Early Steiff Gray Wool Miniature PomPom Mouse All ID Near Mint 1952 Only!

My Steiff cats and wild cats are happy to see another mouse. For some of them, Pieps may still be the subject of their fantasies, but for my smaller felines, this tiny gray girl would do nicely.

In all the years I have been helping Steiff animals find new homes, I have sold fewer wool miniature mice than other wool pompom animals. I have sold just about every other type of pompom critter there is: birds of all kinds, bunnies, poodles, ladybugs, frogs, fish, cats—and a few cock roaches and skunks! It is interesting, therefore, that the mice have been more elusive.

Mouse is in near mint condition, and if you follow my items, you know I use that expression sparingly. If she shows ANY handling, which I think she does not, it is from me, making sure that her poses are just right! Her wool is tight and lint free, and her rose-colored airbrushing is spectacular! The insides of her felt ears are heavily enhanced with rose (if you move her flag (gently!) away from her left ear, you can see the rose hiding below. I caution you to be gentle, since, like the rest of her, Mouse’s flag is pristine and crisp. You don’t want to risk creasing it. Mouse’s airbrushed mouth shows a little asymmetry from one side to the other, but I am sure that she left the factory looking just she does now.

Mouse has essentially no indication of having been handled during the last 70-plus years. I give that date because of the specific font and printed content that appears on her flag. Although this series of wool miniature mouse (with this article number, 2304,2) was made from 1952 to 1958, she was made ONLY IN 1952 with this flag!

The two (abbreviated) words “Orig. gesch.” Were used long before Mouse was made, starting way back before WWII in the 1920s. The first abbreviated word is no mystery; it is “Original.” The second abbreviation stands for “geschützt,” which means “protected” and serves a similar function to the ® we associate with trademarks and the © we associate with copyright.

Either the abbreviated form or the complete two-word expression was used post war until 1952. Because this series of mouse was made STARTING in 1952, you know that she is from the first year.

Like her ears, Mouse’s cute little orange feet are felt, and I believe her tail is rubber. Mouse’s tail is firmly attached and curves outward to the side of her body. Her tiny eyes are glass, as you might have expected because of her age. She has her original four whiskers on each side, although not all are visible in some images.

Mouse’s article number is the next-to-earliest one that was used on these wonderful critters, 2504,2. As I already noted, her flag is crisp, and its other pristine feature is the dark printing of the catalogue information.

Before you become concerned that the “2” in Mouse’s number does not match Pfeiffer’s catalogue in the book Steiff Sortiment, let me reassure you that it is the proper number for the gray mouse. The first time I sold a mouse (I can’t now remember whether he was gray or white), I was really concerned that the number did not match Pfeiffer’s assignment. If you follow my items, you know that I am always on the lookout for potential ID manipulation and fraud. Thus, that apparent number non-conformance with Pfeiffer troubled me, although it is simply an error. This is not the first time I have found (and maybe you have too) an error in the book, and when you consider the thousands of animals and other items that book contains, it is amazing that there are so few! I believe, by the way, that these are editing errors, not substantive mistakes made by Pfeiffer.

OK, back to the other numbers on Mouse’s flag: The “04” denotes her size in centimeters. I am not sure how one is supposed to arrive at that number, but measuring to the highest point on her back is one possibility, and that yields a measurement of about 1 3/8 inches, about 3.5 centimeters, a little less than Mouse’s catalogued size. It is possible that she is meant to be measured from her nose to her rear end, and like my other proffered measurement, Mouse’s front-to-back length is not quite her catalogued size either, but this time it is too much; 😉 she is about 2 1/4 inches long nose to rear, and her tail is about 3 1/2 inches long.

I can’t think of anything else to tell you (oh, yes, as you can see, Mouse has a swivel head!), but please write if you have a question. Whether you collect Steiff mice or just wool pompom animals, (see my shop for others), you will be delighted with her.

WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO ABOUT MOUSE OR ANY OF MY OTHER STEIFF ITEMS, PLEASE BE SURE TO SEE THE ARTICLE I HAVE WRITTEN ABOUT STEIFF ID FRAUD—INCLUDING COUNTERFEIT CHEST TAGS—(AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR COLLECTORS). YOU WILL FIND THE LINK ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT OF MY SHOP HOME PAGE UNDER “FAVORITE LINKS.” IF YOU HAVE NOT LOOKED AT IT RECENTLY, I UPDATED AND EXPANDED IT IN JANUARY, 2023.