You cannot buy new Seal shoes now. I bought these from Dack’s in the late 70s. I Paid $775.. Hardly ever worn. Like new. Most comfortable shoes available, the leather stretches and is tough as nails. Recently saw the same shoe advertised, used for $700. Not in nearly as good a condition as mine.
This genuine Baffin Bay Sealskin derby, also marketed by Church’s as “Fighting Seal”, is one of the great exotic leather shoes of yesteryear.
Difficulties interpreting and negotiating the varying endangered species legislation of the many countries to which these and other exotics were exported made continuing their manufacture impractical and most were discontinued by the mid-1970s.
These shoes represent the beautiful traditional work still produced at the time. It is fair to say that these sealskin shoes are likely among the last of their kind, certainly the last in this near new condition anywhere. In terms of rarity, in 40 years, I have seen very few pairs, certainly none in the condition of mine!
