Horace, the Longfellow Bear by Steiff Has Arrived

Horace, the Longfellow Bear (EAN 652332), a Steiff North American Exclusive, arrived today and is quite incredible. He stands 24 inches tall and is made of the softest brown mohair. In case you did not know, Horace, the Longfellow Bear is the 1904 Steiff bear of Priscilla Longfellow Thorp, who was the granddaughter of famous American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Horace was a well-traveled bear and rubbed shoulders with some famous people of the early 20th century. They say that he even shook paws with his namesake, Theodore Roosevelt. Steiff has reproduced Horace as he appears in turn of the century family photographs. You can’t help but be charmed by his velvet paw pads. These are an exact reproduction of Horace’s paw pads—which were patched over by a nanny in the 1920’s from material from an old velvet cape.

Horace has a kind and gentle look on his face, and also an incredible classic Steiff growler. After taking him out of his shipping box to make sure that he made the long trip without any damage, it was difficult putting him back in his box and in his proper place on the inventory shelf.