Steiff Robby Seal Appraisal

Vintage Steiff 'Robby' Seal (Robbe)

This is a vintage stuffed seal manufactured by the renowned German toy maker Steiff. The item features a beige or light tan mohair exterior with darker airbrushed spots and accents throughout the body to mimic a real seal’s coat. It possesses small black glass or plastic safety eyes, a hand-stitched black mouth, and a pinkish-orange embroidered nose. Notably, it retains its original circular paper chest tag with a red border, which clearly reads 'Robby' and features the iconic Steiff teddy bear logo. A remnant of the yellow cloth ear tag (Fahne) is also visible on its flipper, though the metal ear button (Knopf im Ohr) is not clearly shown in this view. The construction utilizes high-quality mohair pile and firm excelsior or synthetic stuffing. Regarding condition, the piece shows significant signs of age and play wear; there is noticeable thinning and matting of the mohair, some discolorations/staining overall, and the whiskers appear slightly sparse or bent. The paper tag is creased and worn. This specific model was produced in various sizes from the late 1950s through the 1970s, making it a mid-century piece of German craftsmanship. Its value is supported by the brand pedigree and the presence of identifying tags, despite the visible surface wear.