Everyone loves a good Steiff mystery. And this one just might color your world, as well as have you nodding your head in agreement. Check out this note from a new friend who lives overseas. She writes in part:
"Hi,
I wonder if you have seen a Steiff like this before.
He
looks to be from around the 1930-40's as his head is quite small and long body
unlike the 1950's shape. He is 10 inches high. The front of his body
and the inset of his ears are cream mohair and the rest of him is
golden. His head is unjointed
and he has a canister type thing in his body; you turn his tail and his
head goes from side to side. He is not a yes/no as the tail does not
move up and down.
I have not seen one like him before. I would love to hear what you think and also what you think his value is. Many thanks!"
This Ted is one rare bear indeed! Steiffgal has only seen one or two other examples in many decades of collecting and studying Steiff items.
What we have here is Steiff's "Original Teddy bear with neck mechanism." This little guy with the big clunky name was produced in 1955 only in 18 or 25 cm. He is arm and leg jointed, and his little tail turns his head. This bear pattern is known among other factors for his ears and belly which are a lighter hue than his head, limbs, and body. He also has a tail, which is an extremely unusual detail feature on Steiff mohair bears from any era. His back side and tail are pictured here on the left.
This bear is neck and neck in rarity with other unusual Steiff items from the early 1950's, including a little known 15 cm clockwork tumbling bear called "Turbo Teddy Somersault Bear" made in 1951 only. One thing that's a bit unusual about today's "head turner" is his production era - the 1950's. After receiving patents for "tail moves head" mechanisms, Steiff introduced a series of these items in the 1930's. For the most part, these were based on the most popular and beloved patterns of the time and included cats, dogs, rabbits, penguins, goats, and lambs, and even Mickey Mouse, among others. These were advertised as, "The ingenious head-movement makes Steiff animals appear alive." The Bully pictured on the left is one of Steiff's early tail moves head items and appeared in the line in 11, 15, 18, 23, 26, and 31 cm from 1931 through 1935 overall.
Overall, about 25 different tail turns head models were produced through the late 1930's and very early 1940's. Interestingly, there was not a Teddy bear on this pre-war production list. It would be almost two decades later that the Teddy bear with neck mechanism under discussion today would appear in the line - and just for a year at that. In 1990 and 1991, the company produced the 25 cm version of this bear as a replica in a limited edition size of 4,000 pieces. This replica tail moves head Steiff bear is pictured here on the left.
And now for the question that requires a mohair crystal ball - his value. As always, something is
worth what someone will pay for it. This item rarely if ever appears on the secondary market and is on
the wish lists of many Steiff collectors. However, there really are no readily available comps to help frame an estimate. In the broadest sense, Steiffgal guesstimates that he might sell in the
$1,500-3,000 range... but only he - and his next future owner - know for sure!
Steiffgal hopes that this discussion on the company's Teddy bear with neck mechanism has been a dynamic read for you.
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
Ah... every Steiff enthusiast knows the feeling. The one that got away! Steiffgal recently came across a most unusual vintage Steiff novelty that would have been a fantastic addition to her hug. This collectible chef doll was being offered at auction. Apparently there were too many cooks in the kitchen and as a result, he is off to another very lucky collector! Oh well, you can't win them all for sure. Nonetheless, let's take a look at this marvelous rarity and see what makes him truly worthy of three Michelin stars! 
It stinks that there isn't much information available about Phuy.
But, it was not unusual for Steiff to produce an animal in a very small
edition size, and as a result, not keep detailed records about it.
Sometimes these rarities were produced for, or ended up at, specialty
retailers such as F.A.O. Schwarz. A good example of this is the
company's "Mystery Squirrel"
which does not (as far as Steiffgal knows) appear in any of the
standard Steiff reference books, but is featured in the F.A.O. Schwarz
catalog of 1968-1969. He is pictured here on the left. It is
interesting to note that this Mystery Squirrel, like Phuy, is a "field
and forest friend," is made from mohair, and is in the same general
(begging) body position. Mystery Squirrel is pictured here on the left. 
"Hi, 
Like all of Steiff's early felt dolls, Rosl is absolutely dressed to the nines.
Her elaborate, well coordinated outfit consists of a red and white
cotton calico dress, a blue and white silken apron, lace trimmed white
cotton underwear and slip, white socks and felt shoes, and a blue hood.
The material on her apron and hood is the same. Each garment is
gorgeously tailored and detailed with ric-rac, lace, and/or matching
trims. It has always been Steiff's tradition to dress their dolls, especially the girl ones, in great shoes and head wear.
Steiff's
pressed felt faced dolls debuted in 1936 and were produced on a
commercial scale from 1937 through 1943, and then again in 1949 and
1950. Overall, about 27 different versions of these
dolls appeared in the line through 1950. Over time, both boys and girl
models were produced in 35 ad 43 cm. These dolls were created to
replace the company's better known and very collectible early dolls with
center seamed faces. Steiff
had been working since the 1920's to find a way to produce seamless
faced dolls. But due to the nature of the felt material, this proved to
be very complicated from a production standpoint. After years of
trying, the Steiff designers finally mastered the art of creating felt pressed faces by reinforcing the molded material with a plastic backing. 
Despite this exact example's brief appearance, his closest relatives wore the crown for almost three decades in the Steiff line.
Prewar, the first sitting lion cub appeared in the line in 14 and 17
cm from 1932 through 1937. He is pictured here on the left; the photo
is from Gunther Pfeiffer's 1892-1943 Steiff Sortiment book. Like many of Steiff
items of the period, these two cubs were made from wool plush. In 1939, this
sitting pattern was modernized slightly with the addition of sideburns
and more elaborate painting. This updated pattern was manufactured in
17 and 22 cm through 1943. 
This F.A.O. Schwarz Cockie design is based on Steiff's standard line black and
white standing Steiff Cocker Spaniel which appeared in the Steiff line
from 1960-1976 in 12, 19, and 29 cm overall. But, like many Steiff F.A.O.
Schwarz dog items, this exclusive pattern was slightly different than the
standard line version, so it was very desirable for collectors. Other such F.A.O. Schwarz examples included standing Dally Dalmatians (produced in 11, 22, and 28 cm from 1953 through 1955; the standard line versions were sitting) and a 15 cm standing open mouthed beagle, produced from 1965 through 1966 only; the standard line standing beagle was closed-mouthed. An example of Steiff's standard line standing black and white Cockie is pictured here on the left. 
