Tiny Adorable Early Post WWII Baby Sister Gold Steiff Cockie Cocker Spaniel Puppy Dog 2 IDs Red Printed Chest Tag

I am delighted to offer this rare puppy up for adoption. I know, I have often mentioned that I am a “cat person,” but I can’t resist it when I see a cute and rare doggie like Cockie. This little girl is the smallest of the three sisters made in this design, all for the same short span of years. Her next larger sister is also hoping to be adopted. You can check her out in my shop as well.

Cockie has her button and chest tag, and even without seeing the flag that the button once anchored, I can be very specific about her production date. Cockie is among the earliest of the first series of this dog, whose entire span was 1952 to 1957. Her article number was 1310,0, in which the “10” indicated her catalogued height in centimeters. She is not far from that, measuring just under four inches high.

Cockie’s chest tag provides two pieces of information. Cockie’s name, printed in red ink, narrows her down to the two earliest years of her series, 1952 and 1953. However, the 1952 chest tags had bears’ heads that were more angular than those used in 1953 and later. Those earliest post-war tags were not AS angular as those in previous decades, but they are distinguishable from chest tags shaped the way Cockie’s tag is shaped. I believe that 1953 was the year that the printing of names on chest tags switched to blue ink, and from then until the end of the bear’s head era in 1971, they had the same shape. Therefore, it is almost certain that Cockie was made in 1953.

To look at Cockie, you would never dream that she is 70 years old. Her deep gold mohair is full, and her airbrushing is wonderful, both on her mohair and her velveteen parts. including the inside of her mouth and her rosy jowls, covered with freckles. Cockie’s head is covered with short mohair. Her body, legs, and ears are covered with long and lustrous mohair, whose color changes to a lighter gold when it reaches her ankles and extends to cover her underside. There is a touch of thinning along the seams of Cockie’s back legs and under her feet (which of course are out of view).

I do want to mention a mysterious almost invisible “line” extending diagonally down Cockie’s right jowl. I am showing a closeup to you as an inset in my fifth image. I have no idea what caused this “run” in the fabric, and although it is hard to believe that Steiff allowed Cockie to leave the factory that way, it is also difficult to imagine how it came about from user handling and play. Of course, I have to mention it, but its effect on Cockie’s adorable and beautiful presentation is inconsequential.

The only other things I want to mention are all good: Cockie’s chest tag is almost flawless, and her ribbon is in wonderful condition too. The blue may have a tiny touch of fading, and the ends of the bow have really minimal fraying. Finally, the ribbon is still tacked to Cockie’s neck.

That’s it! The pictures can do the rest of the talking, but, of course, if you still have a question, by all means, write. This little cutie is a rare find, and she should be in any serious Steiff collection—whether it is yours or that of the Steiff collector in your life. You will be absolutely delighted if you are Cockie’s lucky new guardian (or she will be joining the collection of someone you love). Please consider keeping Cockie together with her big sister, whose ear flag tells you she is even earlier!

WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO ABOUT COCKIE 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.