Next To Smallest Sister Steiff Revue Susi Golden Cocker Spaniel Puppy Dog All ID

This sweet pup is only the third for me of this specific doggie and the second of this, second-smallest Revue Susi, of the 4 sizes in which this seated cocker spaniel was made. The “17” in her article number, 3317,03, easily legible on her flag, refers to Susi’s catalogued size in centimeters, measured to the top of her sweet swivel head. Susi is precisely that height when her head is facing forward, or about 6 3/4 inches.

I believe Susi was made in the second series, 1965 to 1967, of Susi’s with this article number, because her eyes are plastic and her collar is leather like but not leather. Interestingly Susi’s raised script button is the earlier kind with skinny letters. That suggests that she may be early in her series, perhaps 1965, when there were still buttons like this at the factory that Steiff wanted to use up. Susi’s precise production date is not that important, because both series have the same “book value.”

Susi seems to be in very good condition, and I don’t mean “for her age,” which, even at the youngest she could be, is past the half-century mark. Her mohair coverage is full, nicely colored, and lustrous, and her floss toe separations—3 on each paw—are all there and intact, as is the floss stitching of her nose. My reason for downgrading her from a possible “excellent” is the fact that she once had dark airbrushed accents on her face and ears, and now the ones on her ears are all but gone (with one “dot” of black on her left ear) and the ones on her face, while still visible, are substantially faded.

I mentioned Susi’s collar. I believe it is a genuine Steiff collar from this era (see my 17-cm Foxy), but I think it is the wrong size for Susi, or at least the metal ring that holds her chest tag is not correct. Because I think her collar is original, this mismatch of collar and ring must have happened at the factory (how, I have no idea).

The result of this mismatch is that the ring fits too tightly around the collar, not giving Susi’s chest tag a chance to hang freely away from the collar, with the resultant bend in the top of her tag. I say “bend,” because Susi chest tag is NOT creased, as you should be able to see in the closeup inset in my second image. Susi’s tag is otherwise in excellent condition, with only a little tarnish around the grommet. I believe the few tiny specks on the bear’s head are splashes of ink from the factory.

Finally, what is almost always the last thing in my hierarchy of “issues,” since it has absolutely no effect Susi’s wonderful presentation and would not be known to someone admiring her in your vitrine, Susi no longer “barks;” her squeaker is now silent.

I can’t think of anything else you’d want to know, but please write if you have a question. This puppy would enhance any Steiff (or other) doggie collection, and you will be absolutely delighted if you are Susi’s lucky new guardian (as will that special person to whom Susi will be given as a gift, if that is her intended destination).

WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO ABOUT SUSI 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.