Next To Largest Sister Steiff Standing Tabby Cat Kitten All ID

This sweet kitten’s name is TABBY, as her chest tag attests. She joins several of her cousins, in various poses, colors, and sizes, all hoping to find new homes soon. Tabby is the next-to largest size in her family, listed in the catalogue as 14 centimeters, and denoted by the “14” in her article number, 1314,00. She is almost exactly in accord with the catalogue, measuring about 5 1/2 inches to the top of her head. This is the first time I have helped a Tabby of this size with all ID find a new home, in well over two decades of doing this.

Although Tabby’s flag is in terrible condition, with not all the numbers visible, you can just barely make out the “314,00.” There were two series of this cat with that same article number, but I think it is highly likely that Tabby is from the earlier series, made between 1959 and 1964, because of her glass eyes and early-style raised script button with skinny letters.

Since I mentioned Tabby’s flag, I will tell you that it was almost entirely severed from her button, and I was even afraid to handle it, for fear that the last couple of threads would tear and the button would fall off her ear! I did manage to save the connection by stitching the flag directly to her ear, and those stitches show if you look closely but would not be visible from a display distance. I think I did the right thing, since having all IDs is better than having two IDs.

It is hard to give a rating of Tabby’s condition, since she does have a few issues; the condition of her flag is just a minor one. Tabby’s main issue is her coloring, both the darkening of her once-white background and the fading of the once-gray areas under her black (still very dark) stripes. Actually, the gray looks much better in person than my pictures suggest, although it has faded somewhat to more taupe than gray. There is still lots of contrast between her striped areas and the underlying light color. Of course, I don’t know how she looks on your monitor.

A much smaller issue is Tabby’s SLIGHT overall mohair thinning, with a touch more to her forehead and her seams. However her coloring appears on your monitor, you should be able to see the nice condition of her mohair.

Another minor issue is Tabby’s ribbon. What she is wearing now is my replacement—a silk and rayon ribbon (from the ‘50s, I believe). Her new bow is QUITE an improvement over the one she came with, and just removing that one elevated Tabby’s appearance tremendously.

I do want to end on a positive note, which is to tell you that Tabby retains all of her whiskers. She has six on each side of her nose and four in front of each ear. Two of the four on her right side are located much further down on her face than the others, but that’s the way she left Giengen. :-).

Tabby’s best characteristic is her SWEET expression. That, alone, makes her collection worthy. When she is on display in your vitrine looking back at you with those glass eyes, you will be happy you adopted her.

I can’t think of anything else to add, but please write if you have any questions. Tabby would be a wonderful addition to your Steiff litter or to the litter of the Steiff collector in your life.

WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO ABOUT TABBY 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 DECEMBER, 2022.