EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF 19th C. STUFFED VELVET PRIMITIVE THEOREM CATS

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EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF 19th C. STUFFED VELVET PRIMITIVE THEOREM CATS:
$725.00

RARE PAIR OF 19th C VELVET THEOREM CATS!
Please note that I have reduced the BIN price on this sale. I\'ve invested more in this pair, so this is my best price. These early Theorem cats are hard to find and are typically much more expensive at antique shows. Dating to 1890, these early toys are today\'s treasures and will enhance any antique toy collection!DESCRIPTION: This is a RARE pair of two early velvet Theorem striped cats circa 1890. These great looking early cats are hard to come by and fit in well with any primitive or antique toy collection. They are seen in two photos posed with an antique teddy bear to show how well they display with bears or dolls. (Note: the bear is not included in the sale). I don\'t know who made these wonderful cats, they look similar to Steiff. Velvet animals like these preceded the mohair teddy bear and are the earliest example of stuffed animals making them desirable to collectors!Below is a description of each. These cats are over 100 years old and have normal age-related wear. Please note: Most of the photos are close-up which emphasize any flaws, but are not as noticeable in person. In fact, these cats look better in person than the photos can convey and look especially good on display with primitive furnishings. Overall condition is good for these cats. They are still strong and there is no leaking of excelsior and mainly just old stitched repairs on each, which can easily be restitched if desired.The bigger cat is an unusual large size measuring 13\" long from her tail to her snout (sitting 7\" tall). This early cat has a very appealing primitive look with her wonderful dark coloring, original tiny black bead eyes, and upturned snout. Her black stripes are still quite vivid after all these years. She is firmly stuffed with excelsior wood shavings. She has some age-related wear, which includes velvet being worn in some areas, however, the velvet is in strong condition overall with no holes except for a tear on the tail. There are old stitched repairs on this cat in a few areas on the tail, the right paw, and the underbelly has stitching in the center. Otherwise, I would rate this cat as very good condition for being over 100 years old. She wears antique ribbon around her neck with an old bell. The smaller cat has a funny whimsical face! He measures 7\" from tail to head and about 3\" tall. His stripes have faded over the years. He has tiny black bead eyes and red nose and mouth stitching. There are old small stitched repairs that blend in with his velvet making them not so noticeable. There are stitches on his tail and his upper back, tip of right paw, and above his right leg. There is a piece of his rusted metal armature showing through the fabric on his left paw. He is stuffed with excelsior, but his tail reveals some white kapok type stuffing, which may have been added as a repair. He wears an old rusty bell and ribbon around his neck. Don\'t miss these wonderful rare cats! TERMS: Paypal accepted. Winning buyer pays $15 for full insured USPS Priority shipping in the USA. Payment is due at sale end.