The exclusive Club editions 2015 Steiff wooden toys A unique

The magazine for Steiff Club members
cluB neWS
rarItIeS
VenueS
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–
Fall 2014
The exclusive Club editions 2015
Steiff wooden toys
A unique collection
22.10.14 10:31
Nicholas Teddy bear
(item no. 034268)
and
Finny baby seal
(item no. 034176)
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EDITORIAL
Dear Steiff friends,
Do you belong to those people who, like me, enjoy the changing seasons even though there
are some you prefer to others? Nature’s awakening in spring is always an exciting experience;
we enjoy the abundance and lavish green of summer, the colours of the trees and the rustle
of the falling leaves underfoot in autumn, and finally the clear air and biting cold of winter.
Depending on where we live, some of us get to enjoy the blanketing whiteness for longer
than others. These seasonal changes over the year are exciting, and never boring. No sooner
has one season begun than we can start looking forward to the next one.
This issue contains winter and spring topics in equal measure. Of course, this is also to do
with the publication date of our magazine. And with the fact that the new Club year begins
on 1 January. Which is why we are presenting the new Club editions for 2015 in this issue.
Nature also inspired our designers in their creations of “Cherry” and the 2015 annual gift.
I do hope you like our interpretation of the cherry blossom, a delightful contrast to this
year’s Club edition, the chestnut. Despite the differences, the two bears together create an
extremely harmonious effect. But see for yourself!
In 2015, Margarete Steiff GmbH will have been in existence for 135 years. To mark the
occasion, we shall be adding a special edition to the Club programme, and you can read
about it on page 6. We also interviewed an artist and the daughter of a former Steiff
representative in the USA, and cast a light on some less well-known Steiff products. At
the end of this issue, you will find a charming story that is just the thing to get you in the
mood for Advent.
Imprint
PUBLISHER: Margarete Steiff GmbH
Richard-Steiff-Straße 4,
89537 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany
tel.: + 49 (0) 7322 131555
EDITORS:
Rick Emerson, Inge Zinnecker
CONTRIBUTOR:
Rebekah Kaufman, Daniel Hentschel
DESIGN AND PRINT:
Hess GmbH - Medien, www.hess-medien.de
FREQUENCY OF PUBLICATION: four times a year
www.steiff.com
Subject to changes. Reprinting and copying, even in
part, only with the express permission of the publisher.
By submitting manuscripts you consent to their
publication in the Club magazine. We must reserve
the right to edit or abridge letters or articles.
Printed colours may deviate from the original.
All rights reserved.
Printed in Germany 10/2014 e – Item No. 913761
I hope you enjoy reading this issue, and I
would like to take this opportunity to wish
you a happy and peaceful Christmas!
Best wishes,
INGE ZINNECKER
Steiff Club Manager
CO N T E N T S
CLUB NEWS The exclusive Club editions 2015
5 HISTORY
NEWS Special items7 V ENUES INSPIRATION
The artist Scott Cook
R ARIT IES
Steiff wooden toys14 FAVOURIT E
10 CLUB MAIL
A family affair18
A first-class collection
20
Readers’ service
22
A Christmas story
26
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CLU B N E W S
“Cherry”
(item no. 421341),
Club edition 2015,
“Bubi”
(item no. 421334),
the Event Teddy bear
and the ornament that
is the Club gift for 2015
(item no. 421358).
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CLU B N E W S
The exclusive Club editions for 2015
Hello from Teddy bears “Cherry”, “Bubi” and “Celebration”, and the Club gift!
In spring, when nature starts to wake up from her hibernation, first the snowdrops, then
the crocuses and then the daffodils bring a happy smile to our faces. Just a few weeks later,
lots of plants and flowers develop in all their glory, and we can hardly get enough of their
rich abundance.
The blossom on fruit trees, first and foremost that of the cherry tree, is definitely
something particularly special. Its lavish magnificence never fails to delight us. In Japan,
cherry blossom is a symbol of beauty and awakening. The cherry blossom season is an
extremely important item in the calendar, and it is celebrated accordingly.
That is how the cherry came to be our choice for the second nature-inspired Club edition
Teddy bear. And it gives us great pleasures to present “Cherry”, our Teddy bear for 2015,
which symbolises the cherry tree and its blossom. While “Chestnut”, this year’s Club
edition, is a lush green, “Cherry” is made of top quality, brown-tipped mohair. The paws
and soles are made of brown felt to match the plush. The snout is carefully shorn by hand,
and the nose is embroidered in brown thread.
Five cherry blossoms in the finest multi-layered organdie adorn the body, and there is
another flower on the bear’s right arm. The buds are made of velvet.
“Cherry” stands 33 cm tall, and is limited until the end of 2015. Sales are limited to one bear per
member. The item no. is 421341.
As in the past two years, the colours of the 2015 Club gift match those of the new Club
edition. The Teddy bear stands 10 cm tall and is made of brown-tipped mohair. He is five
ways jointed, and his nose is hand-embroidered in dark brown thread. However, there
is one slightly different detail this year: the bear has a satin ribbon, and so can also be
used as an ornament. We are sure this will make him many people’s constant companion!
Start looking forward now to your Club gift, which you will receive when you renew your
membership.
The 2015 Club gift stands 10 cm tall, and the item no. is 421358.
The cheerful, rather cheeky expression earned our Event Teddy bear the name “Bubi”
(German for “little boy”). He is made in faded olive green mohair, which has a very special
feel to it. Once you have held the Event Teddy bear in your hand at one of our Club events,
you will not want to let him go! The bear is wearing a double-layered felt collar, the top
layer of which has a charming perforated border. The collar is tied together by a delicate,
cream satin bow. Bubi’s nose is hand-embroidered in dark brown thread, and he proudly
sports a chest tag identifying him as the “Event Teddy bear 2015”.
“Bubi” stands 21 cm tall, and is limited until the end of 2015. This bear is only available at Club
events. The item no. is 421334.
...
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CLU B N E W S
Although it is not customary to celebrate a 135th anniversary
as a milestone event, we feel it still deserves recognition
and acknowledgement. The Steiff Club is offering its
members a special edition to mark the 135th anniversary of
Margarete Steiff GmbH.
The Teddy bear is made of white plush, and is wearing
an exclusive gold ribbon around his neck that is
embroidered with the “Elefäntle” and the years 1880 –
2015. In harmony with these colours, the eyes, nose
and claws complete the look of this Teddy bear, which
is lovingly made by hand. Teddy bear “Celebration”
has a growler, and is a timeless classic! Those who are
familiar with the history of Steiff will instantly spot
the resemblance to Margarete Steiff’s favourite bear
and the 1997 anniversary bear, which was released by the
Steiff Club as item no. 670152.
Teddy bear “Celebration” stands 31 cm tall,
is limited to 1880 pieces, and the item no. is 421266.
Note:
This issue of the Club magazine includes
an order form for the Club edition
“Cherry” and Teddy bear
“Celebration”.
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NEWS
Special items
UK, Austria, Switzerland
SteIFF Gallery teddy
Bear
“Edelweiss, Edelweiss
Every morning you greet me
Small and white, clean and bright
You look happy to meet me”
Now close your eyes,
picture the rugged beauty
and purity of the Alps,
and you can almost smell
the mountain air and see those
mountain sunflowers, the Edelweiss.
As a tribute to this national symbol,
we are pleased to present this
stunning Edelweiss Teddy bear
who simply envelopes all the
freshness, nobility and purity of
the famous mountain flower. And
his bold vibrant Jacquard bow reflects
exactly that. Just like many folk tales of the flower, keep
this bear close to you and he will keep you safe.
This inspiring bear is only available to buy at the Steiff
Galleries in Bromley, Vienna and Zürich.
UK
Be r n I e - th e ha r ro d S
Bear
2014
Bernie is 35 cm tall, making him the big brother of most
of the other Harrods bears. He has carded feet,
too, so that he can stand up tall to attention. This
year Harrods have kept the style simple; Bernie is
a plain Teddy bear with simply a lovely face and
a kind welcoming smile. He is made of brass
coloured wavy mohair and wears a navy blue
lamb’s wool bowtie. 2014 marks the 25th year
since Harrods first began collaborating with
Steiff on a special bear and to subtly mark
the silver jubilee, Bernie has his signature
Harrods foot embroidery stitched in Silver
threads. He is also wearing a chest tag based
on the original chest tag worn by the first ever
Harrods bear 25 years ago.
To order please contact:
Christina.Bogye@harrods.com,
direct line: +44 (0) 7788 190 915
(item no. 664670, 35 cm,
Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces, RRP £159)
USA
chImney ornament
Steiff Galerie Wien, Bräunerstr. 3, 1010 Wien, Austria,
Tel.: +43 (0) 1 5124896, e-mail: office@steiffinwien.eu
Steiff Galerie Zürich, Glockengasse 18, 8001 Zürich,
Switzerland, Tel.: +41 (0) 44-2124626,
e-mail: info@steiff-pegasus.ch
Steiff Gallery Bromley, Unit 75 Regent Arcade,
The Glades Shopping Centre, Bromley, Kent BR1 1DD
Tel.: +44 (0) 208466 8444, e-mail: Bromley@steiff.com
(item no. 673788, 28 cm, Limited edition of 1, 500 pieces,
RRP: £125.00 (Bromley), € 149,00 (Vienna), sFr 199,00 (Zürich))
Our miniature holiday Teddy is coming down
your chimney – delivering good cheer for all.
This jointed mohair bear slides down a “brick”
silkscreened chimney that’s capped by fluffy fur
“snow.” The tiny Teddy wears a candy-striped knitted
scarf and has a hand-stitched nose and mouth.
Hangs from your tree on sparkling gold cords.
(item no. 682704, 11 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)
USA
WInnIpeG ornament
This charming ornament pays homage to the true story of the little bear called “Winnipeg” – a cub in the London
Zoo that inspired Christopher Robin to name his Teddy “Winnie.” Makes a wonderful gift for fans of the classic
books. Sewn from black mohair and suspended by a gold satin ribbon.
(item no. 682711,10 cm, Limited Edition of 1,914 pieces)
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NEWS
Japan
Godzilla
Kumamon Keychain
“The King Of Monsters.
The God Of Destruction.
The Big G.
In Japan, there are many
mascots. But perhaps none
has captured the hearts
of the country’s people
more than Kumamon of
the Kumamoto prefecture.
By some estimates, in excess
of 87% of Japan’s population
recognizes this cuddly black,
white, and red Teddy bear. Perhaps
that’s why a special edition of the bear
sold out in mere seconds when issued
by Steiff last year. Building upon Kumamon’s
enduring popularity and success, we are pleased to present a
special limited edition keychain in the character’s likeness.
Limited to just 3,500 pieces, the Kumamon
keychain is a Japanese exclusive.
(item no. 677786, 12 cm,
Limited Edition of 3,500 pieces)
© 2010 kumamoto pref.
kumamon
He is the indestructible
nuclear nemesis of Tokyo.
He is big in Japan, which
rattles at the sound of his
roar. Every time a new
generation rebuilds Tokyo’s skyscrapers – bigger, higher
– he just comes back stronger and taller to demolish
them all over again. He is Gojira. He’s also Godzilla, an
unmistakable cinematic icon around the whole globe. The
very name Godzilla is part of everyday language, a byword
for something that inspires awe and fear.” On the occasion
of the legendary character’s 60th anniversary, this is how a
reporter for IGN network described the most
famous monster of them all. To celebrate
this auspicious event, Steiff is pleased
to introduce our very own version
of Godzilla crafted from genuine
mohair.
Already, this special edition
has captured headlines
world-wide. Only 1,954
pieces will be issued to mark
the year of release of the first
Godzilla film. Exclusively for
Japan.
(item no. 677762, 30 cm,
Limited Edition
of 1,954 pieces)
Japan
To order the items
shown on this page,
please contact:
MS1880 Co., Ltd, South
Aoyama Tech. Bld. 3-12-24
Minamiaoyama, Minato-ku,
Tokyo 107-0062
HOW TO REACH THE STEIFF CLUB IN NORTH AMERICA:
Steiff North America, Carolyn Smith, Club Administrator tel.: +1 401 312-0080, e-mail: carolyn@steiffusa.com
HOW TO REACH THE STEIFF CLUB IN THE UK:
Leyla Maniera, Margarete Steiff UK, Astra House, The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey GU6 8RZ,
tel.: +44 (0) 1483 266643, fax: +44 (0) 1483 266650, e-mail: leyla.maniera@steiff.com
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NEWS
A new Boby
Premiere for the redesigned mascot.
The Pro UKBB foundation (Pro Universitäts-Kinderspital
beider Basel, the Basel University Children’s Hospital)
was founded almost exactly 10 years ago. And Boby, the
foundation’s lucky mascot, has been around for almost just
as long.
The main aim of the foundation is to ensure the wellbeing of the young patients in the children’s hospital.
They are to receive the best possible care, and their stay
made as pleasant and relaxed as possible. To this end, the
foundation supports projects in infrastructure (such as
playrooms), therapeutic services, modern equipment and
research projects.
Cheerful little Boby is always there, and all the children
love him. However, there’s no denying that Boby is now
getting on a bit. But thanks to a very generous donor, the
foundation has now been able to ask Steiff for a new Boby.
He will be welcomed to the Children’s Hospital in Basel
with a preview on 20 November. Much to the delight of
the foundation and the management!
You can purchase Boby
(item no. 658143, 25 cm)
from the foundation for CHF 25.00.
The address is:
Stiftung Pro UKBB
Spitalstrasse 33
CH - 4056 Basel
info@pro-ukbb.ch
www.pro-ukbb.ch
President of the Foundation Board:
Rita Kohlermann
Management:
Susanne Hostettler
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I N S P I R AT I O N
The inspired works of Scott Cook
Artist draws inspiration from his lifelong passion for Steiff.
Above, above right, Steiff:
and opposite page: Today we have the pleasure of introducing the Steiff Club
Artist Scott Cook’s
Steiff-inspired work magazine readers to a delightful and award-winning artist who
has been called incorporates the spirit of Steiff’s charming characters throughout
“Delightful, full of all of his ­creative work. To start things off, could you please tell us
energ y, wit and life”,
as these panels from a little about ­yourself?
a children’s story
­illustrate. Scott Cook:
Thank you for your interest! My name is Scott Cook, and
I am a painter, sculptor, and a children’s book illustrator.
I have been illustrating children’s books since the mid1980’s; these include With a Whoop and a Holler, Nettie
Jo’s Friends, The Gingerbread Boy, Lapin Plays Possum,
and a new version of Mother Goose. I have lived on Cape
Cod, in the state of Massachusetts in the United States,
since 1995, but I am originally from Jackson, Mississippi.
Tell us about your interest in
Steiff and your Steiff collection.
remember the Steiff puppets there on display, and how
lifelike and magical they were ... so much more so than the
other toys sold there. I have always been drawn to quality,­
well-designed items – perhaps that is why I am an artist
today!
Over the years, I slowly built up my collection. Of course,
I still have my original elephant as well as my Record
Peter, another childhood favourite. My most preferred
Steiff items as an adult are those from the very late 1800’s
through the 1920’s. I adore how items from this period
have such innocent and childlike personalities, in some
cases almost a “homemade” or cottage industry look to
them. I tend to favour the company’s early bears, farm
animals, and elephants. I enjoy dressing up my old Steiff
friends in vintage clothing and hats that I find at antique
shows and events.
I have always been drawn to quality,
well-designed items – perhaps that is
why I am an artist today!
When I was a little boy,
I was given a small Steiff
elephant by my parents. From a very young age, I was
fascinated by elephants and spent many hours watching
them at a local zoo near my childhood home. There was
a store in my community that sold Steiff, and I distinctly
My most recent – and
perhaps new collection
favourite – is a 1905-era,
50 cm dark blonde center
seamed cub that I purchased
in June, 2014 at the James D. Julia auction that featured the
Steffes Collection. I adore the bear, and it was especially
meaningful to meet and speak with Mr. Steffes at this
event.
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I N S P I R AT I O N
Fellow southerner and Pulitzer Prize winning author Eudora
Welty described your work as, “Delightful, full of energ y,
wit and life. I love the sense of commotion in the illustrations,
and the music of the language, and I imagine they will be
enjoyed by adults every bit as much as children.” As such, tell
us how your lifetime love for Steiff influences your art.
Steiff is art, as each piece is made lovingly and individually.
And, on top of that solid foundation, Steiff items also age
beautifully, unlike other soft toys. All the love and wear
that they are given only increase their appeal, innocence,
and gentle expressions. So, these old friends cannot help
but become part of your heart and mind, and in turn,
appear throughout your work.
Besides their charming looks, vintage Steiff animals are
creatures with personalities. I have used specific Steiff
animals for models throughout my career; this is especially
evident in my still life paintings that often feature Teddy
bears from my own collection. But even if I don’t use a
particular Steiff design, I channel their whimsical spirits,
and this has a way of coming out my work as well. For
example, I did a series of larger-than life 3D animal puppets
that were featured in the window displays of Tiffany & Co.
in New York City a few years ago. These included a frog
and a goose - two of my favourite animals that Steiff has
produced so playfully over the years!
Tell us about your creative studio.
In addition to collecting Steiff, I am also interested in turn
of last century furniture, textiles, cloth dolls, and other
treasures that reflect simpler, gentler eras. Time gives a
lovely patina to these sorts of items. All of these passions
really complement each other, and come together,
throughout my house - but especially in my studio. Here
I set up little vignettes featuring my Steiff in playful,
happy scenes which make me feel good, get my creative
juices flowing, and help me make the best art possible. For
example, I recently set up my collection of early, five ways
jointed elephants on a vintage area rug, and had them hold
1920’s era, doll sized fabric parasols that I found on an
antiquing adventure. They make very good “work mates”
indeed!
The artist at work in
his studio in
Massachusetts, USA.
...
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I N S P I R AT I O N
I have created the model for this sculpture, which I envision
to stand almost 3 meters tall when eventually completed
and cast. The model itself is almost 70 cm tall and weighs
almost 70 kg - and it’s only made from clay! The design
features Teddy Roosevelt with a Steiff bear on his knee,
with a baby black bear peering from around his side. The
Steiff bear featured in the sculpture is based upon a real
Steiff Teddy bear from my personal collection. This project
called to me, probably because I am from Mississippi,
love Steiff Teddy bears, and understand the importance of
history and sharing legacies with future generations. I am
hoping some day to find someone, or some foundation,
that shares my love and vision for this project and can help
make it a reality.
What a wonderful idea, and we are certain Steiff and history
­enthusiasts would love to see this outdoor sculpture idea come to
life as well! Good luck, and thank you for sharing your time and
insight with us today.
Above: What would you like to add to your collection, and why?
A quintet of Steiff
beauties from the
Scott Cook collection. I would like to adopt another wonderful and early bear.
But, it would be great to find one with full provenance,
including a photo of the bear with his original owner. As an
artist and highly visual person, that would be particularly
meaningful to me.
Speaking of bears, tell us about how Steiff bears are part of your
­sculpture work.
My dream project, which is in process now, is to create
a bronze sculpture commemorating President Theodore
Roosevelt’s role in naming and popularizing the Teddy
bear. We are all familiar with the story of how the President
refused to shoot a baby bear cub on a hunting trip to
Mississippi in 1902. This of course led to the famous
Clifford Berryman “Drawing the Line in Mississippi”
cartoon, which coincided with the launch of Richard
Steiff’s finest invention - the five ways jointed Teddy bear
as we know him today. Although this all happened 112
years ago, there has never been a public sculpture created
to acknowledge how these critical events all came together
to give us all the Teddy bear that almost all of us have loved
in one form or another since infancy.
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I N S P I R AT I O N
This beautiful painting
is a stunning testament
to Scott Cook’s passion
for Steiff.
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RARITIES
The shepherd’s cart
as a large accessory.
Teddy 5332,2, around
1915, stands 46 cm high
and is shown as a size
comparison.
Extract from the 1911
catalogue with the rare
complete school and
single items of school
furniture.
Steiff wooden toys – 1910 to 1920
A journey through time and a somewhat less well-known Steiff production.
Wood is one of the oldest materials in the world, and – of course –
was also to be found in the nurseries and children’s rooms of earlier
generations. For over 120 years, this natural raw material has been as
much a part of the Steiff company as felt, velvet and mohair. With this
new series, we embark on a journey through time, and take a look at the
less well-known toys from Steiff’s past.
Wood was already being used in the manufacture of the first recorded
Steiff animals of the late 19th century. In fact, the skittle figures in
the 1892 catalogue and the Roly-poly series in the 1894 catalogue
were built on wooden structures. The wooden runners made for
larger animals on wheels were already available at the turn of the
century. At the beginning of the 20th century, wood was also used
as a material for dolls’ accessories, initially in small quantities
for sledges, ski equipment and small items of furniture. The big
breakthrough in accessories came in 1910, when several small
show-pieces were offered in boxes, such as the popular fully
equipped schools. The appointment of artist Albert Schlopsnies
in 1910 opened up an unimagined wealth of accessories for felt
dolls, some of which were then added to the range as separate
accessories. The best known of these items are equipment
for firemen and soldiers, and for the circus figures that were
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RARITIES
Teddy bear 5307 stands
9 cm and gives an idea
of the size of the train.
Catalogue extract of
1916/17 with details of
the latest wooden toys.
designed by Albert Schlopsnies himself. Less well known,
as not previously documented in any of the literature, is
the abundance of items that were available to buy in the
original catalogues. There were pages not only of small
accessories, but also of bigger items such as coaches, carts,
fire engines and circus items for children’s rooms. In some
cases, it was even possible to buy mechanical versions. The
accessories for the Steiff dolls and the individual items
from the bigger show-pieces ceased to be available after
1918.
Expert info:
In 1910, Steiff made 45 schools. This number refers to the fully
equipped schools including the wooden schoolroom (amounting to
an amazing total weight of 33 kg!), as described in 1989 in Cieslik’s
“Button in Ear” book. Unfortunately, this information is often
misinterpreted today and cited in the descriptions of the schools
offered at various auctions without the schoolroom. In fact, the
actual production figure of the school furniture offered without the
wooden schoolroom is much higher.
Large accessories for
felt dolls in the 1914
catalogue.
However, the actual era of wooden toys as separate items
started with the publication of the novelties catalogue of
1916/17. For the first time in the company’s history, Steiff
offered wooden toys that, rather than being accessories for
felt dolls, were toys in their own right. This is also evident
from the product descriptions in the catalogue, where
“dolls’ furniture” was advertised in large letters in 1916, but
it was not until the novelties catalogue of 1916/17 that the
term “wooden toys” was actually mentioned. Initially there
were only three new toys: two train sets and one board
game with a spinning top.
The descriptions of the train sets were both interesting and
confusing, since the relevant literature and the novelties
catalogue of 1916/17 describe them as 110/35 (110 cm long)
and 100/22 (100 cm long). Furthermore, the literature
...
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RARITIES
“Velo-Ele” from 1919
with a felt caparison
and felt saddle
Catalogue extract of
1920 with the new
wooden animals.
identifies the number that follows the slash as height,
which results in a wholly incorrect length/height ratio. In
fact, the original shown on page 15, which is exactly the
same as the one shown in the catalogue, is 140 cm long
and 20.5 cm high. A little light is cast onto the issue in the
novelties price list of 1916, which contains both the correct
height and item number: “Train 140 (140 cm lg.)” and
“Train 110 (110 cm lg.)”. Unfortunately, it is no longer clear
what led to the change in designation. Regardless of the
confusing catalogue description, the big train is one of the
most interesting and rarest items produced by the wooden
toy manufacture at Giengen. One particularly delightful
accessory is the whistle inserted at the top of the boiler –
which in the original shown here actually still works.
However, we do have some bad news for collectors of
historic Steiff toys: research of the product lists has
shown that in 1918, only five of these large trains were
manufactured; there are no recorded production figures
for 1916 and 1917. Which means it is extremely unlikely
that any other examples of Train 140 will be found on the
market.
Expert info:
Wooden toys were given the “Steiff” trademark in a variety of
ways. All the carriages and the engine of wooden train 140 are
punched four times and bear the wording “Steiff / Made in Germany / Importe d’Allemagne”. The additional wording in French
is also typical of the period around W W I. It was not used exclusively between 1923 and 1926, as is often erroneously interpreted
from the literature.
“Kreiselspiel 500” (a board game involving a spinning top),
a wooden toy in a broader sense, is almost completely
unknown. It is a fold-down box that was available
ready to mail to soldiers in the field. Sadly, there is no
documentation of an original specimen of this game, nor
are any novelties documented for 1918. Production of train
140 (110/35), train 110 (100/22) and the spinning top game
stopped in 1918. The idea of wooden toys was addressed
again after the end of WWI. Unlike mohair plush and felt,
beech wood was available in quantity in the difficult postwar years. The “Wooden toy novelties 1919” included two
ducks (12 and 20 cm), a goose, a cockerel and a hen (both
20 cm), a chick (12 cm), “Pickspatz” the sparrow (12, 14 and
17 cm) and “Velo-Ele” the elephant (20 cm). The animals all
have the “Button in the ear” on the left side of their heads.
With the exception of the elephant, the animals all have
the new eccentric wheels that, due to their positioning on
axle, imitate the natural walking movement of the animals.
According to one catalogue description of the time, they
were “Animals bobbing along on eccentric wheels, expertly
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RARITIES
The building boxes were
available in several colours,
and yellow, red, green and
blue ones are known today.
The two smaller boxes were
available until 1929, the big
one only until 1926.
Expert info:
The largest version, building box no. 14, is of particular
interest, since something very
special was used to house the
wooden blocks. The boxes for
the blocks were made from old
ammunition boxes that were –
happily – no longer required
for military purposes and, once
repainted and lettered, could be
put to rather more positive use.
From about 1922 these boxes were replaced by a housing in the Catalogue extract of
1920 with the new
shape of a pencil box.
building boxes.
painted true to life with non-toxic paints”. To many Steiff
collectors, “Velo-Ele” has long been a much sought-after
addition to their collections of wooden toys. It is extremely
rare to find, and for years has been achieving surprisingly
high prices among collectors. The original Velo-Ele has a
head caparison and a cover in embroidered felt. When a
child pulled the elephant along, the legs attached to the
front wheel moved, giving the impression that the animal
was moving by itself. Velo-Ele was offered in the Steiff
range until 1927 only, whereas the other animals continued
to be made for some time afterwards. Still, there are not
many of them around, and they are considered rarities.
Another special novelty of the year 1919 was the wooden
building box, which was available in three different
sizes. The smallest box, “No. 4”, contained 46 wooden
blocks in various sizes. As it was not possible to build
all the suggestions with this, the smallest version, it had
a separate instruction booklet with 15 pages of ideas just
for small wooden blocks. The medium box, the “No. 8”,
contained 112 wooden blocks in 14 sizes, while the biggest
one had 196 blocks consisting of 14 pieces for each of the
14 sizes. A 33-page instruction booklet was printed for
the two bigger boxes with lots of ideas; even the biggest
and most challenging ones could be made from the sets.
One of the final novelties from these early years is the
“Jagdsitz 38”. Although it is not a toy, it is certainly worth
mentioning as a curiosity. It is difficult to say whether
adults could actually use it as a hunting seat or whether it
was intended for children who accompanied them on the
hunt. The particularly well-designed printing on the seat
consists of a stylised Teddy bear and the designation “No
2040” for the width and height. The hunting seat was only
made until 1923.
The three sizes of the
new building boxes
from 1919 onwards.
The “Jagdsitz 38” is
an interesting curiosity
from the early days of
wood manufacture.
There will be more on wooden toys in the next edition of
the Club magazine. You will find the years 1920 to 1930 just
as interesting, and you’ll meet the “Eisba” train and the
“Jagwag” wagon.
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Above:
Jerry Fisher and
Reeves colleagues in the
­organization’s show
room circa 1970’s.
Above right:
Young Susan Fisher
with a period Steiff
Teddy.
A family affair
Daughter recalls her father’s long and fascinating relationship with Steiff.
It is so exciting to introduce our readers to a wonderful and
interesting woman who grew up both in the toy industry
and with Steiff. As a matter of fact, our guest’s father was
instrumental in the success of the Steiff brand in North
America from the 1950’s onward.
Steiff:
Please tell us a little about yourself and your father.
Susan Fisher Haag:
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you, it is
wonderful to reminisce about my family and childhood.
My name is Susan Fisher Haag. My husband and I live in
New York City and Sag Harbor, New York. I am the founder
and principal designer at juice DESIGN, a small design
studio in New York City. My dad, Gerald (or Jerry, as he
was called) Fisher was born and raised in the Bronx, the son
of Russian immigrants. My dad worked most of his career
at Reeves International, the exclusive US representative and
distributor for high-end European toy brands, including
Steiff, Corgi, Peggy Nesbit dolls, Britain figures, Marklin
trains, and other smaller, upscale European brands. As the
number two man at Reeves, my father worked closely with
Steiff, developing general and exclusive lines for the newly
growing US clientele.
How did your father get involved in the toy industry?
My father’s career in the toy industry began as a salesman
at The Playhouse toy store in New York City. Two years
into working there, the shop was sold and the new owner
named my dad buyer and store manager. His favourite
brands, even early on, were definitely Steiff and Corgi.
Your father was with Reeves through his retirement, which is an
amazing accomplishment. Tell us about his time there, and what
he enjoyed most about his time with the company.
In 1953, while working at The Playhouse, he met Werner J.
Fleischmann, President and founder of Reeves. “W.J.” as
we came to know him, offered my dad a job as a salesman
and he left The Playhouse. In 1956, he was promoted to
Sales Manager and by 1967 was appointed Vice President
where he worked until his retirement in the early 1990’s.
My sense was that my dad loved his job, he was low key
but passionate. He helped develop and distribute joy to
thousands of children and adults across the country, and
took pride in this. He grew up with little means and after
achieving professional success, he remained humble and
always connected to his roots. He also loved the New
York Toy Fair; although he worked very hard during those
weeks. My mom would come into the city for dinners to
wine and dine his customers and I remember thinking how
very chic, important, and fancy my parents were!
Reeves was greatly responsible for making Steiff a household name
in North America from the early 1950’s onward. How did your
father feel about Steiff?
He LOVED Steiff and he really believed in the product. He
had firsthand relationships with Steiff and intimately knew
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H I S T O RY
the value of the brand and its beauty. His ability to sell
the brand came from his authentic love of its simplicity,
history, and craftsmanship. He was easy going, interested,
interesting and like Steiff, just plain loveable - so selling
the product was easy for him.
Did your dad work directly with Steiff on projects?
My father worked directly with Steiff throughout his
career at Reeves. He helped develop the concept of
Limited Editions in the USA and collaborated with
Dr. Zimmermann to strategize and design the
best new Steiff products for the US marketplace.
I recently found original correspondence between
my dad, Dr. Zimmermann, and Steiff.
What would you say was your father’s greatest Steiff achievement
at Reeves?
My dad was very modest, but I believe he would have been
proudest to say that he helped to develop the distribution
and marketing for Steiff that helped to make it one of
the premier toy brands in America. This was done in
partnership with the David Deutsch Advertising Agency.
My father oversaw the US marketing plans and ad
campaigns, and he loved working directly with David
Deutsch, which also helped to fulfill his own creative
inclinations.
Did your dad travel to Germany for Steiff business?
My dad traveled a few times a year to Germany to go to
toy shows and the Steiff factory. There he would review
samples and prototypes, brainstorm new product ideas,
and visit European toy stores to get inspired. He also
worked a lot on developing the concept of limited edition
items. My parents were art and antique collectors and my
dad understood the value of limited editions. Throughout
his career and life he had the opportunity to travel to
Germany, England, Greece, France, Italy, Hong Kong,
Japan, and Spain and numerous other places. Working at
Reeves turned my father into a sophisticated world traveler
– although he did not step foot onto a plane until he was
about 40 years old!
I’m sure you are asked this all the time,
but as the child of a toy professional,
did you have lots of special toys as a
youngster?
Throughout my childhood
everyone thought I had
playrooms filled with toys, but
I did not! Our house in those
early days was very spare and
filled only with objects my
parents truly loved. My dad
was believer in quality over quantity;
I had my beloved pieces, these
included a Steiff Zotty, a collection
of puppets, some lions, and
monkeys. If my father was working
on something new, he would bring
stuff home to share, but that was
top secret, of course! And, as he
travelled around the world, he
would bring me back a doll from
each new country he visited - now
THAT was exciting!
Did anyone in your family collect Steiff or the other fine European Catalogue covers from
the 1980’s show the
brands your dad represented?
Yes, my dad collected Steiff. However, his main focus was
on building his Corgi collection. We sold most of his Corgis
at an auction in the UK in 2001. It was a special day to be a
part of The Jerry Fisher Auction held in Stockton on Tees in
England. My mom, brother, and I travelled to be a part of
it and honour my dad after he passed away from cancer in
2000. The collection was of great interest to collectors, he
had amassed many prototypes, which were hand painted
by his colleque and friend, Marcel Van Clempt, Corgi’s
original and beloved designer. It is interesting to note that
Steiff and Corgi, two legacy European manufacturers, have
created several very successful co-branded editions.
coveted Steiff
collectibles developed
by Mr. Fisher in
collaboration with
Germany for the
U.S. market.
It has been wonderful to learn about your father and his work.
And many Steiff collectors in North America probably have
him to thank for their early introductions to the brand! We so
appreciate your time.
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The sale of the collection
of Chuck and Cathy
Steffes was the largest
Steiff auction ever held
in North America.
Blue chip collection
Auction house holds sale of exciting vintage hug.
This past June saw the largest sale of vintage Steiff in North America when James D. Julia,
Inc. auctioned off over 120 magnificent vintage treasures from the Chuck and late Cathy
Steffes collection of Steiff rarities. Chuck and Cathy built their remarkable collection
together over several decades, and it truly reflected the finest examples of Steiff design,
quality, and craftsmanship from the turn of last century through the early 1950s. Given
how loved and well known Cathy was throughout the Steiff community, the scope of the
sale, and the quality of the items, it was no surprise that the auction attracted attention,
bids, and visits from collectors all over the globe! The Steffes collection consisted mostly of spectacular bears, cats, and rabbits. Apparently,
the Steffes originally set out only to collect bears when they began their hobby three
decades ago. It was only within the last several years that they began adding cats and
rabbits to their hug – in part to add a new focus and dimension to the collection. Because the auction was held in the company’s Fairfield, Maine office, Julia’s partnered
with the Steiff North America team to hold a preview party in the Boston, Massachusetts
area a few weeks before the sale. This was done so viewing the items firsthand would be
more convenient for Steiff club members from all around the East coast. The event was
held in a private home and Julia’s provided about 30 of the finest and most interesting
items from the collection to share with Steiff club members. Refreshments were served,
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VENUES
and each attendee received a custom goodie bag, which
contained an auction catalogue, Steiff materials, and a
very special tiny pink Steiff “breast cancer awareness bear”
which was produced especially for this Boston area event.
According to Mark Ford, CEO of Julia’s, who attended
with his wife Sandy, “The interest was incredible, with standing
room only for the first couple of hours. We had many attendees
who had travelled for more than three hours to attend. The long
distance award went to a collector from Atlanta who flew up for
the day just to see the bears and attend the event!”
Nancy, and the entire Steffes family for the opportunity to
share her passion and exquisite collection with the world. Today in the auction world, a very small percentage of
auction bidders are actually sitting live in the auction
facility, and that was no different for this auction. Many
bidders placed pre-bids by phone, fax, or mail. Others
watched and bid online. At this auction, there was a large
bank of phone operators working with customers from all
over the world. Rumor has it that royalty from far away
could have been on the other end of one of those phone
lines!
It took about 90 minutes
The sale took place on
This happening has brought much joy
th
to auction the Steffes
to many collectors who now have new
Friday, June 13 in Maine.
lots. There were plenty of
Steiff memories, as well as treasures,
But the auction house
highlights throughout the
to add to their hugs. opened its doors to the
auction – and like all events
public a few days before
the event for an on-site preview. All the Steiff bears were like this, some people even scored with some fine buys that
presented majestically on shelves in glass-doored display escaped the radar of other collectors. cabinets. Visitors were allowed to handle and examine
any item – even the “crown jewel” treasures – which in According to Andrew Truman, Department Head for
this case were the Steffe’s Titanic bear, Teddy Clown bear, Julia’s Antique Advertising, Toy, and Doll Division, “This
Petsy bear, and rod bear. Julia’s set up inspection stations - auction will stand out in my memory for many years to come. It
which included draped tables, bright lights, and even high was thrilling from beginning to end – from visiting Chuck at his
powered magnifiers – so potential buyers could literally home, packing and loading each bear, bunny and cat, to building
examine each Steiff item on a stitch-by-stitch level! the sale, to watching the catalogue take shape, to meeting his sister
Nancy and all the collectors in attendance, to watching the final
Preview lasted through Friday morning, just before the hammer fall. It really was an experience like no other.”
auction got started at 10am, and was a beehive of activity! Many visitors arrived on Thursday, June 12th, and it was so Overall, this was a magical event for many reasons. This
much fun to see old friends reunite, as well as see strangers gathering allowed the Steiff community to come together
immediately connect over this marvellous collection. and honour the Steffes for their remarkable commitment
People travelled from all across North America to attend to the brand, as well as remember Cathy, who was a good
the event in person, including collectors from New friend to many in attendance. The event invigorated many
England, California, Texas, Florida, New Jersey, and even dormant collectors – who learned about the sale through
Canada. friends, the Internet, newspaper articles, or other industry
channels – and it was wonderful to welcome them back to
As the auction was about to get underway, many people the world of Steiff. The sale also was like a calling to active
had taken their seats, but it was clear that many more chairs collectors across North America to come together to share
would have to be added to accommodate the overflow their love of Steiff, as there has not been such a Steiffcrowd. Most folks in the audience, when asked why they centric event in the USA in quite some time. And finally,
came to the event instead of watching it on the Internet, this happening has brought much joy to many collectors
said that they wanted to see this sale in person as they who now have new Steiff memories, as well as treasures, to
felt it was an important moment in the Steiff collector’s add to their hugs. community. Then, just before starting the bidding,
auctioneer and company owner Jim Julia gave a gracious
tribute to Cathy Steffes, and thanked Chuck, his sister
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CLU B M A I L
Readers’ service
Do you have a question concerning a Steiff item? Find out more here!
Question:
I’d like some
information, please.
1. Is this orang-utan an
original Steiff ?
2. When would he have been
made or sold?
M.B., by email
Answer:
This “King Louie” is one
of the first Jungle Book
characters licensed for the
Walt Disney series (Copyright Walt Disney Productions)
by Steiff. He was made from 1968 until 1974 as item
no. 0050/25. Other Jungle Book characters were “Baloo”
the bear, “Baby Hathi” the baby elephant, and “Shere
Khan” the tiger. Your “King Louie” has in his left ear what
is known as the lens button, a hollow rivet that was used
for Steiff products from 1969. More precise dating would
only be possible by the chest tag, which was amended in
1972, but unfortunately this little fellow no longer has it.
The first series of Jungle book animals adhered very closely
to the Walt Disney animated film, which was released in
October 1967. It is more popular with collectors than the
second series from 1979 onwards.
Expert info:
Walt Disney’s animated film does not remain strictly true to
Rudyard Kipling’s original “The Jungle Book” (1894) and “The
Second Jungle Book” (1895). However, his version was so successful
that in a 1972 survey, over two-thirds of the respondents thought
that Walt Disney had written the story and that it had been
his idea in the first place. Walt Disney died during filming in
December 1966.
Catalogue reference:
Extract from catalogue KAD
72 with the four Jungle Book
animals of the first series.
Question:
Hello – I have an “old” Teddy that I hope is a Steiff original.
What I would like to know is, is there any way of finding out how
old he is, what he would have been worth when new and what he
is worth today?
J. L., by email
Answer:
Soft, sitting companion Molly Bear 0330/70 was a novelty
in 1974, and was in production until 1984. The names of
the plush fabric used were “Imitation fur” in 1974, then
“Dralon knitted plush” from 1975 until 1977, and finally
“(Synthetic) woven fur”. Your Molly Bear already has the
large brass button of the time after 1978, but still the old
fabric tag that was used before the introduction of the
printed tag in 1981. This makes it easy to date the bear
precisely, and in fact he is from the years between 1978 and
1980/81. In the 1970s, the large Molly Teddy was one of the
high-quality Steiff items, and cost about the same as a 50
cm high animal on wheels. It is a rare find on the collector’s
market.
Expert info:
The origin of the name “Molly” for these extra soft Steiff animals
probably lies in the German word “mollig”, which means
lovely soft and warm. Interestingly, the name Molly is also an
affectionate diminutive form of the name Margaret(e) – which
happened to be the first name of the company founder, Margarete
Steiff.
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CLU B M A I L
Answer:
Zotty is one of the biggest classics by the Steiff company.
He was made between 1951 and 1978 to the same design and
is a five ways jointed Teddy bear with long mohair fur and
the typical yellow chest. A few minor changes were made
over the years. The earlier versions still had embroidered
claws, but this stopped around 1962. So even without the
trademark, a Zotty can be assigned to quite a small time
frame within the overall production period. In this case,
the original chest tag is still in place, and it also has the
additional wording “Im Steiff Kinderbuch”, or “In the
Steiff Children’s Book”. So this Zotty dates back to the
period between 1966 and 1969/70.
Catalogue reference:
Extract from the main catalogue of 1978, showing your Molly
Teddy 0330/70 surrounded by other members of his super soft plush
family.
Question:
The enclosed photo is of a Steiff Teddy bear that we found in our
parents’ belongings. We would be most grateful if you could tell us
when this Teddy bear was made. Sadly, there is no button in his
ear; it probably got lost. The label says:
“Steiff Originalmarke – “Zotty” – im Steiff Kinderbuch”
(tr: “Steiff original brand – “Zotty” – in the Steiff Children’s Book”).
K.H, Cologne
Expert info:
The “Children’s Book series” of Steiff animals first appeared in
1966, and most collectors are familiar with it and its white
protective cover. However, the very rare first editions had a
coloured protective cover, and the one that came with “Zotti the
Bear” was green.
Catalogue reference:
Extract from catalogue KAD 1967 with the available Steiff
Children’s Books.
...
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FAV
CLUOBUM
RAI TI LE
Expert info:
The increasing lack of raw materials such as iron and steel from
1939 is also evident in the wooden toys made in this time. In the
final production years up to 1943, the frames of a number of pullalong animals were made from wood instead of steel wire in order
to save metal. These later versions are extremely rare and very
hard to find.
Question:
We are huge fans of Steiff, and we acquired this wooden bird at a
small auction house in southern Germany. We would love to know
the exact name of our wonderful find and how old it is.
C.F., Nuremberg
Catalogue reference:
Extract from the miniature catalogue “Bilderheft” of 1925. A
delightful advertising arrangement of two finches (on the right).
Answer:
Wooden painted pull-along animals were made in large
quantities from 1919. Mostly made of beech, these animals
were produced at a time when it was almost impossible to
obtain the popular mohair materials, and when substitutes
such as wood fibre or nettle fabrics had to be used for the
production of plush animals instead. Your bird is a finch,
Fink 1812ex, which was produced on a wire frame between
1920 and 1939. The shape of the finch is identical to the
sparrow and the tit; only the painting differed. The red
wooden wheels on your version are most unusual, but
it does look as if they are original and were not painted
later. It is more usual to find the eccentric wheels painted
in green or yellow. Wooden toys by Steiff are becoming
increasingly popular with collectors. They are quite rare
to find, and pre-1943 items have become highly desirable
collector’s items in recent years.
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M I S CE LLA N E O U S
Dates
New edition of the Steiff magazine for children
Back with newsagents since 2 October
lle
Das offizie
: SFR 15,90
• Schweiz
ch: € 8,70 • GR: € 11,90
€ 10,90
7,95 • Österrei
• P (cont.):
land: €
€ 10,90
Deutsch € 8,95 • E, F, I:
azin!
Steiff-Mag
NEU!
NEU
BeNeLux:
Ni
DELIGSTE
DAS KNUDDER WELT
MAGAZIN
ier
Pap
dickemsteln!
Mit
Ba
zum
Nied
l i c h e Mu
ffi
e
ch
dli
f ins
e Muf
z zz
n
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Steiff Appraisal Day
at the Steiff Museum
Organiser:
TeddyDorado GmbH,
Marienstrasse 2, D-53343 Wachtberg
Tel.: +49 (0) 228 207 6758
Fax: +49 (0) 228 207 6759
www.teddydorado.de
s
Like last year, a new issue of the Steiff magazine for
children was again published for all lovers of Steiff
animals. A little Fynn Teddy bear is also included
with the magazine. The Steiff magazine is a perfect
gift for children between 4 and 9 years of age, and is
available from newsagents, from Steiff shops and at
www.steiff.com.
Clara
Schlaf
schön!
NEU! Mit
Gute-NachtGeschichte!
D e in Dein
a : Extra:
E x tr Teddy
nn Fynn
mit Stern
y Fy
Tedd Stern
mit
Dein Teddy!
Original von
an.de
www.blue-oce
OEAG
facebook.com/B
r
Ab 2. Oktobe
im Handel
Information for collectors
Change to ear tags
If you look closely at the new Club
editions, you will see that there has
been a change to the ear tag. This
change affects all novelties from
2015 from the replica, collectors and
classic series. They will have an ear
tag with the current Steiff logo on
the front and the reference to the
product group. This print replaces
the earlier one with the bear’s head
and flag, and the wording “Knopf im
Ohr”. The back of the ear tag remains
the same. The ear tags for children’s/
baby items and the Margarete Steiff
Edition are unchanged.
Thursday 4 - Sunday 7.12.2014
Giengen Steiff Advent Market
outside the Steiff Museum
Opening times:
Thursday: 15:00 - 20:00 hrs.
Friday & Saturday: 11:00 - 20:00 hrs.
Sunday: 11:00 - 18:00 hrs.
Old:
New:
MADE IN GERMANY
Made in Germany by

Made in Germany by
Replica
Saturday, 21 March 2015
Steiff Auction
in Bonn-Bad Godesberg
Organiser:
TeddyDorado GmbH, see above
MADE IN GERMANY

Made in Germany by
Collectors
MADE IN GERMANY

Classic
Visit to the Steiff Summer 2015
Bear Garden visits Germany
“Are you interested in visiting the Steiff Summer 2015
which will take place from 3rd to 5th July 2015? If so, then
please contact The Bear Garden, who will be running their
annual trip to the event!”
The Bear Garden, 10 Jeffries Passage, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4AP, www.beargarden.co.uk,
bears@beargarden.co.uk, T: +44 (0)1483 302581, www.twitter.com/thebeargarden
Club Events
GERMANY
21.1.2015
Bruno Bär, Esslingen
Tel. +49 (0) 711-353 158
GREAT BRITAIN
27 + 28.2.2015
Teddy Bears of Witney
Tel.: +44 (0) 1993 702616 or 706616
1.3.2015
Bear Garden, Guildford
Tel.: +44 (0) 1483302581
FRANCE
21.11.2014
L’ours du Marais, Paris
Tel.: +33 (0) 1.42776043
Subject to change.
Please contact the Club stores for further
information. You will find further dates and
addresses of Club stores at www.steiff.com
(Club/Club Events)
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FAV O U R I T E
A sense of Christmas
A little boy experiences the holiday to its fullest.
As the night sky turned dark and the moon rose over the
forest trees in the distance, little Peter started getting ready
for bed. He put on his flannel pyjamas then glanced out of
his bedroom window. He couldn’t believe his eyes... it was
starting to snow. Yes, winter had finally arrived. And that
meant that Christmas - the best day of the year - couldn’t
be too far behind!
Mother came into Peter’s room to tuck him in and give
him a kiss goodnight. As she got up from his bedside and
started walking towards his door, Peter asked, “Mother,
when will it be Christmas?” Mother stopped, turned to
look at him, and smiled. She said, “You will know when it is
Christmas. Your senses will tell you so. You will see it, taste
it, smell it, feel it, and hear it. Then it will be Christmas. I
am sure of it.”
The next day, Peter headed off to school. Peter’s school
was a short walk from his home, just down the main
street of his town. As he walked past a pharmacy located
on his travel path, its storefront really caught his eye. The
shopkeeper had decorated the windows with miniature
Christmas trees covered in tiny blinking lights. The effect
was joyful, especially on a cold, cloudy day! Peter couldn’t
stop staring and smiling at the wonderful display.
When Peter finally got home from school that afternoon,
he told his Mother all about this seasonal display. He asked
her, “Does that mean that Christmas is soon?” And she
replied again, “Christmas is here when you can see it, taste
it, smell it, feel it, and hear it.”
A few days later, Peter and Mother travelled to visit with his
Grandmother. There, Grandmother was baking some oldfashioned cookies. After the treats had been pulled from
the oven, and had time to cool, Grandmother shared a plate
of these sweets with her visitors. They were so delicious
Peter ate 5! Grandmother said, “When I was a little girl,
my Grandmother and I would prepare this special recipe
together around Christmastime. My Grandmother told me
that they were Santa Claus’ favourite cookies in the world!”
Peter looked wide-eyed at his Mother and Grandmother.
He said, “Ah-ha! This definitely means that Christmas is
soon!” And Mother just smiled and said, “You have seen
and tasted Christmas for sure. But you still need to smell
it, feel it, and hear it for it to truly arrive!”
The following weekend, Peter’s Father said to him, “Today,
I am going to take you on a very special surprise adventure.”
So Peter met his father by the door, where his Father was
waiting with ropes, a saw, and a sled. And they headed off
into the nearby woods.
After about a half hour’s trek, Peter and his father came
to a clearing. There stood a perfect evergreen tree. Peter’s
Father said, “This might make an ideal Christmas tree for
the family. What do you think?” So Peter put his face right
up to the tree, and inhaled its lovely pine scent. And ran
his fingers through the tree’s green needles and touched its
graceful boughs. And then he said, “Yes, indeed, it is the
most perfect tree in the world”. So Peter and his Father cut
down the tree with the big saw, laid it on the sled, secured
it with the ropes, and brought it back home to Mother.
Once home, Peter announced, “Well, this MUST mean
that Christmas is just about here!” And Mother winked at
him and said, “Well, you have seen Christmas lights, tasted
Christmas cookies, and smelled and touched a perfect
Christmas tree. The only thing left is to hear Christmas.
And maybe that will be soon!”
Right after dinner, Mother, Father, and Peter set up the
tree in their living room and decorated it with lovely
ornaments that the family had collected over the years.
After a while, Peter was so tired after all this excitement
and his tree cutting adventure that he could hardly keep
his eyes open. He fell asleep on the couch to the sounds of
his parent’s joyful caroling. His parents carried him to his
room, and gently placed him in his bed for the night.
The next morning, Peter woke up and rubbed the sleep from
his eyes. He heard something in the distance - a music box
playing the same Christmas song his parents were singing
last night. He ran to the living room to see if he could find
the source of the music. And there it was - right under the
tree that Peter and his Father brought home yesterday! A
new musical Steiff Teddy dressed as Santa! Peter grinned
and looked at his Mother and Father, who were smiling right
back at him. And Peter said, “I have finally heard Christmas.
And so it must be that very special day. This musical bear,
like this very special holiday, will be in my heart forever.
And it was certainly worth the wait!”
26
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22.10.14 10:34
FAV O U R I T E
Christmas Teddy bear
(Item No. 034121)
Waldi dachshund
Item No. 078712
27
A00888_Club_Magazin_04_2014_USA.indd 27
22.10.14 10:34
913761
www.steiff.com
Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz
A00888_Club_Magazin_04_2014_USA.indd 28
22.10.14 10:34
“Cherry”– the 2015 Club Edition
The second nature-inspired Teddy Bear – exclusively for Club members!
Inspired by the spring blossoms on the cherry
tree, “Cherry” epitomizes this Japanese symbol
of beauty and awakening! “Cherry” is made of
russet-tipped mohair with matching felt paw pads.
A green satin ribbon accents the organdy cherry
blossoms and velvet buds adorning the body
and right wrist. This magnificent bear will be a
delightful addition to your collection.
I would like to order “Cherry” the exclusive 2015 Club Edition,
EAN 421341 through my Club store.
I would like to order directly from Steiff.
$230 all states and Canada except:
(MA $244.38; NY $239.20; RI $246.10)
PLUS shipping ($13 to US/$26 to Canada)
_____________________________________________________________________
Date
Member Number
_____________________________________________________________________
Name
_____________________________________________________________________
Address
_____________________________________________________________________
City / State / Zip Code
_____________________________________________________________________
Phone number
email address
_____________________________________________________________________
Club Store
CREDIT CARD PAYMENT INFORMATION: O Visa
O MasterCard
O Discover
_____________________________________________________________________
Card Number
Expiration Date
Security Code
_____________________________________________________________________
Signature
2015 STEIFF CLUB LIMITED EDITION
“CHERRY” TEDDY BEAR
Made of the finest russet tipped mohair
13 inches, adorned with cherry blossoms made of organdy
Production limited to the year 2015
EAN 421341; $230
Warning: This product is not a toy. It is intended for adult collectors only.
m to
r
o
f
s
i
h
t
ve
Please gi
ore. 2015
t
s
b
u
l
C
your
ber 31,
Decem
:
s
r
e
d
r
o
r
fo
Last date hile supplies last!
W
IF YOU ARE ORDERING DIRECTLY FROM STEIFF, PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM WITH PAYMENT TO:
Steiff North America, Inc., 24 Albion Road, Suite 220, Lincoln, RI 02865
Phone: 401-312-0080 • Fax: 401-475-2147 • www.steiffusa.com
“Celebration” Teddy Bear
Commemorate the 135th Anniversary of Margarete Steiff GmbH!
Designed to resemble Margarete Steiff’s favorite
bear, the 2015 Celebration Teddy is made of soft
white mohair, has a growler and wears an exclusive
gold ribbon embroidered with a trademark
elephant and the years 1880 - 2015. In harmony
with these colors, the nose, eyes and claws are
lovingly hand-stitched to complete the timeless
look of this classic Teddy bear. This bear is the
perfect companion to the 1997 Anniversary Bear!
I would like to order “Celebration” –
the exclusive 2015 Club Edition,
EAN 421266 through my Club store.
I would like to order directly from Steiff.
$220 all states and Canada except:
(MA $233.75; NY $228.80; RI $235.40)
PLUS shipping ($13 to US/$26 to Canada)
_____________________________________________________________________
Date
Member Number
_____________________________________________________________________
Name
_____________________________________________________________________
Address
_____________________________________________________________________
City / State / Zip Code
_____________________________________________________________________
Phone number
email address
_____________________________________________________________________
Club Store
CREDIT CARD PAYMENT INFORMATION: O Visa
O MasterCard
O Discover
_____________________________________________________________________
Card Number
Expiration Date
Security Code
_____________________________________________________________________
Signature
2015 STEIFF CLUB LIMITED EDITION
“CELEBRATION” TEDDY BEAR
Made of the finest white mohair
12 ½ inches; wears an embroidered gold ribbon
Production limited to 1880 pieces
EAN 421266; $220
Warning: This product is not a toy. It is intended for adult collectors only.
m to
r
o
f
s
i
h
t
ve
Please gi
ore. 2015
t
s
b
u
l
C
your
ber 31,
Decem
:
s
r
e
d
r
o
r
fo
Last date hile supplies last!
W
IF YOU ARE ORDERING DIRECTLY FROM STEIFF, PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM WITH PAYMENT TO:
Steiff North America, Inc., 24 Albion Road, Suite 220, Lincoln, RI 02865
Phone: 401-312-0080 • Fax: 401-475-2147 • www.steiffusa.com