Description
This is a Vintage 1950s Steiff Mohair 12 inch Kangaroo Original No Joey from an estate and in original condition. Baby Joey has gone missing. It still has its original felt, dark glass eyes, felt ears, paws, and tail. Size is 12″ tall. Looks like one of the several “Linda” kangaroos that were made in the 1950s. It has overall dirt/shelf dust from age. The original mohair is 95% intact. There is a hole under the tail and a much smaller hole in the joint between the tail and the inner leg. There are 3 old stitches on the back of the neck and some old reinforcement stitches on the seam above and below the left arm. This is all visible in the photos. This is a lovely old original Steiff kangaroo for any vintage toy and stuffed animals collector.
About Steiff:
In 1880, a German seamstress named Margarete Steiff, whose bout with polio limited her to sewing with only one hand founded the Steiff Company. It still bears her name today and is the leader in stuffed, plush bears. Steiff’s nephew Richard created the first soft bear for his aunt, whose factory produced all sorts of toys at the time. Steiff’s idea for the bear came from his drawings of the animals at the Stuttgart Zoo.
An American wholesaler named George Borgfeldt saw the bear at the Leipzig Toy Fair in 1903. He promptly ordered 3,000 of them. By World War I, Steiff had sold millions of these toys in the United States, Germany, and England. Steiff bears made after 1905 have a trademark Steiff button sewn into their ears.
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/dolls/steiff-bears
More Steiff Information:
Since 1880, Steiff has been making plush toys and collectibles that set the world standard for quality. Made from only the finest materials each Steiff animal is meticulously hand-sewn and hand-finished. The company is perhaps best-known for its bears. Steiff invented the Teddy bear in 1902. Since the firm was founded by Margarete Steiff in 1880, more than 16,000 different designs for animals have been created. Vintage Steiff pieces are regularly sold on the secondary market for thousands of dollars.
Manufacturing is still done by hand in our 103-year-old factory in Germany. Steiff products are often considered family heirlooms and are passed from generation to generation.
Steiff toys last so long because they are extremely well-made and vigorously tested – surpassing all U.S. and international toy safety standards. Vintage Steiff toys from the company’s earlier years have sold at auction for more than $100,000. Collectors treasure Steiff products for their artistry, beauty, and lasting value. Children love their friendly faces, cuddly fur, and realistic designs. As such, when “only the best” is good enough, Steiff is the only choice.
steiffusa.com/about-steiff/
