When Was the First Soft Toy Made? Three Honest Answers
The first soft toy depends on what you count: papyrus-stuffed dolls from Roman Egypt, Steiff’s 1880 felt elephant, or the 1902 plush bear. Here is the record.
Soft Toys
The History of Stuffed Animals Is Older Than the Teddy Bear
Papyrus-stuffed dolls from Roman Egypt, Steiff’s felt elephant, printed cloth cats, plush bears, and washable postwar toys: the documented history of stuffed animals, with the dates sources still dispute.