Samantha's Tea Tin Lunchbox 1986 vs Rare 1987

 

1986 First Version

1986 Silvestri Stickers on Food and Department 56 sticker on the lunchbox

1987 Set with Ribbon Box and Tulip Napkin 

1986 Napkin on the Left, and the 1987/1988 "Tulip" pattern embroidery on the Right

American Girl Samantha's Tea Tin Lunchbox. In most cases the 1986 version is the rarest. This is partial true for this item. There are differences on the 1986 that you can't get in other years. But the 1987 and 1988 set is harder to find. The napkin has a different embroidery pattern than the 1986 ones. Then in 1989 they returned to the original pattern and it stayed that way. These "Tulip" versions are very hard to find. The lunchbox is also different from the 1986 ones purchased from Dept. 56. On these the handle is raised. In 1989, it changes again to a flat version, though different from the original 1986 ones. The food has been slightly modified. The items no longer have Silvestri stickers. The half watercress sandwich has a wide ruffle of green around it's edge and the bread is lighter. The 1989 version has the watercress quite reduced. On this version of the deviled egg, the filling appears piped in with a slight swirl. The 1989 version changed the filling to spooned in appearance with a sprinkle of paprika. The 1989 version was later modified by Mattel. They eliminated the egg and enlarged the sandwich to a full rather than half. The peach was also larger and was First full and then revised again to half.