Hi! I'm looking for the origins of this lovely toy.
This is Sarah. She's been a part of my life since I was a baby. My aunt gave her to me in 2001. I have a lot of precious memories with her, and still sleep soundly with her at night.
Lately, I've been wondering about her origins. I can't seem to find any toy like her anywhere on the internet.
She's a brown hippo, with mostly cotton stuffed in her nose, and little bean pods everywhere else. She's not a beanie baby, but she feels like one for sure. Her fur is coarse, although that could just be from years of love. She's about a foot long when lying on her tummy, if not slightly longer.
Any insight to her origins would be greatly appreciated. Have a wonderful day!
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Hello everyone! OP here. I just talked with my aunt and got more information on this hippo. For anyone who's curious, Sarah was bought from the Lazarus department store at South Hills Village. She had a ribbon tied around her neck (that, unfortunately, has been lost after many years.) She was also infused with a lavender scent that helped me sleep at night!
Lazarus eventually closed in Pittsburgh in 2004, and the company was bought out altogether by Macy's. I can't find any trace of other hippos just like Sarah, but I guess that just means she's just really unique. If anyone has any additional information/pictures of a hippo just like her, please post! Have a good day!
South Hills Village is a great mall!! It is about 1 hour from me and it was a big deal to go there when I was younger, as that mall was the "hip and happening" mall as compared to it's little sister mall--Monroeville Mall, where I worked in the Hallmark store the early 80s.
Your plushy looks like their parade float MACY'S HAPPY HIPPO.
I wish I could remember who made her. She was a staple in the Thanksgiving day parades and I am pretty sure they plushies were to honor her.
In 2003, Federated acquired the Macy's chain, the Lazarus stores were cobranded as Lazarus-Macy's--which adds to the confusion during that time period
I am trying to find if I have any of their toy catalogues in my collection to see the maker.
You may be able to find her with the name above!!
Or just Happy Hippo plush! If I find more, I will post back!
Thanks!
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