This Oversized Steiff Cat Is Kind Of A Big Deal!

Talk about a wow-wow-wow meow find! Steiffgal was handling a small collection for a new friend and came across this most unexpected item amongst a number of other button-in-ear treasures. According to the consigner, all of these precious childhood Steiff companions were purchased at F.A.O. Schwarz in the late 1950s and early 1960s. That information was good to know... but proved really invaluable in this particular case. Come learn more about this purr-fect Steiff rarity. 

What we have here is a supersized Steiff Fiffy cat. She is lying, head jointed, and made from white mohair that has been carefully hand-airbrushed with black stripes. Her tail wraps around her rear in a most realistic way. She has green and black slit pupil eyes, and a pink embroidered nose, mouth, and claws. Her pink ribbon appears to be original to her. Steiff's standard line Fiffy cat was produced from 1955-1962 in 12, 17, and 25 cm. This Fiffy retains her button, ear tag, chest tag, and red wooden bell shaped F.A.O. Schwarz tag as her Steiff IDs. 

Soooo... what's the big deal here? Well, this gal is UNUSUALLY large, and in fact is 30 cm. The largest one noted in the standard Steiff reference books is 25 cm. This example has a yellow ear tag which is numbered #2330.90. These digits translate to: 2=lying, 3=mohair, 30=size in cm, 9=special edition, and 0=normal or natural coloring. Given her dimensions, numbering, and presentation, it is Steiffgal's best thinking that this monumental Fiffy was produced as a special edition item for F.A.O. Schwarz in the mid 1950s to the early 1960s. 

It was not uncommon for Steiff to make tweaks to popular standard line patterns and present them as exclusives to F.A.O. Schwarz in the 1950s and 1960s. So there is precedence for this unusual find. These modifications included things like size, coloration, body position, materials, or other design details. For example, Steiff produced standing or lying Dally Dalmatians (the standard line versions were sitting), a sitting black and white Cockie (the standard line version was standing), and an open mouthed Biggie Beagle (the standard line version had a closed mouth) as dog specials for F.A.O. Schwarz. And for the felines, the list is shorter, but equally intriguing. It is suspected that a pair of 8 cm, legless, curled up baby cats that appeared in F.A.O. Schwarz's "Kittens in a Basket" offering were based on Steiff's beloved standing Tapsy kitten design. These happy handfuls are pictured here on the left. Like the fabulous Fiffy under discussion here, the one with the open eyes also has a faintly legible ".90" at the end of her article number.

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this supersized Fiffy has really tickled your whiskers!

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

Steiff's Midcentury Dally-Tally!

It's time to cross your "T's" and dot your "I's" with this next Steiff story. Steiff's first Dalmatian dog appeared in the 1953 catalog - nearly 70 years after the company's launch in the late 1800s. This delay is noteworthy as Dalmatians are known as hunting dogs (and hunting is a popular pastime in Germany), and that they originated somewhat locally to Germany in the Dalmatia region of present day Croatia. Better late than never!

Steiff's legacy - and still appealing and collectible today - standard line Dalmatian was named Dally. They debuted at a time when Steiff was actively rebuilding its business postwar; part of this strategy included introducing a number of adorable, smaller sized mohair pet designs that were easy to collect, distribute, and market. Dally was produced 10, 17, and 28 cm. All sizes were sitting, head jointed, and stuffed with excelsior. They were made from white mohair gloriously spotted with black airbrushing. All sizes had an open, smiling mouth, a black stitched nose, and brown and black pupil eyes. Each left the factory in Giengen wearing a red collar. These charmers appeared in the line through 1969. Baby Dally is pictured her on the left.

Given his popularity, Dally's pattern was the inspiration for several product line extensions, most notably two hand puppets. The first was 17 cm and matched the fabric and detailing of Dally - including his signature open mouth. He was simply a head, arms, and hollow body in form, and was in the catalog from 1955 - 1956. Today, he is one of the company's rarer postwar puppets. You can see him here on the left, alongside a baby Dally. The second Dalmatian puppet, Mimic Dally, was 28 cm. Unlike the 17 cm version, this more elaborate plaything had a head, arms, a hollow body, as well as feet and a tail. You could move his mouth with your fingers to make him talk. He was made from 1958 - 1959 and is also quite rare on the secondary market.

Dalmatians also caught the eye of the toy store F.A.O. Schwarz. As such, Steiff created several special edition Dalmatians for the upscale retailer. The first, a standing version of Dally, was made in 11, 22, and 28 cm. The 11 cm size was made in 1953 only, while the 22 and 28 cm sizes were made in 1955 only. Here on the left you can see an 11 cm version and the 28 cm version. If anyone has the 22 cm version, please let me know! LOL! It is interesting to note that both a sitting and standing version of Dally are featured on the cover of Gunther Pfeiffer's 1947-1999 Steiff Sortiment reference book. 

In addition to standing Dally, Schwarz also worked with Steiff to create several other Dalmatian themed novelties for their stores. One was a 23 cm sitting Dally; he was also based on the standard line Dally design. He was produced in 1953 only. Another was a Dally Family, which consisted of one 23 cm Dally, one 11 cm standing Dally, and two 10 cm sitting Dally pups, all resting on a cushion in a wicker dog bed. This set was only produced in 1953, and is probably the rarest of the pet family baskets, given it includes two exclusive items. This is pictured here on the left. Also of note was a lying Dally. He was curled up on his side in a realistic, resting position. He was made in 28, 43, and 60 cm in 1956 only. And perhaps the most "regal" Dally was Royal Dally, a 14 cm, closed mouth begging Dalmatian wearing a crown and cape. He was available in 1963 only. 

The final midcentury Dalmatian under discussion today is also spotlight worthy. In 1962, Steiff partnered with Disney to produce a version of Rolly from the movie, 101 Dalmatians. This family favorite flick debuted in 1961 and was based on the 1956 book The Hundred and One Dalmatians by Dodie Smith. Rolly was of the named Dalmatians in the movie. This sweet, playful, and youthful pattern was made in 12 and 22 cm in 1962 only; they are pictured here on the left. Both sizes were standing, unjointed, and had distinctive cartoon style eyes. The larger version had a dimensional nose made from black velvet. Although Steiffgal can think of several pets of the same era with velvet muzzles, most had black embroidered noses. A velvet nose is an unusual detail for a Steiff animal.

Steiffgal hopes you enjoyed the overview of Steiff's Dally tally.

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

Welcome To Our World Of Toys!

It's no surprise that a lot of Steiff collectors associate all things button-in-ear with F.A.O. Schwarz. After all, it was at this magical place that many youngsters first encountered Giengen's finest Teddy bears, animals, and dolls. The Schwarz brothers "discovered" Steiff bears around 1906, and immediately started to feature them in their stores in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Over time, many Schwarz locations had collections of life-sized, or "Studio" animals displayed throughout their stores, Steiff animals playfully decorating their store windows, and a "Noah's ark" range of mohair and plush friends available for sale. Just thinking about those things puts Steiffgal in a very happy place! Here on the left, you can see a 1967 advertisement for the store, featuring a Steiff Teddy bear in the upper left hand corner.

Steiff and F.A.O. Schwarz also have a very special relationship in terms of exclusive items. Although the stores had been featuring Steiff items since the turn of last century, it wasn't until the 1950's that Steiff began designing and creating store-exclusive products in very small edition sizes for F.A.O. Schwarz. As such, these rare and extremely special items are particularly desirable to collectors today - especially because the future of F.A.O. Schwarz is unclear. If you are interested in F.A.O. Schwarz Steiff exclusives (and other outstanding vintage playthings), then be sure to check out the upcoming Premier Toy Sale at Morphy Auctions on June 24th-26th, 2016. The sale features a fantastic collection of delightful Steiff F.A.O. Schwarz exclusives and other North American rarities. Here are a few that really caught Steiffgal's eye!

There's no need to be stand-offish with this first F.A.O. Schwarz highlight. Here we have lot #805, Steiff's Snobby the Poodle. She is cataloged as...

"Made exclusively for F.A.O. Schwarz. Snobby is 35 cm, five ways jointed, and made from grey wool plush. She is styled in a very fluffy "French" cut. She has brown and black pupil eyes and a distinctive black leather nose. She has her original red head bow but her neck bow has been lost to time. This distinctive Snobby was produced from 1962-1968 in 28 and 35 cm as an exclusive item for the high-end toy retailer FAO Schwarz in the US. Condition: As noted. Snobby retains her Steiff button and fully legible yellow ear tag. In very good to excellent condition overall with just a touch of dust and light playwear. Size 13" L. Estimate: $400-600."

And what makes this poodle such a blue ribbon selection? Her presentation, proportions, and impish personality, to start with! Her leather nose and distinctive grey wool plush material are also quite appealing, and add just a touch of "upscale" charm to her. Steiff is well known for their poodle patterns, but this one truly is in a class of her own. 

And now we are off to the races with lot #888, a fully accessorized Steiff Pony. This pretty filly is cataloged as...

"Made exclusively for F.A.O. Schwarz. Pony is 17 cm, standing, unjointed, and made from tan mohair that is airbrushed with lovely chestnut highlights. Her mane and tail are made from very long, greyish-white mohair. Her face is detailed with black button eyes and a little hand stitched and airbrushed mouth. She is fully and originally attired with her saddle, blanket, reins, and headwear. Pony was produced from 1963-1972. According to the original F.A.O. Schwarz catalog, she is described as “… a handsome 8.5 inch steed covered in tan and white mohair plush with flowing white mane and tail. Complete with brindle, saddle, and saddle blanket. An FAO Schwarz exclusive. A toy to excite your child’s imagination, to give fun-filled hours, and provide fond memories that happily can last a lifetime.” Condition: As noted. In excellent condition overall with all IDs. Size 8'' L. Estimate: $250-500."

This pony is a triple crown winner all around. Her accessories are delightful, accurate, and in perfect scale to her body. Her coloration and impressive long mohair mane truly bring her to life. And her condition appears almost like new. Steiff did a remarkable job on this edition, and it is obvious why it remains a collector's favorite half a century onward. 

It's time to connect the dots towards our final F.A.O. Schwarz Steiff auction highlight. Here we have lot #870, Steiff's Royal Dally Dalmatian. Spotty Dotty is cataloged as...

"Made exclusively for F.A.O. Schwarz. Dally is 14 cm and made from white mohair which is marked with black airbrushed spots. His ears are black mohair. He is in the "begging" position and is head jointed. His face is detailed with black button eyes and a black hand embroidered nose and mouth. His lips are highlighted with a touch of red airbrushing. Royal Dally wears his original red leather collar and retains his chipped red wooden F.A.O. Schwarz tag; his crown, cape, and other IDs have been lost to time. Dally was made in 1963 only as an exclusive item for the upscale US toy retailer F.A.O. Schwarz. Condition: As noted. In very good condition overall with just a touch of dust and light playwear. Size 5-1/4'' T. Estimate: $200-400."

This princely pet is truly Steiff royalty. Steiff created several exclusive Dalmatians for F.A.O Schwarz in the early 1960's, most likely due to the popularity of the 1961 Disney film 101 Dalmatians. Many of these patterns were based on standard line Steiff items of the period with just a few tweaks or modifications. However, Royal Dally is really unique. His body position is quite unusual; he is one of the few, if not the only, postwar dog produced in this unusual sitting up begging position, with his arms prominently hanging in front of his body. There are many dogs cataloged as "begging," but they are usually sitting with all paws on the ground. Royal Dally also has solid black mohair ears and is the only Steiff Dalmatian that Steiffgal knows of with this design treatment.

Steiffgal hopes this review of some of the fine F.A.O Schwarz Steiff exclusive items up for sale at Morphy's sale next week has generated "lots" of interest with you! You can check out the entire auction catalog by clicking here; the Steiff items start at lot #800. All Steiff will be sold on Saturday, June 25th starting at 9am east coast USA time. Best of luck to all bidders!

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

Well, Hello Dally!

Well, hello Dally!  Steiff recently had the pleasure of attending the annual April Sturbridge Doll, Toy, Bear & Holiday Show in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.  And besides a few wonderful old friends, look what else she just happened to run into... a giant Dally Dalmatian Steiff treasure!  Check out this spotty dotty and see what makes him so interesting from the design and rarity perspectives.

Steiffgal's not lying when she says this almost life sized reclining Dalmatian is really a top dog.  He is made of white mohair, in a lying position, and unjointed.  He has great black airbrushed spots and paw pads, and embroidered claws.  He also has black highlighting on his ears and face.  His great doggy face comes to life with an open, large, smiling, peach colored lined mouth; happy black and brown pupil eyes; and an embroidered nose.  He wears his original red leather color and has all of his IDs.  These include his colorful, bear faced named chest tag, his yellow ear tag which reads "2360,1", and his raised scrip button.  His product code translates to... 2=lying; 3=mohair, 60=60 cm, and ,1=with a squeaker. According to Steiff reference books, this model was produced in 28 cm (number "2328,1") and 43 cm (number "2343,1") in 1956 only as an exclusive for the upscale toy retailer FAO Schwarz.

You don't have to be a numbers sort of person to figure out there's something very special about this example.  This dog is actually one size larger than those mentioned in readily available resources.  And he is clearly "right as rain" in terms of IDs, quality, appearance, and era. So how can this be? Steiffgal can come up with two possible explanations, which in some ways have overlap.

First, it is impossible to expect that every reference book is always 110% accurate, so it is entirely possible that three, not two, sizes of this model were actually produced for the store on a commercial scale.

Second, it is possible that only a few of these large versions were produced overall, or perhaps a handful were produced as samples and never put into full production.  As such, they were not captured in the full accounting of these items in the line.  This is magnified by the fact that this dog was produced for such a very short time overall. 

However, there is precedence for the appearance of unusual sized versions of Steiff items made only for FAO Schwarz.  For example, Steiff produced an exclusive and charming grey wool plush Poodle for FAO Schwarz named Snobby. She is five ways jointed, has brown and black pupil eyes, and an unusual black leather nose. Her coat is in the "French" style cut.  According to available references, this Snobby was produced from 1962 through 1968 in two sizes: 28 and 35 cm.  However, Steiffgal has one in 43 cm.  You can see these three happy FAO Schwarz Snobby Poodles here on the left. 

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on this awesome, huge FAO Schwarz Steiff Dalmatian was "best of show" for you!

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

Steiff's Delightful Puppy and Puppet Pooch Pal Pairs

Dog-gonnit!  Who doesn't just love Steiff's delightful canine designs from the 1950's and 1960's?  Their universal appeal makes them top dogs in the eyes of many Steiff collectors.  Many of these popular pups were also made as hand puppets.  For some reason, they are a little less popular than their full doggie inspirations, despite the fact that they are fun to collect and easy to display.  Let's take a look at four really sweet puppet and puppy pooch pairs - and maybe you'll be inspired to add a few of these happy hand puppets to your collection, too! 

Starting off this review is the "dynamic duo" of Steiff's Dally puppet and Dally puppy.  This Dalmatian puppet is 17 cm, unjointed, and made from white mohair.   Of course, his back and head are covered with delightful black dots! His open mouth is lined in pink velvet.  He has three black claws on each of his paws. Hand Dally has black and brown pupil eyes and a black hand stitched nose.  He is one of the rarer Steiff post war puppets, and was only in the line from 1955 through 1956.  The little "spotty dotty" dog on his left is 10 cm and head jointed. And, like his puppet cousin, Dally has an open pink velvet mouth, brown and black pupil eyes, and a black hand embroidered nose.  Dally the dog was produced in 10, 17, and 28 cm from 1953 through 1969. 

Let's now step into the ring with these great Steiff Boxer examples.  The puppet is 17 cm; his body, head, and and hands are made from tan mohair while his muzzle is made from black velvet. Boxer has very nice brown airbrushing on his face and back, and black airbrushing on the top of his muzzle. His ears are lined in peach colored felt. Boxer is detailed with black and brown pupil eyes, a black hand stitched nose, and black stitched claws on his paws. He was produced from 1951 through 1963. His little companion on his right is sitting, 10 cm, and head jointed.  Like many of Steiff's baby-sized items of the period, he has tiny felt ears.  He shares the same mohair, coloring, muzzle, and facial detailing as his puppet buddy, albeit on a much smaller scale.  Steiff manufactured sitting Boxer from 1951 through 1961 in 10 and 14 cm. He was called Sarras from 1951 through 1958 and Boxer from 1959 through 1961.

These next two Steiff dog pairs deserve a little "Pek" on the cheek for sure.   Here we have Peky Pekingese as a puppet and a dog toy.  The puppet version of Peky is 17 cm, unjointed, and made from soft blond mohair with a great golden glow to it.  Her back and head are highlighted with a touch of tan airbrushing. Her ears are made from longer matching color mohair.  Peky's little pouting face comes to life with oversized black and brown pupil eyes, a little black airbrushing, a hand embroidered nose, and a wonderfully detailed, dimensional muzzle made from mohair and velvet.  Like puppet Dally, puppet Peky also was only in the line for one year, in this case from 1963 through 1964. Peky's little counterpart on her right is 8 cm, standing, and head jointed.  As you can see, she is the "mini me" of her puppet pal in terms of her coloring, construction, and just plain appeal! Peky the Pekingese dog was produced in 8, 10, 14, and 22 cm from 1953 though 1977.

Our last great pup and puppet pals are as snug as a bug in a rug! These two buddies are Steiff's Mopsy Pugs.  The puppet version is 17 cm and made from light brown mohair.  She has darker brown highlights on her facial mask, forehead, and the tips of her paws.  Her ears fold over just like a real pugs do!  Her goofy pug face can only be described as "pugly" with its black and white google style eyes, black hand embroidered nose, and playful, sticking-out orange felt tongue.  Puppet Mopsy appeared in the line from 1960 through 1978.  This pug puppet's playful pal is 12 cm, sitting and head jointed.  And the two keep it all in the family with her similar coloring, "wrinkle-y" forehead and muzzle, and quizzical, asymmetric look! Mopsy the pug was produced in 12 and 22 cm from 1960 through 1981. 

Steiffgal hopes that this discussion on Steiff's doggy hand puppets (and their full bodied counterparts) deserves a hearty round of applause!

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

Begging For Information On This Princely Dalmatian

What makes an item a "crown jewel" in a Steiff collection?  Well, everyone has their own opinions and preferences for sure.  But it is true, that some special finds truly merit the royal treatment.  Check out this little Dalmatian, who just might be an heir apparent to the Steiff throne!

No need to beg for information on this most adorable "Spotty Dottie!"  Here we have Steiff's Royal Dalmatian Dally.  He is 14 cm and made from white mohair which is playfully marked with black airbrushed spots.  His ears are black mohair.  He is in the "begging" position and is head jointed.  His face is detailed with black button eyes and a black hand embroidered nose and mouth.  His lips are highlighted with a little touch of red airbrushing.  Royal Dally wears his original red leather collar.  

Royal Dally was made in 1963 only as an exclusive item for the upscale US toy retailer FAO Schwarz. It is interesting to note that this Dalmation appeared just on the heels of Steiff's Rolly Dalmation, which was produced in 12 and 22 cm in 1962 only for the Walt Disney Company in conjunction with the movie 101 Dalmatians.

So just what makes this item so princely?  When he was new, he wore a gold crown that was decorated with faux rhinestones, as well as a red cape with gold ties.  A complete Steiff Royal Dally is pictured here on the left.  Steiffgal's Royal Dally must have lost these royal appointments to time, this sometimes happens when accessories are not firmly stitched in place. It is possible that Dally received his regal goodies at Steiff in Germany or at FAO Schwarz in the United States; sometimes pieces like this were detailed right at the Steiff factory and other times these finishing touches were done in the retail store.

Dally has a unique design feature that truly confirms his royal status.  He is one of the few, if not the only, postwar dog produced in this unusual sitting up begging position, with his arms prominently hanging in front of his body.  There are many dogs cataloged as "begging," but they are usually sitting with all paws on the ground. Royal Dally's begging position is very reminiscent of a typical body shape for many of Steiff's rabbits, especially the beloved Manni pattern.  Manni is pictured here on the left. 

Like many FAO exclusives, Royal Dally's pattern was based on a standard line Steiff item that was somewhat modified and updated for the store.  In this case, Royal Dally was based on Steiff's sitting Dally Dalmatian pattern, which was produced in 10, 17, and 28 cm from 1953 through 1969.  Steiff produced a number of Dalmatian themed exclusives for FAO Schwarz in the 1950's; these included a 23 cm sitting Dalmatian in 1953; 11, 22, and 28 standing Dalmatians from 1953 through 1955; a Dally family in a wicker basket in 1953; and large lying Dalmatians in 28 and 53 cm in 1956.

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on Steiff's Royal Dally has added a spot of color to your day!

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

What's Not To Love About FAO Schwarz's Exclusive Steiff Spotty Dotties!

Can you do two things - like see spots and take a stand - all at the same time?  Well, this pair of Steiff rarities is doing just that!  Here we have two examples of one of the rarest dogs Steiff produced in the 1950's, the standing Dally Dalmatian.  These pups were produced exclusively for the high end toy retailer FAO Schwarz in the United States.  Let's see what makes these dotted doggies so special from the historical and design perspectives.

It's easy to crack a smile when it comes to this precious Steiff design.  These Dallies are 11 cm tall, standing on all fours, and unjointed.  They are made from white mohair that has been meticulously hand airbrushed with black spots.  If you look closely at the picture here on the left, you will see that the spots are basically in the identical places on each dog... now that's precision!  Dallys' ears are made of mohair, while their open, smiling mouths are lined in peach colored velvet.  Each dog face is detailed with brown and black pupil style eyes and a simple black hand embroidered mouth.  Each also wears a red leather collar.  Standing Dally was produced in 11, 22, and 28 cm; the 11 cm size was made in 1953 only, while the 22 and 28 cm sizes were made in 1955 only.

Steiff enthusiasts will most certainly recognize standing Dally's design as quite similar to the company's standard line sitting Dally Dalmatian.  Sitting Dally, who is pictured here on the left, was produced in 10, 17, and 28 cm from 1953 through 1969 overall.  Like standing Dally, sitting Dally also came with a red leather collar; however, sitting Dally had a swivel head while standing Dally was unjointed.  Steiff also produced Dally as a 17 cm hand puppet from 1955 through 1956.  It is not unusual that FAO Schwarz offered slightly modified versions of popular standard line Steiff dogs in their line.  For example, in 1965 and 1966, FAO Schwarz had a 15 cm open mouthed mohair beagle in their catalog.  FAO's beagle pattern was based on Steiff's standing Biggie beagle, which was produced in 10, 17, and 25 cm from 1958 through 1961.  

It is very interesting to note that both a sitting and standing version of Dally are featured on the cover of Gunther Pfeiffer's 1947-1999 Steiff Sortiment reference book (pictured here on the left.) 

In addition to standing Dally, FAO Schwarz also worked with Steiff to create several other really adorable mohair Dalmatian themed products to their stores.  One was a 23 cm sitting Dally; she was also based on the standard line Steiff Dally but her lines were a little more graceful and a little less puppy-like than the regular Dally.  She was produced in 1953 only.  Another was a very playful Dally Family, which consisted of the 23 cm exclusive Dally and several 10 cm standard line sitting Dally puppies, all resting on a cotton cushion in a wicker dog bed.  This set was also only produced in 1953.  Perhaps the most "regal" special Dally was FAO's Royal Dally, a 14 cm, closed mouth sitting Dalmatian wearing a crown and cape.  He was available in 1963 only. The final special Dally was a lying down version; he had an open mouth and was curled up on his side in a realistic, resting position.  He was produced in 28 and 43 cm in 1956 only.  All of these items are extremely rare; most likely due to their limited production and distribution.  As a result, they are very seldom seen and tend to generate great collector's interest when they do indeed come up on the secondary market. 

Steiffgal hopes this discussion on FAO Schwarz exclusive Dally Dalmatians has been more fun than a visit to your favorite toy store!

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

Putting a "Spot" Light On These Rare Steiff Disney Dalmatians

It's easy to keep Steiff in the spotlight, and nobody can do that better than these two fantastic - and famous dogs!   After many years of searching, Steiffgal finally welcomed this pair of "spotty dotties" into her Steiff hug.  Take a look at these "movie star" calibre Steiff canines and see what makes them so interesting from the collector's perspective.

These paparazzi-worthy pups are none other than Rolly Dalmatiner or Rolly Dalmatian. Both are  standing, unjointed, and made from white mohair that has been carefully hand-painted with black spots. Each has sweet, playful and baby-like appearance, and wears a red leather collar.  Rolly was made in 12 and 22 cm in 1962 only. 

These delightful Rolly dogs have several very interesting design features that may not be apparent from just their photographs.  

1. First, their eyeballs, which are made from two distinct parts.   The pupils are made from a black plastic disk which has been inserted into the white plastic backing - not merely just painted or printed on.  You can feel the ridge where the two parts meet with your finger.  Both the small and large versions have these dual part eyeballs. 
2. Second, the backing of the eyes on the larger Rolly.  Big Rolly's eyeballs are placed over a circle of off-white, shiny plastic material.  The only other Steiff item Steiffgal can think of that uses a similar material are the funny little teeth lining the bill of Piccy Pelican, who was produced from 1959 through 1961.  
3. Finally, the nose on the larger Rolly, which is lovely, circular, dimensional, and made from black velvet.  Although Steiffgal can think of several dogs of the same period with velvet muzzles, most had black hand embroidered noses.  A velvet nose is a most unusual detail for a Steiff animal. 

Rolly is top dog in Disney’s classic animated movie, “101 Dalmatians.” This family favorite flick debuted in 1961 and was based on the 1956 book “The Hundred and One Dalmatians” by Dodie Smith. Rolly was of the named baby Dalmatians in the movie, which introduced the world to puppy parents Pongo and Perdita and perhaps the meanest Disney villain ever, Cruella de Vil. Actress Barbara Baird was the voice behind Rolly. As a point of trivia, Disney animators gave each Dalmatian puppy exactly 32 spots—truly confirming their status as "Disney calibre Dalmatians."

Steiffgal hopes this Dalmatian discussion has connected the dots surrounding Rolly's history, design, and Steiff legacy.  

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