Born In The 50's, Steiff Style

The 1950s were a time of great creativity and energy at Steiff. As a matter of fact, many of Steiffgal's favorite Steiff collectibles are from this highly innovative decade. Take a look at this note from a reader who asks about a wonderful collection of period items from this time frame - and perhaps you'll feel the same way, too! Kevin from Chicago writes...

"I have inherited several Steiff animals from my father. He grew up in southern California in the 1940s and 1950s and was given these animals by his German aunt who fancied Steiffs. I believe the animals are no newer than the early 1950s, but I’m guessing that most are older, perhaps from the 1940s or earlier. I’m sure you can confirm and/or advise.

I remember my father mentioning that his aunt would often travel to Germany before the war and bring items back home. I am not sure if that info applies to any of these Steiffs, but figure it worth mentioning.

The only animals that have the metal Steiff button in ear are the cat and the tiger.

Thanks so much for your time and knowledge.

Kind regards, Kevin"

Like Super Glue, the hula-hoop, Saran Wrap, and White Out, all of these Steiff items were "born in the '50s". Let's take a look at each one.

This scruffy Teddy, as his chest tag suggests, is named Zotty. Zotty was one of the first new bear designs introduced post war, in 1951. Upon his debut, Zotty was produced in nine sizes, ranging from 17 through 100 cm, in brown tipped mohair. Kevin's Teddy is 17 cm. As Zotty's popularity grew, so did his range in the line; he has appeared as a sleeping animal, a play bear, as a lulac style Teddy, and a pajama bag among other items. In 1960 a white mohair version was introduced; Zotty has also been produced in several different forms of plush over the years. The word "Zotty" is from the German word "Zottel", which means shaggy.

To "qualify" as a Zotty, a Teddy must have these three things: an open felt lined mouth, a front insert bib made of a complementary colored mohair to his body, and of course, be made from very shaggy material!

One of the things that makes this Zotty so interesting is his chest tag. Note that the name "Zotty" is in red. Steiff used this particular chest tag - which was a slightly updated version of the one used pre-war - for only a few years in the early 1950s. This helps to date Kevin's Teddy to the very beginning of the "Zotty years"! It is very likely that this Teddy has (or had when he left the factory almost 60 years ago) a small white fabric US Zone tag sewn into the seam of his right arm or leg.

It probably would be wise to move onto this owl now. This brainy bird is called Uhu Wittie, or Wittie Owl. Wittie as a plaything or collectible was produced from 1954 through 1977 in four sizes: 10, 14, 22, and 35 cm. Kevin's Wittie is the 14 cm version. Wittie's body and wings are mohair and his feathers are designed from carefully cut and detailed felt. He is unjointed, has marvelous airbrushed detailing on his body, huge green pupil eyes, and charming tufts of black hair on his forehead. One of the things that is quite remarkable about this piece in any size is his enormous felt feet.

Wittie made a few appearances throughout the Steiff catalog over the years. He was produced as a popular hand puppet from 1955 through 1978. He was also made in blue in 10 cm as a promotional item for a German company in 1960. This blue version of Wittie is exceptionally rare and sought out by vintage Steiff collectors worldwide.

Steiffgal will try and stay between the lines on this next item. Here we have a tiny 14 cm Steiff mohair tiger. He is gorgeously hand airbrushed and sports the famous Steiff green "glowing eyes". This particular model was produced from 1952 through 1959 in 8, 10, and 14 cm. The 8 cm version has a cotton cord tail while his larger siblings have stuffed mohair tails.

This fabulous feline is particularly interesting and desirable to vintage collectors as he is five ways jointed, meaning his head, arms, and legs all move. This is rare and unusual for Steiff tigers. Adding to his appeal, this particular design was only available in the US - making him an early "country exclusive".

This next item is truly in a "cat"-a-gory all on her own. Here we have Siamy, the Siamese cat. Siamy is 15 cm, sitting, head jointed, and is made from light and dark chocolate brown mohair. She has a pink stitched nose and riveting cobalt blue glass pupil eyes. Both her ears and open mouth are lined in pink felt. She has her raised script ear button and what appears to be her original ribbon. Siamy was manufactured in 11, 15, and 23 cm from 1953 through 1954 only.

Siamy has had nine lives with Steiff. She was originally produced by Steiff in the 1930's and early 1940's in an almost identical pattern; pre-war she also appeared as a hand puppet and a pajama bag. From her introduction almost 80 years ago, Siamy has always been an absolute crowd favorite. From her adorable facial expression, endearing pose, and magnificent eyes, it is easy to see how she leads the pack on the Steiff catwalk!

As for the value of these finds from the fabulous fifties... as always, Steiffgal is not a formal appraiser and strongly believes that something is "worth" what someone else will pay for it. And although the economy is finally showing some signs of life, times still favor Steiff buyers over sellers pricewise. However, Kevin's items overall are from an era of increasing interest to collectors and are also in very good to excellent condition. That all being said, Steiffgal has recently seen comparable early post-war Zottys sell in the $175 to $250 range; Witties sell in the $25 to $80 range, comparable early post-war five ways jointed animals sell in the $75 to $200 range; and comparable Siamy cats sell in the $100 to $250 range.

Kevin, Steiffgal hopes that this overview of the history behind your Father's menagerie helps confirm your Aunt's fine taste in Steiff collectibles!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures, obtained via family or flea market? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Steiff's Very Own First Lady

She made her debut on the world's stage in 1953 and is known for her iconic sense of style and distinct femininity. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, perhaps? Or Steiff's very own Jackie Teddy? You wouldn't be wrong either way. Take a look at this note from a reader who asks about a Steiff Teddy from the early 50's. Carolyn writes...

"Dear Steiffgal: I came across your blog in searching Google to identify this little Steiff bear I bought at a recent estate sale.

• She has a silver color metal tag with raised letter Steiff in cursive, no underlining of the ff.
• She is jointed and approximately 6 1/2" tall.
• She has felt pads on her hands and feet and has four stitched claws.
• She has glass eyes and I think there is a dried out squeaker.
• She is mohair and I think I see the faint remains of airbrushing around her ankles. She is dirty and faded but adorable nonetheless.
• She is straw stuffed and I think there is some stitching missing across the nose.

Do you think this could possibly be a Jackie? I appreciate your help and enjoyed reading your blog. It encourages me to tend to mine.

Best, Carolyn"

Oh, Jackie... Steiffgal is quite certain that this little lady is an original Steiff Jackie Teddy bear. Jackie is light blond mohair, five ways jointed, and has a distinctly round and chubby appearance. Jackie was produced in 17, 25, 35, and 75 cm from 1953 through 1955 only. Carolyn's Jackie corresponds to the smallest 17 cm version. Jackie was produced in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Teddy bear - specifically the 50th anniversary of the registration of 55PB at the Heidenheim district court in 1903.

This particular Jackie is well loved and is missing several of the design details that she had when she left the factory in Giengen almost 60 years ago. These include a light pink stitch across the nose, an airbrushed belly button, and lots of facial airbrushing. New, all Jackies also had a raised script ear button and a white fabric "US Zone" tag sewn in their arm seam, and came with a small full color celebration booklet.

Jackie also has a few very distinctive body details that don't wear away with love over time. First, her hand are proportionally large for her chubby arms and don't have the break at the wrist as many Steiff bears do. Second, she is shorter and plumper, especially in the middle, than other Steiff bears made in, and before, her era. And third, her mouth is a very wide "V" shape, sort of pouty and "girly" while other Steiff bears of her time have/had a very sharp pointed "V" mouth. The picture on the left, which was taken from Gunther Pfeiffer's 1947 -2003 Sortiment Book, shows the original Jackie so readers can compare her now and then.

Steiffgal advises cleaning this mohair treasure as carefully as possible. Here's how:

• First, remove as much surface dirt and dust as possible by shaking her vigorously and then vacuuming her very gently and at a distance.
• Clean her surface mohair with a very weak solution of water and gentle dish detergent - just very sparingly moisten a washcloth and rub her down with the damp cloth. You'll be surprised what comes off!
• Let her naturally air dry away from the sun and heat sources.
• Gently fluff her up with a brush or comb.

Carolyn, Steiffgal hopes that this information is helpful to you... congrats on this wonderful find and please enjoy this special "first lady" of a Teddy bear!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Signing Up For Steiff

A signature on a painting or sculpture is one of the things that can make the piece more interesting and collectible. Although Steiff creations are certainly works of art, they are not signed by the designers and highly skilled craftspeople who bring them to life. But they are sometimes signed by Steiff family members and executives of the company. Check out this note from a reader in Draper, Utah, who asks about her family's signed bears. Jennifer writes...

"Our family collected Steiff while I was growing up.

My mother in particular collected a handful of signed, boxed animals. I cannot decipher the first name. It's "B. Steiff."

I was wondering if you could help me figure out who signed these bears.

I've attached a few photos.

Thank you, Jennifer"

Jennifer, thanks for writing and for the invitation to play "the name game!" On the paw pads of your items are the signatures of Hans Otto Steiff and his wife, Birgit Eitle Steiff.

Hans Otto Steiff was the former President of Steiff in Germany and a direct descendant of the founder, Margarete Steiff. Hans Otto and Brigit toured the USA in the mid-1980's, meeting collectors, attending events, and signing Steiff items. It would make perfect sense that they signed the paw pads of your pictured items (the Berlin bear, produced from 1985 though 1987 and the Margarete Strong bride, groom, flower bear-er and ring bear-er, produced from 1984 though 1989), which all date from the mid 1980's.

Hans Otto passed away on December 31, 1994. His obituary from the New York Times, dated Sunday, January 8, 1995, reads as follows:

"Hans-Otto Steiff, former president of Margarete Steiff GmbH, makers of Teddy bears and other animal toys, died on December 31st in his hometown of Giengen in Baden-Wurttenberg, Germany. He was 75. He suffered a long illness after a series of strokes, Rolf H. Honniger, managing director of the Steiff international holding company, said.

Mr. Steiff earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Stuttgart Technical University in 1950 and then joined the family business, which was founded in 1904 by his great-grandaunt, Margarete Steiff, who was known as Gretel.

He became president in 1951 and president of the holding company in 1981. He retired in 1984. Gretel Steiff started out making toy elephants from cloth for friends when, in 1880, her brother Fritz discovered customers would sweep them off shop shelves. She added fluffy material almost by chance, and Steiff toy animals were born.

Teddy bears gained their names from Teddy Roosevelt, and by 1907 Steiff had shipped a million of them to America alone. Now collectors' items, one Steiff bear fetched $171,000 at a Christie's auction in London in December.

Mr. Steiff is survived by his wife of 46 years, Birgit Eitle Steiff; two sons, Joachim and Rainer, and a daughter, Beatrice."

It truly is "all in family" with Steiff... Hans Otto's son, Joachim Steiff, toured the US on Steiff's 2006 "Paws Across America" tour, meeting collectors, signing items, and following in the footsteps of his parents twenty years on.

It is interesting to note that these signatures appear on the paw pads of these collectibles. This seems to be the "official" place for Steiff signatures. However, as Steiffgal was researching Jennifer's inquiry, she recalled that she also has a piece signed by Hans Otto and Brigit Steiff - the 50 cm Super Goldy Hamster. This surreally large rodent is so big that Steiffgal had some problems getting a skittish Steiffpug to pose with it to show its scale!

Giant Goldy was manufactured from 1985 through 1986 only. However, most unusually, it is signed by Mr. and Mrs. Steiff on the yellow fabric ear tag, probably because her feet are plush and this fabric really cannot be signed.

Jennifer, Steiffgal hopes this "autograph analysis" gives you a better idea of the special, personal legacy your items have for collectors around the world.

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures, signed or not? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

A Great Big Steiff "Labor of Love"

It hardly seems like work at all to Steiffgal when readers contact her with questions about their family treasures. Check out this note from Caren and Nancy from Worcester, Massachusetts, who are curious about their very own life sized "beast of burden." They write...

"My mother and I are writing to you to see if you could help us find out more information about a donkey we have.

We have been told that it is a Steiff but no longer has its tag. It is life size measuring approximately 35 inches tall and 42 inches long.

I'm not what else I can tell you except that its saddle bags are removable.

The donkey was given to our family while we were living in New Jersey around 15 years ago. Any information you can give us would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance for your time, Caren and Nancy"

What you have here is what Steiff calls "Bergesel" or mountain donkey. The donkey is a "Schautier", or life-sized studio display piece. He is standing, made from gray dralon (a synthetic plush material), has pert white felt lined ears and an open felt lined mouth, and has extensive tan and black airbrushing throughout his body to give him texture and a realistic look. His mane and tail tip are detailed with long black dralon fabric and his hooves are made from a leather-like material.

This Steiff mountain donkey is quite rare. He was made only from 1966 through 1967 and came in two sizes: 85 and 115 cm. Steiff studio items are generally measured by height and Caren and Nancy's piece corresponds to the 85 cm version. The old fashioned "Bastsaecke", or bast sacks (side saddle bags made from a hemp-like material), are original to the donkey and were made to fit the larger or smaller sized versions.

As many typical house and farm animals, donkeys are, and have always been, prominent in the Steiff line. They were featured in the debut Steiff catalog of 1892; these earliest models were made from felt, sported a red saddle cloth, and were available with and without wheels. Steiff has produced donkeys as puppets, pull toys, sleeping animals, and even as the logo of the Democratic party here in the USA! Here on the left you can see a relatively modern Steiff donkey, a 60 cm dralon darling named Grissy, from the mid-1970's. Steiffgal thinks that the in the case of Caren and Nancy's donkey, the addition of the bast sacks to the donkey changes its category from a "friendly farm friend" to a mountain-traversing working animal.

Caren and Nancy, Steiffgal hopes your rare and unusual mountain donkey continues his most important labors - bringing you happiness and pleasure - for many more years.

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures of any size? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

In An Ideal World...

In an Ideal world, would every wonderful mohair collectible be a Steiff? Well, take a look at this inquiry from a reader from Patterson, Missouri concerning her 100 year old friend and you decide! Susan writes...

"Found your blog online and I'm very glad I did. I'd like to know more about my bear and would appreciate any help you can give me. Here's the scoop on him...

Tag: He does not have a tag or any other identification label.

Size: He is approximately 12" lying down straight and approximately 7" sitting up. His feet are 2" heel to toe.

Details of piece: He has boot button eyes and a stitched brown triangular nose. Both appear to be original. He does not have a stitched mouth. It's hard to tell the number of stitched claws on his hands and feet as it looks like some are missing. His right foot felt has large hole and you can see brown fiber looking stuffing. He has a few minor moth holes on his other felt pieces. He has a front center hand sewn seam up his belly.

Construction: I can see inside one hip joint and it looks like it's put together with a round cardboard piece. His head has center seam below nose, two seams on the back, and center seam on front and back of torso.

His story: A friend's father was selling out to move and told his kids they could have anything they wanted. Nobody wanted the little bear with the sweet face so I asked if I could have him and they all said yes. My friend's mother and father would be in their mid 80's now, dad from Tennessee and mom from Kentucky. Bear was probably his mom's I'm guessing, but I don't know for sure. To me he has always looked like a Steiff, maybe a 1905, but I've never seen a picture of one exactly like him.

If you could help identify him I'd be very appreciative. I've attached some pictures.

Please let me know if you need anymore information.

I thank you in advance."

Teddy bears are truly global ambassadors of goodwill - and like ambassadors themselves, can come from all parts of the world. Steiffgal believes that this terrific Ted does not hail from Germany and is not Steiff (which is totally OK!!!). It is her very best guess that he was made in the USA under the American brand called Ideal. Ideal (or specifically The Ideal Novelty and Toy Company) was started in New York in 1903 by Rose and Morris Michtom and was a direct competitor with Steiff in the Teddy bear marketplace basically up through the late 1930's. The company stopped doing business in the early 1980's.

Susan's Teddy, pictured here on the left, has very typical features that highlight some design differences between early Steiff and Ideal bears:

Early Steiff bears have long thin hand paws that taper and angle at at the wrists; Ideal bears have thicker, straighter, and smaller hand paws.

Early Steiff bears have long narrow feet which are typically made in a 1:5 ratio of body length to feet; Ideal bears have smaller, broader, rounder feet.

Early Steiff bears generally have their ears placed higher up on the head; Ideal bears are set more on the side of the head.

Early Steiff bears have more rounded heads, proportional muzzles, and smaller noses; Ideal bears have "triangular" heads, large shaved muzzles, and prominent triangular noses.

Steiff used black stitching on early blond bears (and brown on white ones); Ideal used different color stitching to detail their products.

This Teddy, although not Steiff, is "ideal" in many ways. Vintage Ideal bears are relatively rare and hard to come by, making them quite collectible and desirable. And don't just take Steiffgal's word on that. In 2002, the United States postal service honored the 100th anniversary of the Teddy bear by creating a series of first class stamps featuring four "terrific toy Teds" all manufactured in the US. One of those featured bears included a 1905 Ideal Teddy, owned by well known Teddy bear collectors Paul and Rosemary Volpp. This Ideal Teddy stamp is pictured here on the left.

Susan, Steiffgal hopes this identification meets with your stamp of approval!

Have a question about one of your Steiff -or maybe Steiff - treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Standing Tall With Steiff

Like many folks across the United States, Steiffgal too was touched by the economic recession and lost her full time employment a few months ago due to tough industry conditions. However, she recently landed on her feet and is standing tall with a new job! To keep everyone on their toes over this joyous turn of events, let's take a look at some of the fantastic foot details Steiff has produced over the years!

Let's start off with Bigfoot here - literally. Here we have a larger than life (a whopping 125 cm) Steiff studio St. Bernard dog. Just for reference, he is lying across a 4 foot long coffee table and accompanied by one of Steiffgal's real-life Steiffpugs. St. Bernard is unjointed, made from brown and white woven fur, and is wearing a typically alpine dog collar detailed with floral studs. His airbrushed paws on his hands and feet are the size of a woman's hand with all fingers extended outward! This prehistoric sized pooch is so large that he has a custom, extra large, hand written yellow eartag accompanying his button-in-ear. "Bigfoot" was featured in the Steiff catalog from 1973 through 1983.

No need to walk on eggshells over the next featured foot item here. This is Steiff's 16 cm Huhn or hen. She is standing and made from mohair which has been gloriously airbrushed with black and tan detailing. She has a red felt comb and waddle, a tan felt face, and black felt tail feathers. And just check out those tootsies! Her gigantic yet playful tan felt feet are detailed with black airbrushing and are fully posable. Hen was manufactured from 1965 through 1976 and also came in a larger 25 cm size.

Steiffgal is hesitant to put her toe in the water over these fantastically footed finds. Yes, what you see here are "his and hers" Steiff armadillos. The bigger boy is 22 inches or 56 cm while his lady-friend is 20 inches or 50 cm. Add about 8 inches or 20 cm more to each to account for their long textured tails! Both are made from grey plush; the boy has a "crocodile skin" pattern to his body while the girl is more simply striped. Both have plastic pupil eyes, velvet lined ears, and five GYNORMOUS, white plush claws on each of their four feet.

What is really unusual about this pair, besides their "footnote worthy" feet, is the fact that they do not appear to be cataloged. Both have a gold button-in-ear and a very generic white split tape eartag, which dates them in the 1994 through 2000 time frame. Steiff did make a grey 40 cm armadillo in 1998 and a brown limited edition armadillo in 1995; perhaps these two are well-heeled cousins of the more familiar Steiff armored friends?

There is a popular song from 1985 by Katrina and The Waves called "Walking on Sunshine" (click here to see the video and be prepared to smile); this last Steiff selection could be the motivation behind this toe-tapping tune! Here we have Steiff's outrageously salmon-pink Caribbean Flamingo. This 42 cm sun-kissed sweetie has a mohair body and fully posable legs and neck. She has orange and black pupil eyes and magnificent detailing on her velvet-like beak and mile-long gams. And she a leg up on all of us: check out her lovely flat triangular webbed feet. Just perfect for catching the sand between her toes! Caribbean Flamingo was produced as a limited edition for North America in 2004.

Steiffgal would feel like a heel if you didn't get a kick out of this overview of some of Steiff's finer foot treatments!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Going Ape Over Steiff Primates

It's no secret that Steiffgal, and apparently a number of Steifflife readers, are just ape about Steiff monkeys, especially Steiff Jocko chimpanzees. It's hard not to love their gentle, childlike expressions, delicate felt hands and feet, and posable bodies. And because of the nature of their design and manufacture, each one has a different look... making it impossible for the collector to ever say "I already have that one!"

However, Steiff also has produced a wide range of playful primates over the years that could also qualify as top bananas. Take a look at a few of these relatively recent monkeys that truly demonstrate Steiff's century long commitment to fabulous design, lifelike appearance, and creative use of materials!

This well coiffed critter is Steiff's Pavian Coco or Coco Baboon. Coco is 35 cm, five ways jointed, made from very thick silver mohair, and has a long bendable tail. Like Jocko, Coco has an airbrushed felt face and expressive deep set eyes in felt pockets. One of the things that makes this Coco one of the most distinctive animals in the entire Steiff catalog is his remarkable hair collar, which is made from mohair strands that are about 5 inches long! He does need a brushing every now and again to keep him untangled. Coco was produced from 1951 through 1961.

Moving from long hair to long arms, the next featured Steiff monkey is a Gibbon. This long limbed lovely is unjointed and made from light brown mohair. His well detailed plush hands and feet are detailed with dark brown felt pads. His ears are tan felt and his plush face is highlighted by black and white googly eyes. Gibbon appeared in the Steiff catalog from 1962 through 1966 in two sizes: 20 and 40 cm.

Like his real life namesake, this gibbon has exceptionally long limbs; his arms are about twice the length of his body. In nature, gibbons use their arms to swing distances up to 50 feet at 35 miles per hour in trees sometimes 200 feet above the ground!

Orange you happy to learn more about Steiff monkeys? It that is the case, then next two selections will really make your day...

Here we have Steiff's Schlenker Orang or Cosy Orang. This 30 cm carrot-top cutie has a detailed plastic face and floppy dangling limbs. His body is made from long red-brown crylor (a man-made acrylic fiber which is also known as Orlon) and he has velvet-like hands. Unlike real orangutans, this crylor version does not have ears; thus, his earflag and button are sewn into a seam on his head. Cosy Orang was made from 1970 through 1974.

And finally, a true example of "monkey see, monkey do." This little eye catcher is Orang Utan Mimocculo Replica 1930. Mimocculo is 25 cm and made from rust brown mohair. His face, hands and feet are made from peach colored felt. He is five ways jointed and has a squeaker in his belly. He was produced in an edition size of 3,000 in 1998 and is a replica of a phenomenal item Steiff originally produced around 80 years ago.

What makes both the original and replica Mimocculos so unique are their moving eye features. When you pull on this monkey's ear, his glass eyeballs move left and right, as well as up and down! The Mimocculo pattern was originally produced from 1930 through 1936 in 8, 10, 12, 14, 17, 22, 25, 28, 35, 43, and 50 cm; sizes from 17 cm had the distinctive rolling eye mechanism. Here's looking at you kid... literally!

Steiffgal hopes this quick tour was more fun then a barrel full of monkeys and that you too now have a greater appreciation for the wonderful range of Steiff primates.

Ape to learn more about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Come On A (Steiff) Safari With Me

Anyone interested in going on a (virtual) vintage Steiff safari with Steiffgal? Well, pack your bags and camera and take a look at the Steiff treasures Steiffgal spotted while out antiquing with her friend Egypto-mama (named so for her love of all things Egyptian) last weekend. They attended the Greater Boston Antiques Festival, which is held at the Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington, Massachusetts a few times each year.

So let's get started on our adventure...

Check out this blond mohair "mask" Teddy with his little Possy friend. They were just hanging out at one of the first booths that Steiffgal visited. Teddy is from the 1980's and the squirrel is from the 1960's. Both are in great condition and look simply adorable together!






Next, Steiffgal came across this darling seasonal display of 1950- and 1960- era Steiff items. Here we have a large mohair Susi cat, two Cockie Cocker Spaniels (with their precious velvet mouths and muzzles), and a little grey Tessie Schnauzer in absolutely like-new condition.






Steiffgal feels like an ... well, donkey... about this find. This is mohair Esel Donkey in an unusual 22 cm size. He is from the mid 1950's. Check out his sweet expression and original leather brindle and reins. Steiffgal thought about buying him at the time and walked away "to think about it". Needless to say, he was long gone once she returned to claim him.





Moving along, this happy Zotty Teddy got Steiffgal all smiles again. Zotty is the 22 cm size and was "born" in the mid 1960's.









The next fun find was this dolly stroller filled with vintage playthings. Of course, the brown Teddy baby caught Steiffgal's eye from across the show floor! This well-loved model is 28 cm and appeared to be from the early 1950's. "Babysitting" this ensemble is the relatively rare mohair Diggy Dach or Diggy Badger, who is 17 cm and was only made for one year - 1963.



Here's a real show stopper! Steiffgal stumbled upon this very vintage Steiff Teddy on wheels which was nestled in a corner of a remote aisle booth. He even wears what appears to be an original leather collar! This "big boy" is 50 cm and very "stocky." (Steiffgal means this in the most loving way.) His metal wheels date him pre-1920 as wooden wheels were used from 1921 onward. This very popular model appeared in the Steiff catalog from 1901 through 1935 in a large range of sizes.


Is this adventure putting you to sleep? Steiffgal certainly hopes not! Here we have a pair of sleeping Steiff Lamms or Floppy Lambies in the smaller 17 cm size; they were also produced in 28 cm. These very sweet twin girls are made from wool plush and were part of the Steiff line from 1970 through 1977. They bring new meaning to the phrase "counting sheep" at bedtime, no?

The last highlight of the Steiff safari is a goofy basketful of giggles, literally! Steiffgal's heart began to race when she saw this collection of vintage Steiff items just waiting to be explored at a booth at the tail end of the exhibit hall. Here you can see a Teddy baby puppet, a Mecki hedgehog doll, a velvet frog puppet, a Robby seal, and other wonderful surprises. But dear readers, since you have been patient and have come to the end of our Steiff safari, Steiffgal will now reveal what two items she purchased WHICH WERE HIDING AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS TREASURE TROVE...

Now Steiffgal is sure that many of you are about to start scratching your heads and saying... huh? Yes, what you are going to see is only half Steiff. But that's ok! Really!

First, take a look at the tiny 10 cm mohair standing Steiff Arco puppy on the left of the picture. This particular model was produced only from 1959 through 1961. He is in absolutely like new condition; it is as if his handsome black and brown airbrushing were applied yesterday. His yellow ear tag and chest tags are crisp and readable and his red collar is original.

Now check out the mohair Disney Goofy made by Schuco - yes Schuco. Goofy is 14 inches tall and unjointed, although his body is flexible due to his internal wire armature. His face, feet, and arms are mohair; his hands, shirt, and mouth are felt; his ears are velvet; and his overalls and body underneath his clothing are made from cotton fabric. Schuco, a German toy manufacturer who made mohair bears and novelties from the 1920's through the 1970's, partnered with the Walt Disney Company in the 1950s through 1970's to produce a series of characters including Goofy, Pluto, and Lady and the Tramp, among other familiar friends. This Goofy, although not Steiff, is a great example of exceptionally fine German craftsmanship and is a highly sought-after collectible - even without the Steiff pedigree.

After all, you need all sort of friends, right?

Readers, Steiffgal hopes you had as much fun reading about this Steiff safari as Steiffgal had experiencing it for you!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures, found on a safari or elsewhere? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Getting "Rowdy" With Steiff

Steiffgal's not gonna take this inquiry lying down! Take a look at this note from a reader about this half-century old family treasure. Steven from Arlington, Massachusetts writes:

"Dear Steiffgal:

Please evaluate this mohair lying down bear. My wife received it as a birthday present from her mother in the 1950's. Her mother insists that it is a Steiff but has no identifying insignias on it.

The bear is in excellent condition and measures 20" from front paw to the rear paw.

Thank you, Steve"

This old friend is an unusual design of a familiar Steiff pattern, and that's no fib! What you have here is what Steiff calls Racker Zotty-Baer or Racker Zotty Bear. Zotty is 45 cm and lying down, but not "sleeping". He is softly stuffed, unjointed, and made from caramel colored tipped mohair. He has an open felt lined mouth and pert brown pupil eyes. Steiff produced Racker Zotty in 1960 through 1961 only, making him a hard-to-find treasure. And yes, he is part of the beloved "Zotty" family of Teddies which Steiff introduced in 1951.

And what exactly is a "Racker"? Glad you asked. "Racker" roughly translates from the German to "varmint" or "rascal". Because Steiff specifically describes this model as "to sit on or play", Steiffgal thinks this pattern was created for fun and play, and Steiff intended the word "Racker" to be tongue-in-cheek for a rowdy playmate. In addition to Racker Zotty, Steiff also produced a Racker St. Bernard named Berni and a Racker Tiger; each of these was also 45 cm, mohair, lying down, and produced from 1960 through 1961.

It is easy to see how these Racker playmates could be confused with another beloved Steiff pattern from around the same time, the prone "Floppy" models. Steiff produced a great number of these adorable “sleeping” style animals during the 1950’s through the 1970’s, including a Zotty, panda, fox, Cocker Spaniel, Siamese cat, tabby cat, seal, and elephant, among others. They were lying down on their bellies and stuffed with soft foam - really designed as bedtime companions. However, there are two main differences between the Racker and Floppy lines. First is size: the Rackers are 45 cm while the Floppies were produced in two standard smaller sizes, 17 and 28 cm. Second is state of consciousness: Rackers have a wide-awake, playful facial expression while the Floppies all have closed “sleeping eyes” designs.

As for the value of this "little rascal"... as always, Steiffgal is not a formal appraiser and strongly believes that something is "worth" what someone else will pay for it. And the economic situation, although improving, still seems to favor Steiff buyers over sellers price wise. From a pure collector's investment perspective, in general, "play" toys (things like baby items, puppets, Floppies, everyday companions) are slightly less desirable than fully jointed, lifelike, excelsior stuffed Teddies and animals. However, this Racker appears to be in good condition, and its limited production and rarity add to its appeal and desirability. That all being said, Steiffgal has recently seen similar items sell in the $100 -150 range.

Steve, Steiffgal hopes that this feisty description of your Racker Zotty was helpful in explaining the history and legacy behind your family heirloom.

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

100 Years, 10 cm, 1 Remarkable Steiff Teddy

The Steiff Company isn't kidding when they say their products are truly "Friends For Life." Perhaps they should change this promise to "Friends For Generations!" Speaking of generations, take a look at this inquiry from a reader concerning her Steiff heirloom about to be passed on to the third generation...

"Hello:

I am trying to research the value of my Steiff Teddy bear. It is 4" tall, has jointed legs and arms, and the small button in the left ear. It has gold colored fur and is in excellent condition.

It belonged to my Mother and she was born in 1913. Any information about the bear would be greatly appreciated.

He will be a gift to my granddaughter at Christmas this year and it would be nice to give the family an idea of its worth.

Thank you for your help! Linda"

Linda, first of all, Steiffgal wants to thank you for instilling the love of the Steiff brand to the next generation of enthusiasts. You are certainly starting out your granddaughter's collection with a fantastic item!

What you have here is a terrific Ted known simply as Teddybaer or Teddy Bear. This pattern was made from 1905 through 1933 in 14 sizes ranging from 10 cm through 115 cm. A similar pattern was also manufactured during the same time frame in white. This particular 10 cm Teddy was produced from 1909 through 1933. It is five ways jointed, made from dark blond mohair, has tiny black eyes, and black stitching to define its nose and mouth. The stitching reveals two telling facts about your collectible. First, your bear has retained much of its original color as black stitching was used on blond bears while brown stitching was used on white bears. Second, your Teddy is probably a girl bear as Steiff traditionally used horizontal nose stitching on females and vertical stitching on males.

From a historical perspective, it is interesting to note that Steiff first used the name "Teddy Bear" in 1906, before then our beloved friend was simply known as "Baerle."

Linda, it is Steiffgal's best estimate that your bear was manufactured somewhere in the 1910 through 1915 time frame, give or take a few years when your mom received the Teddy as a child. As you pass this almost century-old keepsake on to the next generation, it would be Steiffgal's recommendation to use this as a wonderful opportunity to teach the importance of stewardship. Perhaps write down everything you know about this bear, and include any pictures you may have of your Mom with the Teddy over the years. Encourage your granddaughter to add on to this record moving forward. You may also want to present the Teddy with a pair of archivist's white gloves and in a see-through glass dome or case, to protect it from wear and to emphasize the "museum quality" and importance of the piece.

Now for her "worth". As you know, Steiffgal is not a formal appraiser and strongly believes that something is "worth" what someone else will pay for it. These poor economic times favor buyers over sellers and prices for Steiff collectibles at all price points seem low. But this since you are not selling the piece now (or hopefully ever), this is less relevant. Based on other recent sales, Steiffgal's best estimate right now is that this bear would sell in the $500 - $750 range or so.

Linda, Steiffgal hopes that this special gift to your granddaughter becomes a treasure to at least three more generations of your family!

Have a question about one of your Steiff family treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Both Sides of The Aisle Vote In Favor of Steiff

No debate here, this Steiff Life reader has a great question! Check out this inquiry from John, who writes from Horseheads, NY.

"Hi Steiffgal,

I was going through some of my late mother's collection of Steiff and found two animals - a donkey and an elephant - that aren't tagged or marked as Steiff in any way (though the donkey's ear appears to have had something poked through it).

My mom was a pretty savvy Steiff buyer and these so much have the look and feel of some of her older items that I just can't decide.

Have you ever heard of anything like these being made by Steiff? (Or anywhere else for that matter.) Any thoughts at all about them? The Democratic donkey measures 6" long by 5" tall while the Republican elephant is 5.5" long by 4" tall.

Thanks in advance!"

John, Steiffgal's gonna march right up to the podium and give you the party line on these great items!

First the donkey... Steiffgal is 100% confident that this farm friend is made by Steiff. This dapper donkey is 12 cm and made from grey velvet. He has airbrushed details on his snout, eyes, and feet. His tail is made from grey cord. He is dolled up with a red leather harness and a blue felt blanket with the letters "DEM" (for democratic) on each side. This specific item was made from 1956 through 1959 as an early special edition for the US market.

But there is much more to his story. This "democratically detailed" donkey is actually a modification of a core Steiff line item, a 12 cm velvet donkey that was produced from 1950 through 1969. The identical pattern was also produced in mohair in 14, 22, and 28 cm from 1950 through 1961. And, to truly leverage this popular and beloved pattern, the Steiff designers also converted this basic 12 cm velvet donkey into the mascot of the US Army by giving him a blue and white velvet saddle blanket with a very large capital "A" (for Army) on it. This little fighter was manufactured in 1957 only.

Now onto a more jumbo Steiff mystery. This little grey mohair elephant is the 10 cm version of a delightful and endearing Steiff pattern which was produced from 1950 through 1978. This design was also produced in 7, 17, 22, and 35 cm. Core commonalities between the sizes include black and white "googly" eyes and a red felt saddle cloth. The larger sizes have tusks and mohair ears; the smaller versions have felt ears. However, Steiffgal has never seen this particular elephant detailed with the blue GOP (Grand Old Party) saddle blanket... and this does not appear in Pfeiffer's Steiff Sortiment Book, the "grand-daddy" of Steiff references.

So just what is going on here? It is entirely possible that the GOP elephant was a "customer special" for a company or organization (in this case, the United States Republican party) and produced in a very limited number. By "customer special", Steiffgal mean an unusual custom ribbon, a felt accessory, a unique tag, or other small differentiator added to an otherwise standard item in the line. When this happened, especially in the past, Steiff did not separately catalog the item. These finds are exciting, as well as frustrating, to collectors, who always want to know the full story behind unusual Steiff items. As the color, material, printing style, and font of the elephant's blanket is similar to the one worn by the donkey, it seems pretty safe to assume that they were produced around the same time frame.

Here is another example of a Steiff "customer special". On the left, check out this Steiff beaver holding a gorgeous airbrushed felt maple leaf. This charming collectible was was manufactured for a promotion for a Canadian company or organization. The leaf accessory is an "add on" to Steiff's standard beaver "Nagy". Nagy was produced from 1958 through 1978 in three sizes: 10, 17, and 25 cm. Nagy is cataloged, but Nagy with the leaf is not. It is Steiffgal's best guess that it is a similar situation with your elephant and its custom blue felt saddle blanket.

John, Your mom had great taste in Steiff and really knew collectible items when she saw them. All of us, whether elephants OR donkeys, can certainly agree to that!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Outfoxing A Steiff Dog Mystery

Questions about items on wheels keep rolling Steiffgal's way! Take a look at this note from a reader who asks about a precious family heirloom that is clearly still "on the go" after many, many years! Hannah from York, United Kingdom writes:

"My parents have come across the Steiff dog shown in the attached pictures. It was given to my sister as a baby over 30 years ago by a lady in her 80's then.

Please could you have a look at it - any information would be great as I cannot find much about it on the internet. The only thing I have found out via the pin in the ear (Steiff with the f going back to the bottom of the E) is that it is from around 1910 I believe.

Here are the details: he is 27 cm high and 30 cm long. I think he did have a tail at one time. He is made from mohair and beige in color; he doesn't seem to have spots or other color on him. His ears are also made from mohair.

Thanks, Hannah"

Hannah, Steiffgal can help you outfox this mystery. This dear doggy is what Steiff calls Fox terrier. Fox terrier is unjointed, standing, and made from white mohair. His nose and mouth are defined by simple black embroidery. When he was a younger pup, he had a pert tail and just a touch of airbrushing around his glass pupil eyes. This particular model was extremely popular in the Steiff line; the company made him in eight sizes ranging from 10 through 50 cm from 1908 through 1929. The picture on the left, from Pfeiffer’s 1892 –1943 Steiff Sortiment book, shows what Hannah’s Fox terrier looked like when new.

Interestingly, the wheels on the Fox terrier are the best way to figure out how old – in dog or people years – this item really is. Steiff made this model of Fox terrier on metal wheels until 1920; from 1921 onward he appeared on wooden wheels. The two largest sizes, 43 and 50 cm, were reinforced with an internal metal frame so the dog could be used as a ride-on animal. The wooden wheels on Hannah’s collectible dates him around the mid- to late 1920’s.

Fox terriers have been around almost as long as the Steiff catalog, which debuted in 1892. They could easily be considered a legacy breed for the company. The first fox terrier appeared in the Steiff line in 1899. Like Hannah’s collectible, it was also on wheels but was made from felt. Since then, Steiff has produced close to 40 different fox terrier models pre-WWll and over 20 designs from the late 1940’s onward.

And just what makes a fox terrier, well, a fox terrier? This dog was bred to assist in fox hunting. Besides breed size and appearance standards, they have to be able to perform three key hunting tasks. First, they have to have the endurance to keep up with foxhounds, who lead the hunt. Second, they have to be small enough follow foxes down into their holes during the chase. And third, they have to be feisty when they do indeed encounter a cornered fox.

Hannah, Steiffgal hopes this discussion about your wonderful vintage Fox terrier has put a pleasant end to your hunt for information about him!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Something's Bruin At Oktoberfest

Steiffgal and Steiffguy just returned from a 20th anniversary trip to Munich’s world famous Oktoberfest. So just what did they do there, besides taking part in the large-scale festivities on the Weis’n? Searched for Steiff, of course! Here are some Teddy highlights (and one lowlight) from their Bavarian bear-quest!

The one destination every Steiff fan must hit in Munich is the Spielzeugmuseum, or Toy Museum. This museum houses a collection of playthings from the artist and author Ivan Steiger. He also has another Toy Museum in Prague. This delightful destination is centrally located in the Marienplatz, a huge central open-air plaza in the heart of the city. The museum itself is four stories and is located in a tall, narrow Gothic tower. The museum has displays on four floors of the tower, and visitors must ascend (and then descend) a long, steep spiral staircase to go from floor to floor. The views of the city from the different rooms are breathtaking and worth a visit alone!

The museum features dolls, tin toys, train sets, zoo sets, and Teddy bears, amongst other playthings. The Steiff collection and exhibit is most impressive, and is primarily located on the top floor. When you walk into the Steiff room, there is a large 360-degree glass display case, housing a vintage Christmas tree that is covered in turn of the century ornaments. The bottom of the display is filled with all sorts of Steiff “ingredients”, including excelsior, cardboard Teddy bear patterns, and specially shaped metal knives for cutting material. There are also many pairs of eyes – black shoe button as well as glass pupil – on display in the case. Surrounding the base of the tree are various risers. Here visitors are delighted with a playful display of wonderful vintage Steiff Teddies and even an elephant or two!

The Steiff exhibit also features wall cases and displays. One of the wall cases, shown here on the far left, gives a brief history of the Steiff Company and a biography of Margarete Steiff. This display also includes some really fantastic items, including a pristine 1920’s era orange Bully with a crisp red ear tag, a pre-war white woolen sheep, a velvet cat, and of course, many Steiff Teddies, some being “pocket sized”.

One of the most interesting Steiff items in this case, and perhaps the entire museum, isn't really a bear or animal. But it is an example of Steiff's incredible engineering and creativity from almost 80 years ago. It is the original (and revolutionary for its time) eye mechanism from Steiff’s 1930’s Mimocculo Orangutan. This monkey has eyeballs that roll around in their sockets when a wire, which is connected to his ear, is pulled or rotated. This technology is pictured here on the left. The device was "implanted" into the front of the felt face of the orangutan so all you would see are the eyeballs that would be surrounded by felt lids.

The Steiff super-team also hit the streets of Munich looking for Steiff items. Germany is known for its wonderful flea markets, which are often great places to find older Steiff treasures. However, because of Oktoberfest, many of these in Munich were postponed until after the festivities. There are several good vintage stores on the Amalienstrasse, Turkenstrasse, Kurfurstenstrasse, Hohenzollernstrasse and Barer Strasse in Schwabing (the northern part of the city). There Steiffgal found a well loved Steiff Zotty, a Mopsy dog, and a soft Jumbo mohair elephant, complete with his red felt bib and nose bell. For the newer items, Steiffgal recommends the major department stores, like Galeria Kaufhof. Here visitors can see great Steiff displays and see many European exclusives firsthand.

Ok, now on to the only lowlight of Steiff quest…. and Steiffgal shares this with you only so you don’t make the same mistake as she did. In preparation for the trip, Steiffgal did research to find the best and largest antique malls in the area. According to online resources, the Antikpalast on Rosenheimerstrasse 143 in Munich is fantastic and has more than 80 dealers, making it one of Germany's largest antiques markets. Sounds like heaven! However, this building and business DOES NOT EXIST anymore; it has been torn down to the foundation! And as far as Steiffgal could tell, has not relocated anywhere in the city, at least of yet. Oh well.

So let’s end the Steiff tour on a high note, literally. While waiting to board the plane home from this Oktoberfest adventure, Steiffgal and Steiffguy came across a wonderful art exhibit in the Munich airport by the contemporary painter Ingo Schulz. Called Typisch Deutch or Typically German, the display featured eleven stereotypically German items painted on huge canvases in an Andy Warhol style, and a side panel describing the selections in detail. Items included gummy bears, German Shepherds, the Reichstag, currywurst, garden gnomes, and of course, Steiff! The picture on the left shows how the artist interprets our favorite German icon of all!

It is truly a joy to lead the “Steiff Life”; but just a tiny bit more fun doing it in Germany!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures, found on an Oktoberfest adventure or otherwise? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Reporting Live From Oktoberfest München

Prost! (Cheers!) And herzliches willkommen (a warm hello) from of all places, Oktoberfest München (Octoberfest in Munich, Germany)! Surprisingly, Octoberfest actually takes place mostly in September (the 2009 dates are September 19th through October 4th). The first Octoberfest was held on October 12, 1810 on the fields in front of Munich's city gates to celebrate a royal wedding. The outdoor festivities have been held almost every year since then and continue to grow annually in attendance; close to six million people are estimated to partake in this year's celebration over the course of the two weeks of the event.


Steiffgal and Steiffguy are taking a few days in Germany to participate in this 176th annual global beer appreciation event, and of course, to shop for Steiff! Expect a full blog report to follow once the party is over... but in the meantime, let's take a look at some of the wonderful beer and Oktoberfest items Steiff has produced in the recent past.


It is no surprise that Steiff would chose to celebrate Oktoberfest with bears! For 2009, Steiff has produced a 1,000 piece limited edition, five ways jointed tan Teddy - all decked out for the fall festivities. This 25 cm beer bruin wears a traditional blue and white diamond patterned Bavarian bandanna and is holding a white porcelain beer stein featuring different views of Munich. He has the word "Oktoberfest" embroidered on his foot. In Europe, he is available through Oberpollinger (www.oberpollinger.de); in the US you can order him through Bear Attack (www.bearattack.com).

As music is a big part of Oktoberfest, Steiff produced a musical Teddy to celebrate the event in 2004. This collectible is 28 cm and is made from long light blond curly mohair. He features a wind up music box. He is wearing traditional green suede lederhosen (leather shorts), a red buttoned vest, and a Tyrolean felt hat detailed with cord and a feather. He was made in an edition size of 1,500 pieces.

Togetherness and friendship are other important themes of Oktoberfest. Here we have Steiff's tribute to the celebration in 2000; a boy and girl bear in classic German garb relaxing on a wooden bench (after what we can only assume to be a long night of bier, bretzels, and dancing, etc.) The girl is 22 cm and is made from orange tipped mohair. She is wearing a red and white dirndl and a traditional lebkuchen (like gingerbread) heart shaped cookie tag around her neck. The boy is 24 cm and is made from brown mohair. He sports lederhosen, a traditionally patterned blue and white bandanna, and a grey Tyrolean felt hat.

Now onto the heart of the celebration... the beer. Steiffgal thinks it's not a coincidence that the only difference between "bear" and "beer" is only one letter; both are essential to most Steiff collectors! Take a look at this 30 cm five ways jointed light blond “Münchner Bär” from 1999. He was produced exclusively for Germany in 2001, but not specifically for Oktoberfest. He is wearing very detailed dark grey lederhosen and a grey felt Tyrolean hat. Like the Oktoberfest bear produced for 2004, this Teddy also has a wind up music box. He plays "In München steht ein Hofbrähaus", a traditional drinking song that roughly translates to "There's A Beer Hall In Munich". And to make sure he's ready for the next round at the Hofbrähaus, he carries his very own miniature glass beer stein featuring the coat of arms of Bavaria.

And finally, a toast to the people that help to make Oktoberfest what it is today... the biermonks! Here we have two fun loving, trevira velvet “bier monks” are dressed in traditional garb including cotton drawers, long red hooded tunics, and work aprons which are cinched at the waist with a thin rope. The large monk, a whopping 100 cm, has black felt feet, while the smaller 35 cm monk wears tiny leather sandals. These two monks are characters from the Alpirsbacher Klosterbraeu, a 130+ year old brewery located in Germany’s Black Forest. Steiff created these white tag, limited edition drinking buddies in 1999. Just a handful of the 100cm monks were produced, primarily for display and advertising purposes. The smaller version was produced in an edition size of 1,500.

So Steiff friends, we send our best from Munich, the city whose motto is "München mag Dich" ("Munich Loves You"). We say, right back at ya!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures, found on an adventure or otherwise? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.

Stepping Into The Ring With Steiff Boxers

Steiff's designers have excelled at creating beautiful, lifelike toys and collectibles for more than a century now. Steiffgal thinks that there is no category of animals where this is better demonstrated than with Steiff dogs! Take a look at this question from a reader who asks about one of Steiff's classic canines. Peter writes...

"Hello, My mom just gave me a boxer dog on wheels that she says is a Steiff.

Its ears, eyes, and tail are long gone. The dog measures 24" long by 17" tall. It has a ring on the back of its neck that when pulled, produces a barking noise. It looks to be stuffed with sawdust.

Have you ever heard of this? She says its from the 50's.

Best, Peter"

No need to step into the boxing ring to sort this one out! Your mom is right, what you have here is a handsome Steiff boxer on wheels which was produced from 1950 through 1961. From 1950 through 1958 Steiff called him Reit Sarras, or Riding Sarras; after 1958 he was called Reit Boxer, or Riding Boxer. He is 50 cm, excelsior stuffed, unjointed, and made from mohair. His voice is pull-cord activated. When he was new, he had black airbrushing around his wrinkled muzzle to add further definition to his prominent face. He also was detailed with brown shading around his body to give him a more athletic and toned look.

Because he is a riding animal, his "insides" are reinforced with a metal frame, which when new, could support the weight of an average adult!

Steiff boxers are a "relatively" new addition to the Steiff line. They were one of the first new breeds of animals introduced post WWll. In addition to this riding boxer, Steiff introduced both a sitting and standing boxer in the early 1950's. They are pictured to the left. The standing version, produced from 1950 through 1970, came in 10, 17, and 22 cm; the sitting version, produced from 1951 through 1961, came in 10 and 14 cm. All were made of mohair, had pink felt or felt lined ears, and featured a tiny leather collar and an elegant black velvet muzzle.

Fast forward a few years, and boxers again are featured in the Steiff catalog. Steiff made a 60 cm plush standing studio (life sized) boxer from 1978 through 1984. They have also produced a few soft stuffed boxers designed for play in the 1980's and 1990's. But perhaps the "modern" boxer most interesting to Steiff collectors is an unusual pooch made from 1983 through 1987 for the US market only. He is pictured here on the left. This lying tan, white, and black mohair boxer is 25 cm, unjointed, and has black and white "googly" eyes. He was manufactured in an edition size of only 2,000 pieces. He is one of the earlier "Collector's Editions" Steiff produced for the US in the 1980's. Unlike the limited editions of today, these were not actually numbered per piece and did not come with a certificate. Other items in this series included a lying tiger, unicorn, and lamb.

Peter, Steiffgal is happy that we were able to step into the ring here and talk about the legacy behind your "new" old friend.

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.