Marsupials are a subclass of mammals, with one key difference: all females deliver their babies prematurely and nurture them in their pouches, sometimes for up to a year. Today, there are only 344 species of marsupials on the planet; most live in Australia, New Guinea, and the surrounding island nations. Perhaps the best known marsupials are kangaroos - who also happen to have a long history in the Steiff line! A fine example of the company's late midcentury 14 cm Linda Kangaroo is pictured here on the left.
These “pocketed pretties” were one of the very earliest animals made by Steiff. The first ones were produced in 1897 – only five years after the company published their first catalog in 1892, and nine years before the introduction of the button-in-ear trademark in late 1904. These 1897 standing, unjointed 'goo debuts included a 28 cm version made from short pile plush and a felt model made in 12, 17, and 28 cm.
Soon after, in 1902, Steiff introduced a velvet kangaroo in 12 and 17 cm that was similar in design to its felt offering. The 12 cm velvet version also was produced with a basket on its back as a pincushion from 1902-1905. The 17 cm versions of both the felt and velvet
kangaroos were made as tumblers on wooden hemispheres from 1901-1905 overall. You can see an example of that here on the left, the photo is from Pfeiffer's 1
892-1943 Sortiment. These turn of last century models may have been male as none had pouches. All were basic in design and in some ways looked more like little rodents than the bouncing beauties intended.
That possible case of “mistaken identity” did not last long. In 1906, Steiff updated their original kangaroo pattern to make it more lifelike; the new model was now five ways jointed, made from short pile plush, had a robust curved tail and shapely limbs, and a much more detailed face. New kangaroo was produced in 35, 43, 50, and 120 cm and was available through 1917.
It was not until 1929 that Steiff’s kangaroos were again updated; many of these new design features remained on kangaroos through the 1970s. Most importantly, this late 1920’s pattern finally included a pouch and a joey, starting in 1933! These models were made from mohair and were manufactured in 35, 43, and 50 cm through 1939. The joey was 10 cm and also made from mohair; interestingly, his construction consisted just of a head and body and no limbs. He resembled a cute bottle-stopper with a mouse-like head.
Fast forward to 1953. The factory had reopened after the war and Steiff was jumping at the bit to rebuild its toy empire. They introduced
Kangaroo “Kangoo”, who was very similar to the prewar design. Mohair Kangoo was made through 1966 in 14, 28, 50, and 65 cm. The biggest one debuted in 1958; here on the left, you can see the 65 cm version as it was introduced in the company's catalog that year. The larger versions were arm jointed; all sizes were made with a pouch. The 14 and 28 cm Kangoos had plastic joeys, the 50 cm size had a velvet joey, and the 65 cm size had a mohair joey; all the joeys were “full body." Kangoo also appeared, albeit less frequently, without a pouch as a male
Kangaroo. You can see an example of the "pouchless" Kangoo below on the left.
A newer but similar kangaroo design named "Linda" took Kangoo’s place in the Steiff line from 1967 through 1974. Linda was made in 14, 28, and 50 cm; like Kangoo, the 14 and 28 cm Lindas had plastic joeys and the 50 cm size had a velvet joey. In 1960, Steiff debuted its postwar Studio
Kangaroo; this big bouncing beauty was head and arm jointed and had a prominent pouch and darling joey. This model appeared in the line in 150 cm through 1967; she was also made in 120 cm in 1967.
Steiffgal hopes this discussion on the history of Steiff's 20th century kangaroo evolution has you jumping for joy!
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