Steiff Teddy Bear
A 1904 to 1905 Steiff Bear, looks cinnamon in color, but may be white when cleaned? Original plain button in left ear. All feet and arms move. Hunch back..... Black nose with brown at bottom of nose. Black eyes. Bear sits up fine.... about 15 inches head to toes. Five toes, not four. I've owned for about 53 years....
About 15 inches head to toes.
I bought pre-auction about 53 years ago in Atascadero, CA., as my collector-Mom mentioned when I was about 15 to always check the ears of old-looking teddy bears to see if they had a button in the ear. If so, it may be a valuable Steiff..... And so it was and is.... I paid an outrageous 35 cents for him. The seller wanted 50 cents, I countered with 25, and we settled at 35 cents.....YAY!
Other
Maybe
Hi Leonard
Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.
I'm certain this was originally cinnamon in color...even though it does likely have some "dirty" spots, the cinnamon is too uniform for it to be from wear. If this were in better condition, it would be worth a few hundred dollars but it's obvious you've got your money's worth out of this charming bear.
Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:
An antique Steiff cinnamon jointed teddy bear
early 20th Century
With ear button, glass eyes, sewn nose and yellow bow, the jointed body with buff-color pads. Fur appears to be synthetic
15 inches tall
CONDITION: with some wear commensurate to age and use including patch losses to fur and some tears.
PROVENANCE: purchased 53 years ago
$75-125*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.
Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, and thank you again for using Mearto.
I appreciate that our values might be disappointing to you and I wonder if you've looked at what other bears of this vintage are being sold for online or in stores/retail settings? The values Mearto appraises for are for fair-market / auction (a fraction of retail values) and based on the auction values of comparable examples.
I've been handling and appraising Steiff bears - of all sizes, conditions and vintages - for years and my appraised value is what your bear is currently bringing at auction.
You obviously have no idea what you are talking about....I am annoyed that you think this is not of value more than $150....
What a joke.....Leonard