Tiny Sister Early-Post WWII Steiff Molly Puppy Dog ID

This adorable puppy has been a favorite of Steiff collectors since she was introduced in 1925. One of the interesting things about Molly is that she seems to be a mutt. She is not identified by breed, but merely called a “Junghund,” German for “young dog,” or “puppy.” She does have a bit of terrier look to her, but I am a “cat person,” so I can’t be sure. 😉

This Molly is the baby of the family, and even though she has only her chest tag, that is sufficient for me to be able to tell you her article number, which was 3310. That series of Molly was produced from 1949 until 1958. But the color of the ink printing Molly’s name and the angular shape of the bear’s head allow for even greater specificity. It is almost a certainty that Molly was produced no later than 1952, but because she no longer has a button, I can’t be as specific for the earlier end of the date range.

The latest that any of the five sitting sizes of Molly was made was 1969. In terms of her long-term popularity, it is interesting that Molly’s production did not extend into the next decade. That just adds to her rarity and desirability.

The “10” in Molly’s article number indicated her height to the top of her head in centimeters. She is even tinier than that, measuring 9.5 centimeters high, about 3 3/4 inches.

It is hard to downgrade Molly’s condition because she is so adorable, and certainly her cuteness may serve as the ultimate reason you want to adopt her. However, I have to report what I see. I think she is in at least good condition, and, of course, I am rating her absolutely, not for her age. If you want to bring age into the discussion, you can say that Molly is in good condition DESPITE her age.

Molly has overall wear, which is less noticeable in her white areas than in her brown areas (because of the light color of the burlap backing fabric). Notwithstanding this wear, her coverage still puts her in the “good” range of condition.

I am being tough on this cute pup, but I have to mention two other areas of wear in addition to Molly’s mohair. The first is her ribbon, which is faded and somewhat stained. On the plus side, it is not too badly frayed, and it is still tacked to her neck.

The other non-mohair condition issue is her chest tag. It is absolutely crisp—these older tags are about twice as thick as the more recent ones you typically see, and this makes them resistant to bending or creasing. But her tag has two condition issues despite its crispness. There is a small smattering of brown stains about whose substance and source I have no idea. And there is what appears to be a light abrasion in the surface of the bear’s face between his left cheek and his eye. Because the tag is so thick, that white abraded area has no effect on its integrity.

Of course, these two condition issues on the tag make it less than perfect, but Molly’s bell covers them both. 🙂

To me, Molly’s attraction and desirability stem almost completely from her wonderful expression. Those big brown (glass, of course) eyes should make you want to see them looking back at you from your own vitrine. And because Molly’s head swivels so sweetly, you can even increase the cuteness factor of her presentation.

I can’t think of anything else to tell you, but please write if you have a question. If seeing this adorable and rare pup puts you in a Molly frame of mind, remember, her two sisters—the next-bigger sizes—are also looking for a new home. It would be great if they could stay together.

WHATEVER YOU DECIDE TO DO ABOUT MOLLY 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.