina I shall try to be brief here. The camisa is my second favorite (Feast Day camisa beat it out), made of thick cotton and substantial lace around the neckline and the sleeves. The skirt is probably my favorite, because I think red looks wonderful on her and this skirt is soft and the perfect thickness. There's a panel of lace-edged fabric sewn underneath to imitate a petticoat. The drawers are a pair of white cotton shorts. The sash is just brown but coordinates well with the skirt, and it is finished on each end with a single braid. The hair ribbon doesn't really match but it wins points for being mentioned in her story, and the primroses are a good idea but they are rather cheap - they started to fray around the edges. The moccasins seem very accurate; they have synthetic laces now but the shoes were still real leather, and these are necessary because Josefina wears them with several outfits.
This is a nice, practical outfit for Josefina to arrive in, and the pieces do mix and match well. A



Here's the same picture without and with flash. Look how different she appears!

[American Girl Rescue]

I have a different transitional Josefina now, so I'll update with a different comparison photo:

1997 Josefina / 2000 Josefina / 2002 Josefina

[ElizaNM]

I have only ONE complaint about Josie, though I simply adore her in just about all other regards: her hair, while a lovely thick wig, can be unruly at times and tends to be coarser, I think, than other AGs hair. This doesn't upset me all the time, I just feel limited in what I can do when it comes to hairstyles and stick to keeping it back in a braid or in two braids or so. We love her around these parts...and so does everyone else who's seen her.

[green chile supergirl]

I got my Josefina in 1999, so I've had her a full ten years now! Josefina was my first American girl doll- I got her when I was sixteen. She was a gift from my very, very first girlfriend, Dorothy. Well, I haven't the foggiest idea what ever became of Dorothy, but Josefina and I have spent a happy decade together. It's taken me the full ten years, but I just finished her collection today.

She's such a beautiful doll! I love her because we're both from New Mexico and we have the same last name. Whoa! I've never had much trouble with her hair. I gave her a Downy Dunk in 2005 and upkeep with sporadic brushing has kept it in excellent condition. I would never have described it as coarse, even at the point at which I did the Downy Dunk.

For old time's sake, here's a photo of me and Josefina right after I got her:



Other have noticed this, but there is a tremendous difference in Josefina's original moccasins and the newer, Mattel ones.


The ones on the right came with my Josefina in 1999 and the ones on the left were ordered as replacement parts in 2005. The older ones have leather thongs as ties and are much darker. The newer ones use shoe laces and are of a faux leather material.

[snowybaby]

Josefina is a really pretty doll. Although I might be biased because she was my first...
However, her hair, as previously mentioned, is very thick and coarse. It can be a pain to brush through. It is a lot like Kaya's hair. It's very long, reminds me of Lady Godiva, and really nice when she has it all brushed out.
The newer Josefina dolls do not seem as pretty as the elder... I got mine in 2001.

[emchhardy]

I just received a gorgeous first edition, Pre-Mattel Josefina from another board member. She is everything that I thought that she would be and more. I love, love, love her hair. It is silky, long, thick, and saturated with color. She has beautiful coloring with her skin tone and brown eyes. I'm not a big fan of her "Meet" outfit so she likely won't wear it much but overall a beautiful doll.