Stuffed Animals

Stuffed animals date back to ancient Egypt, as ancient hieroglyphics show stuffed animals that represent real animals in rituals. The first toy stuffed animals appeared in the 1830s. These toys were usually homemade, using cloth to cover the outside and straw as stuffing.

The first manufactured stuffed animals were made by the Steiff company, founded in 1880 in Giengen, Germany. Margaret Steiff, founder of the company, made a small stuffed elephant from a pattern and sold it as a pincushion. The elephant, however, became popular as a children's toy. By 1892, the Steiff company offered a variety of stuffed animals, including monkeys, donkeys, horses, camels, pigs, mice, dogs, cats, rabbits, and giraffes. In 1902, Steiff manufactured its first teddy bears.

Other manufacturers began to make stuffed animals and the toys became popular with children. Prior to World War II, stuffed animals were covered with cloth or mohair and were stuffed with straw or wool. After World War II, lower-cost synthetic fibers became available. Stuffed animals were then made of synthetic materials and stuffed with synthetic fiber fill. Today, collector's editions of antique stuffed animals are made with jointed limbs and firm filling, similar to early stuffed animals.

Quick Facts

• Stuffed animals became popular in America with the invention of the teddy bear, named after President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. President Roosevelt hated the name Teddy but gave permission for its use
• Collectors often collect stuffed animals by brand or artist rather than by type. Steiff, Merrythought, Hermann, and other artist-made animals command the highest prices
• Beanie Babies, manufactured by Ty Toys, became a collectible craze in the '90s. Once purchased as an investment, Beanie Babies are only worth a fraction of their original prices today