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Lot Essay
Ub Iwerks created the most fascinating comic figure of all time, Mickey Mouse.
Walt Disney Studios produced two Mickey Mouse movies a month, and these were shown in theatres world wide, including Germany. The popularity of this comical mouse soon swept through the Toy and Souvenir Industries. Naturally Steiff joined the race.
Walt Disney sold all the commercial rights for Mickey Mouse to Geo. Borgfeldt & Co. in New York. One could only obtain a license to market 'Mickey' through the Borgfeldt Company. Steiff had a head start over their competitors in the race for marketing rights, for Borgfeldt had been Steiff's sole agent in America for decades. It was not long before the first examples of Mickey Mouse left the Toy Factory in Giengen. In various sizes, almost 30,000 pieces were manufactured in 1931.
Walt Disney Studios produced two Mickey Mouse movies a month, and these were shown in theatres world wide, including Germany. The popularity of this comical mouse soon swept through the Toy and Souvenir Industries. Naturally Steiff joined the race.
Walt Disney sold all the commercial rights for Mickey Mouse to Geo. Borgfeldt & Co. in New York. One could only obtain a license to market 'Mickey' through the Borgfeldt Company. Steiff had a head start over their competitors in the race for marketing rights, for Borgfeldt had been Steiff's sole agent in America for decades. It was not long before the first examples of Mickey Mouse left the Toy Factory in Giengen. In various sizes, almost 30,000 pieces were manufactured in 1931.