This Steiff Baby Alfonzo was a Teddy Bears of Witney (TBW) exclusive in 1995, made as a Limited Edition of 5000. He’s number 2683 and comes boxed with certificate. Although pre-owned, Alfonzo is in minty condition, having been attached to his box, and never left it… until that is, he came to us, and we decided to release him from his shackles, to properly show him off.

Our Baby Alfonzo has the more rare distinction of his right foot being personally signed by Jorg Junginger, the great-grandnephew of Margarete Steiff. He was the chief designer for many years, and frequently travelled to the UK for signing events in the 1990s and 2000s. So this particular bear must have been at one of those events.

Inspired by the original Alfonzo, who was given to Princess Xenia of Russia by her father, Grand Duke George Michailovitch, in 1908, Baby Alfonzo is also a red mohair bear made by Steiff. He wears a replica cotton sateen Cossack and trousers, held up by braces, and is traditionally-stuffed with woodwool.

He has shiny black glass eyes, with a hand-embroidered nose and mouth, and felt pads. Baby measures 23cm (9″) tall, and is fully-jointed with brass earbutton and white stock tag. His box is a little scuffed at the corners, but having lived in it for so long he’s just happy to be free at last! (He’s shown with a later TBW catalogue from 2014, which tells Alfonzo’s full story. A book is also available on TBW’s website currently priced at £5).