This Steiff First Feline Is Of Presidential Caliber

Like many felines, the stories associated with Steiff's fabulous and legacy arched-backed black Tom Cats seem to have nine lives. And here's another one that Steiffgal has just discovered!

Look what just snuck in on little cat's feet. While doing some research for an unrelated Steiff project, Steiffgal came across this very interesting blurb in the Cieslik's Button In Ear The History of the Teddy Bear and His Friends reference book. She was looking up information on tea cozies, and the book pictures a black Tom Cat on one of these kitchen-helpers. In addition, the copy describing the photo notes... "This Tom Cat was especially popular at Halloween time in the USA and was also in demand as a souvenir item, as "Blackie the White House Mascot, c. 1924." The picture from Cieslik's book is pictured here on the left. 

This was the first Steiffgal had ever heard of Blackie, so she did a little research. Most people are familiar with US Presidents having a "First Dog" pet as part of their administration family. For example, LBJ invited his famous beagle pair "Him and Her" to many official White House affairs and happenings. But it turns out that in 1924, there was a "First Cat," or actually a pair of First Cats, belonging to President Calvin Coolidge and his wife. According to the Oct. 22, 1923 edition of the New York Tribune, these two pretty kitties made their debut as follows:

“THE NEWEST ARRIVALS AT THE WHITE HOUSE: Introducing Blackie & Tige, two friendly kittens recently received by the President and Mrs. Coolidge. Peter Pan and Laddie Buck, the President’s wire-haired terrier and Airedale, respectively, have refused to be quoted concerning the latest additions to the White House zoo.” This 1923 picture from the story is from the Library of Congress.

So how does all of this fit into Steiff's product development and design history? Purrr-fectly, actually. The original Tom Cat was produced in both black and white velvet. Both versions were very skinny, standing on all fours, unjointed, and had arched backs and open mouths. They all left the factory in Giengen, Germany wearing a silk ribbon and bell. Black Tom cats were produced in 10, 14, and 17 cm from 1904 through 1918. White Tom cats were produced in 14 and 17 cm for three years only - from 1906 through 1908 - and are exceptionally rare. You can see one of these very early velvet Tom Cats here on the left, he dates from around 1905 or 1906.

It is interesting to note that there was a five year gap in black Tom Cat production, with the final ones leaving the Giengen factory in the late 19-teens. Then, all of a sudden, this beloved pattern re-emerged in 1923 - just as Blackie here in the US was making headlines.  Like his older brother, Steiff's 1920s-era black Tom Cat also was standing and unjointed. He was produced in 8, 10, 14, 17, 22, and 28 cm through 1943; the 8 and 10 cm sizes were made from black velvet while the 14 cm and larger versions were made from mohair. All sizes had prominent green and black glass eyes. Unlike the original super skinny Tom Cat, design, these were all a little more robust in appearance, had closed mouths, and bushy mohair tails regardless of sizes. These design updates reflect the general mid-1920s Steiff aesthetic of "fluffy, fat, and feminine." You can see one of these 1920-era black Tom Cats here on the left, he dates from about 1923 through 1935. 

Given Steiff has always looked to headline making news for product development inspiration, Steiffgal suspects the grand second debut of its black Tom cat pattern in 1923 was no coincidence at all.

Steiffgal hopes this amazing and little known Steiff cat tale has tickled your whiskers today. 

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

Your Jaw Will Drop When You See This Turn Of Last Century Steiff Tom Cat!

Mouth agape! That was exactly Steiffgal's reaction when this turn-of-last-century rarity finally made its way into her Steiff collection. Like every Steiff enthusiast, Steiffgal also has a wish list, and this terrific Tom had been on it forever - until now! Check out this cover boy (really - and more about that later!) and see what makes this fantastic feline so interesting from the historical and design perspectives.

They say orange is the new black, but sometimes being old is in vogue, too! Here on the left is Steiff's original Tom Cat in the smallest sized produced. He is standing, unjointed, and made from jet black velvet. Measured vertically, he's 8 cm from the top of his head to his toes and 10 cm from the top of his tush to his toes. His thin, almost straight tail measures 8 cm long and .5 cm wide - and even more astonishingly - it is stuffed with excelsior! How did they do that, given its scale and configuration? Tom Cat wears his original silken bow and bell. This pattern was produced in 10, 14, and 17 cm from 1903 through 1919 in black velvet, and in 14 and 17 cm in white velvet from 1906 through 1908. This example retains his original blank button, dating his production to around 1905 or 1906.

Face it, you can't look away from Tom Cat's distinctive head design and construction. He comes to life with tiny, triangular shaped ears, black seed bead eyes backed in yellow felt, and an open, pink felt lined mouth. The lining is held in place with tiny pinkish-tan colored stitches - perhaps to resemble teeth? You can see where the seamstress tied the knot of pinkish-tan thread for these stitches on the cat's chin area. This is a tiny but interesting detail; it is not unusual to see an embroidery thread  knot on the face of an early Steiff bear or animal. Tom Cat also retains a number of his clear, monofilament whiskers. One could say he has a face only a (Steiff) mother could love! You can see all of these delicate details on the photo trio above. 

This Tom Cat is truly a headliner - from both aesthetic and well as historical angles. This petite treat was featured in an important photograph from the company's 1904/04 product line catalog. But what's so special about that? It's the same picture that debuted PB55... the world's first jointed Teddy bear! Timing is everything, eh? A snapshot of this catalog page is shown here on the left; you can spot the arched back Tom Cat a little to the right of center standing on top of a donkey on wheels. Given the scale of the items in the image, it is Steiffgal's best guess that the Tom Cat pictured is the 17 cm version. What you can't see on the photo is the cat's intricate mouth construction, but you can make out his bow and bell. This picture is from the Cieslik's Button in Ear The History of the Teddy Bear and His Friends reference book, published in 1989.

Now let's paws and look at the details noted on the photo. According to the hand written notes along the bottom of the page, these original black velvet Tom Cats were 14.40 Deutchmark per twelve. That is VERY ROUGHLY equivalent to $0.30 each in 1903.  This translates to approximately $8.59 in today's US dollars, given inflation and other financial and economic factors. 

Steiffgal hopes this discussion of this rare Tom Cat has left you on your toes for your next great find!

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