Rare Tiny White (very!) W Red Eyes Albino Steiff Begging Pieps Mouse All ID Near Mint

I don’t have much to tell you, since you should be able to see that wonderful Pieps is in near mint condition, and I mean DESPITE her age, not the meaningless “for her age.” I can tell you her age exactly, as a matter of fact. Pieps is 55 years old. She is the first of her kind in one respect and the last of her kind in another.

Pieps’s article number, 2174/08, was on the flags of the last series of the albino version of Pieps, which was used during the years 1968 to 1978. That’s the way she is the first of her kind, produced during 1968, the first year of that series. I know Pieps’s age because her button was changed in 1969 to the “lentil,” incised script, button. She is wearing a raised script button, which was last used in 1968, thus her 55-year old age.

In more than half a century a white animal can undergo substantial changes, perhaps the worst of which would be a color change. That brings me to the first noteworthy thing I want to point out to you. Pieps could not have looked any whiter when she left the factory.

The “08” in Pieps’s number denotes her size in centimeters to the top of her head. She is almost precisely in accord with the catalogue, about 3 1/4 inches high. This is the only size in which she was made. Of course, when you display her, you will want to have enough vertical clearance to include her ears, whiskers, and flag. Five inches should be all you’ll need,

Continuing with my praise, Pieps stands on her own—a bit less stably than other upright animals, but better than most Piepses you have probably seen. They are often displayed on their bellies, since sellers who don’t realize her intended upright position, assume that lying prone is the way she is supposed to be.

Another noteworthy thing is Pieps’s felt tail. It is stiff enough and close enough to new to stay raised behind her. I have varied the pose of her tail in my images, but it does not limply lay behind her—again, the way you most likely have seen a Pieps displayed. Truth be told, I helped a little by placing her tail of by her head in some of my poses, but it stays off the ground on its own.

Her tail and her other felt parts—BOTH sides of her tiny hands and ears—retain lots of rose-colored airbrushed accents, and the tops of her feet do as well. The bottoms of her feet did not have airbrushing, since she is displayed standing, and there would have been no reason to color them. Even her tail has a substantial coating of rose, showing on the side closest to her body. And, before I leave the topic, notice the strong dollop of rose indicating Pieps’s mouth!

I just want to say a word about Pieps’s IDs. Her article number is a tiny bit faded, but it is absolutely legible, and her flag is crisp. And, finally, I believe ALL the spots on her chest tag are decorations, including a few that are larger than most.

I can’t think of anything else to tell you, but please write to me if you have a question. At least one Pieps (they come in two colors) should be in every Steiff collection, and several of my Steiff kitties (both domestic and wild) would love to join her. 😉

WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO ABOUT PIEPS 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 MARCH, 2023.