At Margarete Steiff GmbH

AUGUST 2011
The official magazine for Steiff Club members
Venues
STEIFF SUMMER 2011
Portrait STEIFF IN PARADISE
Rarities THOSE WONDERFUL WOOLIES

Lush and luxurious, Victoria
is made of a Jacquard material.
Her sumptuous burgundy coat
is something totally new and
different from Steiff. The designer
of the bear says it’s for people
who might want to add a historical
touch to a modern flat.

Dear Steiff Friends,
On a recent trip to a book shop (how I love browsing in
book shops!) the following was printed on my carrier bag:
“For true happiness, all that’s missing is a book.” What a
lovely thought, I reflected, given that I regard myself as
something of a book worm who finds it difficult to survive
without books. However, I then pondered whether the
statement was perhaps only half-true since although books
are very important to me, for a “Steiffianer”, a term coined
by a former chairman of the works committee to denote
Steiff employees, a Steiff bear or Steiff animal must be
equally important.
Following the photo shoot for this year’s new autumn
products, I decided that the cover should be “Annie on the
Book”. The photographer guessed what I was thinking and
really hit the bullseye with the photo in question, which
combines the two Bs – the bear and the book. Both engage
the heart and our imagination and trigger emotions. And
who knows, perhaps one day on a Steiff carrier bag you will
discover the words “For true happiness, all that’s missing is
a bear”...
We hope you enjoy this latest edition of our magazine!
BEST WISHES,
INGE ZINNECKER
Steiff Club Manager
— 3 —
CONTENTS
STEIFF INSIDE
New management for product development,
marketing and sales 4
VENUES
Steiff Summer 2011 5
NEWS
Fresh new faces for 2011 10
VENUES
Events around the world 16
RARITIES
Those wonderful woolies 18
PORTRAIT
Steiff in paradise 22
CLUB MAIL
Questions and answers 24
CULTURE
E-mail from the desert 25
FAVOURITE
An honour for the badger 26
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
CONCEPT, DESIGN AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT:
Werbewelt GmbH, www.werbewelt.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 07/2011 e – EAN 912672

STEIFF INSIDE
NEW
MANAGING
DIRECTOR
— At Margarete Steiff GmbH
“It is the LOVE for
the PRODUCT and the attention to DETAIL,
that make the DIFFERENCE.”
IN HER NEW ROLE AS MANAGING DIRECTOR, MS. KATJA THOMA
HAS BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING
AND SALES SINCE 1ST FEBRUARY.
The 43-year-old business school graduate and clothing engineer has many years of experience
in management positions in the premium segment of the branded goods industry.
Katja Thoma grew up in Italy. Despite this, Steiff has played a role in her life since the
early years. The monkey Jocko accompanied her through her childhood; sharing the daily
adventures of a creative child and giving her a feeling of warmth and security.
In her new role, the managing director is attracted to the opportunity of bringing tradition
in line with the modern world – not just in relation to design and brand, but also in
view of the people who stand behind the brand and who have a loyal connection to it.
One of the greatest challenges is to continue to develop established products in line with
the times, whilst maintaining a feeling for and sense of the brand; and, in doing so,
to recapture the heart and passion of the collectors and Steiff friends connected with the brand again and again. In
addition, of course, it is important to evoke a feeling and awareness of the quality and unique charm of the precious Steiff
characters amongst Steiff’s original target audience – the children.
Quality constitutes a lot of the beauty and appreciation of a product. It is not just about the materials used and the way
that they are treated that continues to be given great care when creating a new character – it is also the love for the
product and the attention to detail that make the difference. Just as Margarete Steiff's philosophy was to only give
children the very best; bringing young parents and children closer to a long-lasting appreciation of the beautiful, and
helping to direct the fast-moving consumer society back to a focus on quality rather than quantity also lie close to Katja
Thoma’s heart. Keeping an appreciation of value and a connection to the heart alive that does not just give people a love
of Steiff that spans their childhoods; rather a love that lasts a lifetime.
— 4 —

VENUES
THE EVENT OF
THE YEAR
— Steiff Summer delights fans, collectors,
enthusiasts, and families
Once again, Steiff Summer was the event of the year for Steiff lovers from around
the globe. The three-day celebration featured all manner of special attractions and
experiences with literally something for everyone of every age.
Held from 1 July to 3 July on the Steiff company grounds in Giengen, this occasion
marked the sixth time the event has been celebrated. There were many highlights:
a successful auction, a sales exchange, autograph signings, treasure hunting, music,
and entertainment were all part of the festivities.
Exhibition of rarities — Rare and unusual treasures from the Steiff archives and
private collections were given a seldom-seen public display in the historic 1903 building.
Joachim Steiff signing — Margarete Steiff’s great-grand-nephew was on hand to
sign Steiff finds, both new and vintage, for delighted collectors and enthusiasts.
Book reading — Ms. Gabriele Katz was on hand to read excerpts from her
biography of Margarete Steiff. This event was followed by an exclusive autograph
session.
”DONIKKL-band” — Dubbed by the media as “The Rolling Stones for children”,
the DONIKKL-band thrilled the young and young-at-heart.
— 5 —
This year’s Steiff Summer Teddy bear
won the hearts of many visitors. He was
available for € 129,00.
(EAN 673290, 26 cm)

Captain “Knopf” greeted
the visitors and invited
children and their parents
to join him on his special
cruise ship excursions.
ADDITIONAL SUMMER
HIGHLIGHTS WERE:
– A show programme on all three days on
the Radio 7 stage
– Sales stands and flea market on the grounds
of the Steiff company
– Conversation with Steiff designers
– Special exhibit by Nature Life
– Moving Steiff show pieces
– Petting zoo in front of the Steiff museum
– Rides for the children
– Autograph session and interview
with the 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 and
the Steiff mascot, Paule
VENUES
Happy faces at the Teddy bear
workshops.
— 6 —
A find for everyone.
Dealers from all over
the world attended
and offered their wares
to excited collectors
and enthusiasts.
A highlight of the
event was Gabriele
Katz reading from
her biography of
Margarete Steiff.
Karaoke – Everyone had a chance to prove their talent during a karaoke
session with Marc Hermann from “Radio 7” from nearby Ulm.
Manufacturing demonstration – Attendees were mesmerised as they
watched the skilled hands of Steiff artisans bring a Steiff piece to life in
front of their very eyes. This year’s showpiece was a beautiful lion on wheels
replica.
Steiff Club Exhibit – Those who stopped by the Steiff stand were
treated to an exclusive first look at the new autumn collection.
Hot Air Balloons – Capping off Saturday evening, hot air balloons were
illuminated and glowed brightly against the night-time sky.
Teddy Bear Workshop – 81 participants learned that it is much harder
than it looks to make a Teddy bear. In this hands-on session, each person
stuffed their own bear, sewed its claws and nose and attached the eyes.
Steiff Auction – Conducted by TeddyDorado, this year’s event featured
auctioneer Carsten Esser, who managed to sell every single lot in the
auction. Highlights included Humpty Dumpty (“The Man from Mars”)
at € 5,700, a Dicky bear at € 3,900, and edition #1 of a set of Steiff Summer
bears (large and small) at € 1,500. Esser, managing director of TeddyDorado,
said he named his company after “El Dorado” or “City of Gold,” signifying

TeddyDorado administrated
the annual
Steiff Summer
auction and every
single lot was sold.
Illuminated hot air
balloons provided a
dramatic backdrop to
the night-time sky.
Inge Zinnecker was on
hand at the Club stand
to answer questions and
provide a preview of the
new autumn collection.
VENUES
its status as the premiere place to purchase soft toys. He describes himself
as a long-time collector, who began buying and selling Steiff as a child.
Indeed, he began collecting Steiff ephemera in the 1980’s. “I love what I do
and I do what I love,” he said.
So what could top such a wonderful weekend of fun and surprises?
Planners are already at work on Steiff Summer 2012! So watch the pages
of your Club magazine in the months ahead for more details!
TEDDYDORADO AUCTION “StuffedToys & TeddyBears”
TeddyDorado GmbH invites you to another auction this year
which will take place on 29th October 2011 at the Stadthalle
Bonn-Bad Godesberg.
Contact details: TeddyDorado GmbH, Marienstraße 2, 53343 Wachtberg,
tel.: + 49 (0) 228 2076758, fax: + 49 (0) 228 2076759,
e-mail: info@teddydorado.de, www.teddydorado.de
— 7 —
DONIKKL-band, dubbed by
the media as “The Rolling
Stones for children”, delighted
kids of all ages.
The replica of the 1909 lion on wheels was
manufactured in the show production during
Steiff Summer and available at a price of
€ 159,00. (EAN 673283, 22 cm)

Since it opened on 21 April 2011, the new slide has been
a huge hit with both young and old. The Steiff snake slide
is 15 metres long, 80 cm in diameter and winds its way between
the 2nd and 1st floors of the Steiff museum.
THE MAIN ATTRACTION FOR CHILDREN
For children, this entirely safe animal is, of course, the main
attraction, especially given that sliding down is so much fun.
The first ever slide-through Steiff animal is absolutely
unique. Made from stainless steel, the exterior is clad with
EVENTS AT THE STEIFF MUSEUM
AUGUST: THERE’S SOMETHING GOING ON IN
THE JUNGLE
07/08 Face painting for children: jungle animals
14/08 Craft event: make a snake
21/08 Face painting for children: tropical forest
28/08 Jungle party
SEPTEMBER: BACK TO SCHOOL!
04/09 Face painting for children: multi-mix
11/09 School festival
18/09 Face painting for children: ABC
25/09 Craft event: blackboard
VENUES
NEW
ATTRACTION
— The snake slide in the Steiff museum
OCTOBER: FANTASTIC AUTUMN
02/10 Face painting for children: colourful leaves
09/10 Craft event: headbands with autumn wreath
16/10 Face painting for children: Jack-o’-lanterns
23/10 Craft event: pumpkin pins
30/10 Halloween party
— 8 —
60 square metres of mohair plush fabric. To ensure this cuddly
animal feels at home in the exciting world of Steiff, the area
around the bottom of the slide has been designed to resemble
a bamboo forest. Children slide into a tropical forest where
other animals are waiting for them to cuddle and play with.
Contact: museum@steiff.de or tel.: +49 (0) 1805 131101
(14 ct/min. from a German landline, maximum charge from
a mobile phone: 42 ct/min.)
NOVEMBER: LANTERNS, LANTERNS
06/11 Lantern festival
13/11 Face painting for children: moon & stars
20/11 Craft event: star garland
27/11 Face painting for children: angels
DECEMBER: WINTER WONDERLAND
04/12 St Nicholas party
11/12 Face painting for children:
Winter wonderland
18/12 Craft event: Christmas presents
01 - 4/12 4th Steiff Christmas market in front
of the museum

Picture (Left to right): Albrecht Willer,
Steinbrück architects, Katja Thoma, CEO
of Margarete Steiff GmbH, and Simone
Färber, Head of the Steiff museum, are
pictured at the official opening of the Steiff
snake slide on 21 April.
— 9 —

NEWS
FRESH NEW
FACES
— New friends for autumn from Steiff
Autumn... so many new beginnings and transitions. The
leaves change colour, the days grow cooler, and children start
their new school year. And, of course, Steiff has many new
and exciting products for collectors looking for a new
“Friend for Life”.
Cats make wonderful house pets and this cute feline would
love to call your home hers as well. Minka sacred Birman
cat is the next issue in Steiff’s series of “Masterpiece” collectibles,
singularly handcrafted by the company’s most talented
and experienced craftspeople from the very finest materials.
Minka is white and grey woven fur, 40 cm in size, and in a
— 10 —
lying position. Her realistic face is detailed with large blue
pupil eyes. The airbrushed soles are made out of a very soft
boa fabric that feels typical for cats. They are coloured in
soft pink with a grey shadow around the paws. The nose has
a very special folding technique that was developed exclusively
for this cat. Minka is available in a worldwide edition
size of 2,000 pieces.
Steiff is excited to introduce two replica Teddy bears this
autumn. One is based on the very rare and desirable 1905/1906
design such as the famous Teddy Girl. He is 45 cm in size,
shows a centre seam and examines the world through shiny
shoe-button eyes made of wood.
Steiff’s Autumn Collection features limited editions, replicas,
yellow tag items, and new pieces in the Steiff Selection range.
Here, three new Teddies frolic in the attic, looking for treasure.
(1906 Replica Teddy bear, EAN 403064, limited to 750 pieces
and his two cousins Josef and Jakob, EAN 038556 and 039935,
each limited to 1,500 pieces)

NEWS
Steiff’s Masterpiece Collection has a new addition — Minka sacred Birman cat. (EAN 036644, 40 cm)
— 11 —

1
3
The second replica bear is a scaled down version of a very
large Teddy bear given as a gift to employees of the Margarete
Steiff Company for the 25th Anniversary Jubilee in 1926.
He is 35 cm, reddish blond and features dark brown pupil
eyes. Each of the bears is tenderly stuffed with wood
shavings. The 1926 replica comes with a growler.
Among the limited edition Teddy bears two are based on a
charming and nostalgic bear pattern design from the turn of
last century. These bears are 28 cm, five ways jointed, and
made from lush, thick mohair. Their faces feature black
button eyes and lovely brown vertically hand embroidered
noses and mouths. Teddy bear 1906 is being produced both
in smokey white and café-au-lait colour. Both of these bears
2
NEWS
5
— 12 —
4
are available in a worldwide edition size of 1,500 pieces
per colour (see picture page 10).
Also new to the line are three new yellow tag cubs certain to
capture your heart and your imagination. The first is Pelle
Panda Ted, a 33 cm, five ways jointed bear made from a blend
of brown and cream tipped mohair plush. His brown hand
embroidered nose and mouth, and brown and black pupil eyes,
make him irresistible. The second is Teddy bear Luca, a 35 cm
bear made from blond mohair. He is detailed with black button
eyes and a black nose and mouth – and an adorable expression!
The third is a classically inspired 39 cm ivory mohair bear
based on a pattern from the “roaring” 1920s. Like Steiff’s
original bears from this time frame, Teddy bear 1925 is
6

7
noteworthy for her large eyes, soft features, and childlike,
innocent look.
The rest of the autumn introductions should put you in a very
festive mood. Steiff’s Christmas assortment features a variety
of wonderful pieces, with the highlight being perhaps
the Mistletoe bear adorned with handmade felt mistletoe.
Also, the red and white “Candy Cane” collection is sure to
put a smile on your face. It features both coveted and rare
limited editions plus new articles in the toy assortment.
There’s truly something for everyone in Steiff’s autumn
collection – which pieces capture your attention?
8
NEWS
13
— 13 —
9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
7
13
12
10
Sugar Teddy bear (EAN 027017, 39 cm)
Paddy Teddy bear (EAN 027178, 28 cm)
Ginny Teddy bear (EAN 027499, 33 cm)
Rico Teddy bear (EAN 027482, 33 cm)
Luca Teddy bear (EAN 027475, 35 cm)
Pelle Panda Ted (EAN 027024, 33 cm)
Felt Teddy bear (EAN 036651, 25 cm)
Felt Teddy bear (EAN 035821, 25 cm)
Pug (EAN 035876, 30 cm)
Felt Teddy bear (EAN 035937, 13 cm)
Felt elephant (EAN 035814, 14 cm)
Felt Teddy bear (EAN 035845, 13 cm)
Key ring Teddy bear (EAN 035838, 10 cm)
11

SPECIAL ITEMS
Germany
IRON GUSTAV
In April 1928 Gustav Hartmann,
famously known as “Iron Gustav”, began
a journey by horse-drawn hackney
carriage from Berlin to Paris, where he
arrived in June 1928. The purpose of his
trip was to draw attention to the plight of
the hackney carriage trade. Back in 1996,
Steiff commemorated Iron Gustav with
a bear measuring 35 cm. This year a
smaller version (22 cm) has been introduced
as part of the Berlin “Milljöh” (Milieu)
series. The Steiff Iron Gustav sports
an elegant taxi uniform with a felt top hat
and bow tie, and a horseshoe necklace
featuring the dates 1928/2011. Iron Gustav
holds a riding crop in his right paw.
Produced in a limited edition of 1,000 pieces,
he is available exclusively from KaDeWe in
Berlin under EAN 673269:
tel.: +49 (0) 172 3889461, fax: +49 (0) 30
21212704, e-mail: info@kadewe.com
Germany
NEWS
THE OKTOBERFEST CHILDREN
Do you remember? It is just one year ago that our Oktoberfest Teddy bear met
and fell in love with his “sweetheart”. We knew it wouldn’t be long before we
heard the patter of tiny feet. Join us in welcoming the Oktoberfest children
who pose here for the Club magazine in their beer festival look.
The delightful girl and the good-looking boy are both 15 cm tall. The girl is
manufactured from white mohair plush fabric and wears a chequered bow in
her “hair”. In her right paw she holds three balloons in pink, blue and green
made from jersey material. The boy bear wears a blue-and-white chequered
neckerchief. The cone in his right paw is printed with blue hearts and labelled
“Oktoberfest – Roasted Almonds”. With the addition of these two children, the
Oktoberfest family is now complete! The limited edition set of 1,000 can be
obtained exclusively from OBERPOLLINGER in Munich under EAN 673313.
The contact details are as follows: tel.: +49 (0) 89 29025568, fax: +49 (0) 89
29025768, e-mail: stefan.marder@oberpollinger.de
— 14 —

Great Britain
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
NEWS
“MARMADUKE” AND “PEARL”
are the names of the two Teddy bears made from the finest mohair and
available only in Great Britain. With his sensitive facial expression,
“Marmaduke” looks especially in need of love and affection. He is made from
beige mohair and equipped with a growler. His head is attached loosely to
his body. A bear to cuddle with!
(EAN 663871, 28 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)
As the name suggests “Pearl” is pearl-coloured, wears a pearl necklace and a
glass "Button in Ear". An elegant, somewhat enigmatic bear.
(EAN 664052, 26 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)
— 15 —
USA
“SHAGGY”,
THE ARTIST BEAR
Shaggy is different. A Teddy that is fresh
and modern. A bear with a new face and
novel appeal. He has a whimsical, lovable
expression. Made of white mohair plush,
Shaggy’s nose is hand-stitched with apricot
floss. Additionally, he features delicate
hand-airbrushed accents.
(EAN 681974, 35 cm, Limited Edition of
1,500 pieces)
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

VENUES
SOOTY AND THE GANG
— Take QVC by storm!
Leyla Maniera (far left) and Ian Munro (far right) were thrilled
to meet their childhood heroes.
When our Steiff Sooty made his debut on national television,
who do you think was there to hold his hand every
step of the way? Yes, superstar himself – Sooty and of course
super dog, Sweep! And what an honour it was to meet these
legendary characters. The Steiff QVC Show on May 3rd was
quite exceptional in every way – not to mention fun-filled
with hilarity and laughter. Minutes before going to air almost
the entire staff of QVC descended on the set to get a glimpse
of these two superstars in action. How the camera-men
DANTE:
A number 1 success
At Teddybär Welt (Teddy bear exhibition) in Wiesbaden
held on the weekend of 12 & 13 March, the prize Steiff
Teddy bear Dante, of which only 1,500 were made, was
already sold out. Only one of these bears, namely the very
first one produced with serial number 1, was reserved by
Steiff as a special highlight for the Steiff auction at the world’s
largest Teddy bear exhibition. The auction proceeded hesitantly
at first but a flurry of concerted bidding later on meant
that Dante, who also featured on the poster for Teddybär
Welt 2011, achieved a price of € 400,00. A cheque for this
amount will be presented to the “Bear Heart” foundation,
a charitable organisation for terminally ill children. The
winning bidder was Manfred Feurer, Manager of the
“Teddys Rothenburg” store in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
— 16 —
The original Sooty,
Sweep, and Steiff
Sooty with Richard
Cadell.
managed to be so controlled throughout the explosions of
laughter and cheers is beyond belief. There was however
a worrying moment when Sweep expressed concern and
confusion when he exclaimed he was seeing double, but Sooty
soon reassured him there was no call for concern. Unsurprisingly
our dear little Steiff Sooty sold out very quickly
indeed but not before our lovely presenter Catherine received
a real treat – yes, she was squirted by Sooty’s water pistol!
For Sooty and Sweep to announce such approval and joy
towards our Steiff Sooty was indeed a huge honour, but for
Leyla Maniera and Ian Munro to actually meet their childhood
heroes was quite simply a massive highlight of their
careers! The pair received another honour that day when
Richard Cadell, who now looks after Sooty, told them how
thrilled Matthew Corbett was that Steiff had made a fabulous
interpretation of his magical little bear and how proud Harry
Corbett, his father, would have been.
Steiff Club Event Manager Ralf Fahrig (right) and Teddybär Welt
organiser Walter Neumann (left) congratulate Manfred Feurer,
winner of the Dante with serial number 1!

GERMANY:
09/09: Teddy & Co., 52062 Aachen,
tel.: +49 (0) 241 30790
09/09 (NI): Witthoff, 33330 Gütersloh,
tel.: +49 (0) 5241 92300
11 -12/09: Club trip to Giengen,
Schäffer Geschenke, 49074 Osnabrück,
tel.: +49 (0) 541 331310
14/09: Silvias Bärenstube, 50171 Kerpen,
tel.: +49 (0) 2237 921701
20/09: Karstadt, 35390 Gießen,
tel.: +49 (0) 641 7004168
24/09: Karstadt, 01069 Dresden,
tel.: +49 (0) 351 8612868
24/09 (NI): Galeria Kaufhof, 70173 Stuttgart,
tel.: +49 (0) 711 20360
29/09 (NI): Karstadt, 38100 Braunschweig,
tel.: +49 (0) 531 4731499
30/09: Karstadt, 45472 Mülheim,
tel.: +49 (0) 208 4951468
01/10: Galerie Seebär, 88090 Immenstaad,
tel.: +49 (0) 7545 941460
09/10: Steiff Galerie, 50667 Köln & Düsseldorf,
tel.: +49 (0) 221 25899100
12/10: Geschenke Hansen, 79098 Freiburg,
tel.: +49 (0) 761 31310
13/10: Ludwig Hudler, 85368 Moosburg,
tel.: +49 (0) 8761 325
14/10: Galeria Kaufhof, 34117 Kassel,
tel.: +49 (0) 561 7896374
14 -15/10 (NI): Karstadt, 80335 München,
tel.: +49 (0) 89 55121480
20/10: Schaukelpferdchen, 58095 Hagen,
tel.: +49 (0) 2331 14504
22/10: Karstadt, 90402 Nürnberg,
tel.: +49 (0) 911 2131068
29/10 (NI): Karstadt, Dortmund,
tel.: +49 (0) 231 54390
05/11: Steiff Galerie, 65183 Wiesbaden,
tel.: +49 (0) 611 1666999
06/11: Bären und Puppenstube Engelmann,
40878 Ratingen, tel.: +49 (0) 8322 940170
11/11: Karstadt, 33602 Bielefeld,
tel.: +49 (0) 521 5288238
VENUES
CLUB EVENTS
NEW INTRODUCTIONS 2011
— 17 —
12/11 (NI): Galeria Kaufhof, 46047 Oberhausen,
tel.: +49 (0) 208 82300
15/11: Galeria Kaufhof, 80331 München,
tel.: +49 (0) 89 23185711
20/11: Lütgenau, 44135 Dortmund,
tel.: +49 (0) 231 5490521
AUSTRIA:
07/10: Steiff in Wien, 1010 Wien,
tel.: +43 (0) 15124896
08/10: Elfis Puppenstube, 1230 Wien,
tel.: +43 (0) 1 8656589
SWITZERLAND:
08/11: Steiff Galerie, 8001 Zürich,
tel.: +41 (0) 44 2124642
BENELUX:
03/09: Hesemans, 4811 JC Breda, Netherlands,
tel.: +31 (0) 76 5212310
19/11: Berelijn, 3311 EP Dordrecht, Netherlands,
tel.: +31 (0) 78 6318028
SCANDINAVIA:
22/10: Margaretas Dockskap, Malmö, Sweden,
tel.: +46 (0) 40 916820
UNITED KINGDOM:
24/08: QVC Show
15/09: Ashwood Nurseries, Kingswinford,
West Midlands, contact Claire Passey
tel.: +44 (0)1384 275955
17/09: Steiff Gallery, Bromley, contact Karen
tel: +44 (0) 208 466 8444
15/10: Steiff Gallery, Bromley,
Teddy bear workshop, contact Karen
tel: +44 (0) 208 466 8444
22/10: Jeffries of Bacton, Stowmarket, Suffolk,
tel: +44 (0) 1449 781087
29/10: Harrods, London, contact Lukasz Izdebski
through toy enquiries tel.: +44 (0) 20-7730
1234 ext 3222 or email
Lukasz.Izdebski@harrods.com
Please note these dates are subject to change. For further information please
do contact the Club stores / QVC direct. Further dates and addresses of
Club stores can be found at www.steiff.com (News/Events category).

RARITIES
— 18 —

Nomotta Wool Sparrow,
made in 4 and 8 cm
from 1933-1943.
Nomotta Wool Robin
and Sparrow,
made in 4 and 8 cm
from 1934-1943.
Things can be small in size yet still have a very large
following! Such is the case with Steiff’s tiny “woollen
miniatures” or “woolie” treasures. Steiff introduced these
palm-sized pompom animals in the early 1930s. They were
originally designed for small spaces and small budgets – the
first ones cost 50 Pfennig or about $0.30 each! Woollen
miniatures were originally made from Nomotta wool, a dense
natural fibre with the richness of alpaca. Many Steiff
RARITIES
THOSE
WONDERFUL
WOOLIES
Nomotta Wool Finch,
made in 4 and 8 cm
from 1933-1943.
— 19 —
Nomotta wool orange
and white bird,
made in 4 and 8 cm
from 1931-1934.
Although a zoo’s
worth of different
Woolies were made,
birds were – and
still are – perhaps
the most popular of
all styles.
enthusiasts caught the “collecting bug” from the woollen
miniature line as their “relatively” low price made them more
accessible than their higher priced Teddy and animal
cousins. From the very beginning, collectors arranged their
woolies and other animals and seasonal decorations in
holiday tabletop and fireplace mantle vignettes – especially
around Easter and Christmas.

Nomotta Wool Mouse,
made in 9 cm
from 1936-1942.
Woolies debuted in the 1931 Steiff catalogue in the form of
six simple birds; each item was a different colour and was
produced in 4 and 8 centimetres. They had metal feet and
felt beaks and tails. They wore their buttons and earflags as
tiny “ankle bracelets” around their sturdy legs. Despite their
small size and budget focus, they were made with the same
quality as more expensive items in the line. According to
company records, they were described as “A toy for our
youngest customers; therefore we have not used stick-pin
eyes – the eyes are firmly sewn in.”
RARITIES
Nomotta Wool Ladybug,
made in 7 cm
from 1938-1943.
Nomotta Wool Scotty,
made in 8, 10, 14, and 17 cm
from 1935-1939 and
Dachshund, made in 10 cm
from 1935-1939.
— 20 —
Nomotta Wool Lambs,
made in 7 and 10 cm
from 1935-1941.
Nomotta Wool Elephant,
made in 10 cm
from 1936-1942.
Nomotta Wool Goat,
made in 10 and 17 cm
from 1935-1941.
This bird woolie introduction proved extremely successful,
and almost immediately Steiff started to produce breed
specific birds, rabbits, cats, mice, monkeys, ducks and other
popular species as woollen miniatures. The vast majority
of these tiny treasures were in the 5- to 15-cm size range.
Despite their proportions, most had jointed heads and, where
appropriate, charming details that included tiny metal legs;
felt beaks, wings and ears; colourful slippers; and headwear,
including bonnets, top hats and lacy veils. Early woolies
were featured as tumblers, pincushions, stickpins, ink

wipers, and “congratulators” – little tokens of friendship that
came with a blank tag that could be personalized. Steiff also
experimented with the pompom technology and created a
woolie style Teddy bear in the mid-1930s. He was 23 cm,
white, and had brown and black pupil eyes. Only 955
of these were produced between 1936 and 1938; they
are extremely rare and one recently sold at the October,
2010 Steiff Auction at Christie’s for $ 8,300!
Steiff began producing woolies again in 1949, just after the
factory opened for business post war. They resumed the
manufacture of some of the more popular earlier bird
models — like the robin, green woodpecker, finch, blue tit,
sparrow and rabbit — and introduced some new animals as
well. These new products included owls, hedgehogs and
penguins. Steiff also started manufacturing hanging
mobiles made from woolies in the late 1960s through to the
mid ’70s. These were made from three, four or five woolie
animals suspended from clear monofilament wires;
Steiff produced mobiles featuring seagulls, ravens, bats,
hummingbirds and coral reef fish. These are especially
collectible as they are quite fragile and very few remain
intact today. Around the same time as the mobiles, Steiff
RARITIES
— 21 —
also experimented with woolies by combining them with
mohair features. Two examples of these include a 6-cmwoolie
skunk with a black and white wire reinforced posable
mohair tail and a 5-cm-squirrel with a brown posable tail.
It is interesting to note that a handful of woollen miniatures
are perhaps the only items in the entire Steiff history of
production that did not leave the factory with a “button in
ear” somewhere on their bodies. Woolie ladybugs and
hedgehogs do not, and never had, Steiff buttons. There was
simply no place to attach them. But their look, feel and
manufacturing make them undoubtedly Steiff.
Steiff woollen miniatures appeared in the catalogue through
the early 1980s; after that, demand decreased and it became
too labour intensive and expensive to produce them. Steiff
subsequently stopped producing them for those reasons.
Even though it has been close to 30 years since their
production, Steiff’s woollen miniatures remain extremely
popular with collectors of all ages. And it is easy to see why,
as their appeal and charm more than makes up for their
petite presence. And there are some collectors who even
specialize in woolies!
PLEASE MEET
BEATE NOVAK!
She lives in Germany and she works as an assistant sales
manager. She loves and collects Steiff, and has over
100 antique Steiff items, and 50 early woollen miniatures!
She has specifically collected woolies for the past 14 years.
Originally, she collected only white antique Steiff bears.
But after a while, she felt her displays needed a little decoration
and variety. She saw some beautiful little antique
Steiff woolies at a show and bought a few to display with
the white bears. The woolies really made the displays look
even more charming and colourful. Ever since then, she has
been a big fan of the woolies and really enjoys collecting
them as well. Her favourite woolie is model 1506,4ex, the
1934 duck chain. This adorable collectible consists of a
mother duck and her three yellow ducklings. They waddle
along on eccentric wooden wheels. She purchased this
remarkable example at the 2004 Festival of Steiff in Giengen.

PORTRAIT
STEIFF
IN PARADISE
— An interview with Steiff collector Holly Greenwell
from Hawaii
Top: Three 1930’s era Steiff Dicky bears enjoying a day in the park. Note the lovely rainbow behind them! Left: Small, medium, and
large 1950’s era pandas play in a Hawaiian forest. Middle: Teddy babies from the 1920s onward soak up the sun on a warm Hawaiian
day. Right: 1920’s era cinnamon, white, and blonde Teddy bears from Holly’s vintage Steiff bear collection.
— 22 —

Steiff: Thank you for speaking with us today. Can you
please tell us a little about yourself?
Holly: My name is Holly Greenwell, and I live in the
Hawaiian Islands, in the county of Honolulu on the island of
Oahu. I live in a valley called Manoa, which is about three
miles from downtown Honolulu.
How did you end up in Hawaii?
My family came to Hawaii from England in 1852. My greatgreat
grandfather purchased islands from the King of Hawaii
in the era before the islands became a part of the United
States. He settled with his family in Kona, on the island of
Hawaii, and started a coffee farm and sheep ranch that
expanded into a large cattle business by the 1960s. My
family has been living and farming in Hawaii ever since.
My father moved to Oahu to work as a physician in Honolulu,
so I was raised both on the ranch and in the city.
It is clear that Steiff has been a lifetime love and passion
of yours.
Yes, I have always loved Teddy bears, and from a very early
age I had a collection of special bears that were given to me
as gifts. My sisters and I loved playing with our bears and
would often spend our evenings creating stories for them to
act out. I think my Steiff collection started in part because of
these great family memories. As an adult collector I was
attracted to Steiff bears right away because of their high
quality and beautiful design. My first Steiff bear was a large
20” gold “US Zone” bear named Josef, who was bought from
an antiques dealer in California many years ago. Josef
inspired me to want more Steiff bears, and ever since that
purchase I have been an avid collector.
Your tropical state is quite remote, how do you grow your
Steiff collection and connect with other collectors?
Collecting Steiff in Hawaii is mainly a computer hobby. The
antiques market in Honolulu emphasizes Hawaiian and Asian
antiquities, so I very rarely find Teddy bears here. However
in the past few years the number of auctions offering on line
bidding has increased significantly, so I have much better
access to Steiff bears now than I did five years ago. My only
“in person” Steiff find in Hawaii was at a huge antique toy
fair held in downtown Honolulu several years ago. Out of
about 200 stalls there were only two that had Steiff toys,
and these were mostly vintage 1950s bears and animals.
I purchased a 1950s Teddy bear and a lovely vintage Steiff
Zebra that day.
How do you store and display your Steiff collection in your
island climate?
The climate in Honolulu is very mild, with temperatures
ranging between 65F to 85F (about 18C to 30C) all year, so
it is fairly easy to keep an even temperature environment for
the bears. I keep a dehumidifier and air conditioner in my
display room, and use them when the weather occasionally
PORTRAIT
— 23 —
becomes rainy or very hot. The sunshine in Hawaii is very
strong, so I keep the windows in the “Teddy room” completely
shaded so that the bears never get direct sunlight, which
I think is the greatest concern for Teddy bears in the tropics.
Tell us about the focus of your marvellous collection and
what you look for in any vintage bear you are considering
adding to your hug.
I started my Steiff collection with bears from the 1940’s and
1950s. I soon fell in love with the Steiff Panda and the Teddy
Baby, so for a few years I focused mainly on collecting these
designs. Several years later I bought an early blank
button cinnamon coloured bear and got hooked on the
soulful look of those old shoe button eyes, so I started
collecting early Steiff bears as well. In the end, the facial
expression is always the main criterion for me when
choosing a bear. I buy bears whose faces speak to my heart
instantly, because I know they will lift my spirit every time
I see them on the shelf. I think the power to lift the human
spirit is the most valuable quality you can find in a bear.
Aloha, and thank you so much for sharing your story and
beautiful location with us.
Sweet vintage white Steiff
bear friends enjoy the cool
shade and warm breezes.
Holly Greenwell and a turn
of last century Steiff cub
in typical Hawaiian flower
garlands or leis.

A SERVICE JUST FOR
STEIFF CLUB MEMBERS
—Do you have a question about something in your collection? Learn more here!
Do you have a new or vintage Steiff treasure that you would like to learn
more about? The Steiff Club is here to help! Just send along a brief
description of the item, its article number (from the back of the ear tag),
a clear, high-resolution photo, your name and your home town to the
following address: Margarete Steiff GmbH, Attention: “Club-Post”,
PO Box 1560, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany, or e-mail to
carolyn@steiffusa.com, or info@steiff.de
QUESTION: I am in possession of a Steiff
porcupine. I have searched and searched and
cannot find one listed. The tag around the neck
says: Joggi; The tag in the ear says: Steiff
2312,00 Made in Germany. L.H.; email
CLUB MAIL
QUESTION: The small bear
shown first is 25 cm tall. The pads
and ribbon are new because the
stuffing was starting to come out.
They were fixed by a person whose
name was given to me by Steiff.
This bear does not have its ear
button but the sewing on the nose
and paws is original. The big bear is 40 cm and also has repaired paws and
new ribbon on its neck. It does have an ear button and all its sewing is also
original. Any info that you could tell me about these bears would be great
as well as the safest way to keep them from getting dirty. Right now they
are in a cabinet. G.S.; email
ANSWER: It is always a pleasure to see nice early examples of our Teddy
bears. Both your bears are of the same vintage – 1906 to 1920. The
smaller one is a white teddy because of the tan floss on the nose and paw
pads. We only used tan floss on white bears. The other was referred to in
the early catalogues as light brown. This was the most common colour for
early teddies. The white is rarer, only used about 20% of the time on bears
made in that period. The bears are made of mohair or wool. You would treat
them like any good wool sweater or coat. Keeping them in a cabinet is
a good idea. Adding some cedar chips or other moth preventive would
also be good. Enjoy them as they are great examples of early Steiff
workmanship.
ANSWER: It is a common mistake to identify
Joggi as a porcupine. He is in fact a hedgehog.
These are quite common in Germany and not
often seen in the U.S. unless you are in a pet store. He has been produced in
many patterns by Steiff but yours was vintage 1961 through to 1966. In
Germany if you have one inhabiting your garden it is thought to be good
luck. Let’s hope Joggi brings good luck to your door.
— 24 —
QUESTION: I have an old (1920s?) Steiff
ride-on horse on wheels. Would you be able to
tell me anything about it – anything from
actual age to possible value? Would you look
at some photos? A; email
ANSWER: We are always glad to look
at photos of our previous creations. This
wonderful original Steiff horse on wheels
was made from 1911 to 1917. Not only is it a
wheeled horse but comes with a steering
mechanism so the rider could turn the front
wheels to go right or left. The rocker was an
accessory item so that the horse could be
mounted and turned from a push or pull toy
to a stationary rocker. You didn’t mention the
size but these were manufactured in four sizes
from 28 inches to 40 inches in height. These
large pieces are quite rare today. Because of
the initial expensive purchase price fewer were
made than less expensive items and combined
with the amount of hard play they received
many were discarded because of damage.
We do not discuss present values. This is
determined by supply and demand in the
collector’s market. I can tell you that this item
sold for 85 to 90 marks or the equivalent of
$22.00 in 1911. At the time that was a
substantial amount. The rocker would have
been additional.

Dear Reader:
There is so much you may have heard about me that is
incorrect, I barely know where to begin! I am a Bactrian
camel, which means I have two humps. That’s unlike my
cousin the dromedary, which has only one hump. My humps
aren’t filled with water – that’s a myth. But I can go a long
time without drinking. My humps are just where I store fat
and some water. And because I store fat only in my humps,
I can endure heat and long trips across the desert. When
I eventually do get thirsty, I can drink up to 135 litres of water
in only 13 minutes! Another misconception: I don’t spit when
CULTURE
E-MAIL FROM THE DESERT
—Correspondence from Steiff's Bactrian Camel
— 25 —
Steiff's Bactrian camel is made from a combination of
cuddly soft plush and valuable woven fur.
(EAN 104169, 32 cm)
I get angry! Bactrian camels like me live in Central and East
Asia’s rocky deserts where it gets very cold in winter and hot
in the spring. I develop a thick coat in winter that I shed in
spring. My Steiff counterpart is covered in cuddly soft plush
and luxurious woven fur. He bears a terrific resemblance to
the real thing, don’t you think? I’m proud to have him made
in my honour.
Sincerely yours,
The Bactrian Camel

“What are you doing up so early?” the beautiful butterfly asked the badger. “It’s much too early for anyone but insects.”
“For your information,” the badger answered quite proudly, “I am going to the village to receive a medal.”
“A medal? For what?” the butterfly wondered incredulously.
“Well, in fact, quite a few of my ancestors are famous,” said the badger. “The mayor is honouring my family. We’ve been
stars of books and films, and now we’re being represented by a Steiff animal!”
The butterfly couldn’t help but be a little impressed, though he dared not show it. “Famous? Really?” he said.
“Yes, indeed, replied the badger. Beatrix Potter featured a badger in The Tale of Mr. Tod. There’s also a well-known badger
in the famous Rupert comic series. And don’t forget the badgers in Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis, Fantastic Mr. Fox
by Roald Dahl, and The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame. Plus, J.K. Rowling made the badger the official mascot
of the Hogwarts house of Hufflepuff in the Harry Potter series, even featuring our likeness on the house’s coat of
arms. And now we’re being honoured by Steiff!”
“My, my, and I thought my wings were something to be proud of,” said the butterfly, somewhat sheepishly.
“Well, we all have something to be proud of,” said the badger confidently. “Your wings are quite lovely. I’d be proud of
them, too.”
“Why, thank you,” said the butterfly, beaming.
FAVOURITE
AN HONOUR
FOR THE
BADGER
— Eavesdropping on an early morning conversation
“I have an idea,” said the badger. “Why don’t you come to the village with me to receive my medal. It’s always more fun
when a friend comes along.”
“Oh, could I?” wondered the butterfly. “Would you mind terribly much? I don’t get into the village that often and it does
sound like a very important occasion. I would be honoured to be your guest.”
“Then it’s settled,” said the beaver. “It’s off to the village we go. Now, let’s have a lovely day, shall we?”
— 26 —

FAVOURITE
Steiff is pleased to honour badgers everywhere with DIGGY DACHS, made of soft, luxurious woven fur with hand-airbrushed accents. (EAN 070938, 32 cm)
— 27 —

www.steiff.com
Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz 912672