news steiff edition of otto’s comic fi gure passions the...

The magazine for Steiff Club members – Spring 2014

NEWS Steiff edition of Otto’s comic fi gurePASSIONS The enduring appeal of DisneyVENUES Steiff Sommer 2014

A00750_Club_Magazin2014_2_USA.indd 1 24.04.14 16:22

WHAT IS YOUR “MOMENT OF HAPPINESS“?Share your moment of happiness with Steiff. Post a picture, video or nice text on www.momentsofhappiness.de until end of 2014 and win one of our weekly changing attractive prizes.

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Your chance to winan exclusive family cruise aboard

the EUROPA 2 (2 adults plus 2 children, transfer included)

and great Steiff prizes every week!

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Steiff Teddy bears and animals inspire the imagination! This applies equally to children and adults. whereas younger fans express their imagination at play, adults delight, for instance, in creating seasonal decorations with Steiff animals. Some afi cionados even combine a passion for collecting with a talent for penmanship, and write whole books with Steiff animals as all the characters. we met an author in the USA who told us how her enthusiasm for Steiff animals gave rise to the desire to write a book for children. Find out more on pages 14 and 15.

However, not only do Steiff animals inspire the imagination, but they are always perfect for amazing stories. “Black Jack”, as the name implies a black Steiff Teddy bear of the early 20th century, is one of those bears whose story will appeal to any collector. Looking forward to hearing it? Then head for page 18.

This issue also features the fabulous collections of two Club members, and there are marvellous opportunities to make new Steiff friends such as German comedian Otto Waalkes and his “Ottifants” at this year’s Steiff Sommer from 27 to 29 June or acquire one or the other plush companion at the special auction. You are very cordially invited!

But for now, it remains for me to wish you happy reading and – hopefully – happy inspiration.

wITH BeST wISHeS,

InGE ZInnECKER

Steiff Club Manager

N E W S Special items 4

N E W S 110 years “Button in ear” 7

C O M P E T I T I O N win a trip to Steiff 8

R A R I T I E S Less than cuddly ... 10

PA S S I O N S The enduring appeal of Disney 12

D I S C O V E R I E S Sassafrass Jones 14

C O N T E N T S

PA S S I O N S His own magic kingdom 16

S TO R I E S The suprising story of Black Jack 18

V E N U E S The Steiff Sommer 2014 21

C L U B M A I L Readers’ Service 24

F AV O U R I T E waldi Dachshund 26

EDITORIAL

Dear Steiff friends,

I M P R I N TPUBLISHER: Margarete Steiff GmbHRichard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz, Germanytel.: + 49 (0) 7322 131555EDITORS: Rick Emerson, Inge ZinneckerCOnTRIBUTOR: Rebekah KaufmanDESIGn AnD PRInT:Hess GmbH - Medien, www.hess-medien.deFREQUEnCY OF PUBLICATIOn: four times a yearwww.steiff.comSubject to changes. Reprinting and copying, even inpart, only with the express permission of the publisher.By submitting manuscripts you consent to theirpublication in the Club magazine. We must reservethe right to edit or abridge letters or articles. Printed colours may deviate from the original.All rights reserved.Printed in Germany 04/2014 e – Item no. 913525

Your chance to winan exclusive family cruise aboard

the EUROPA 2 (2 adults plus 2 children, transfer included)

and great Steiff prizes every week!

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GIFT CERTIFICATE—for membership of the Steiff Club

for

The membership includes a valuable welcoming gift,the quarterly Club magazine,the opportunity to purchase exclusive Club productsand much more besides.

Wishing you lots of fun in the Steiff Club

9094

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G I F T M E M B E R S H I P

If you would like to give someone the gift of membership of the Steiff Club and there isn’t enough time between submission of the application and the mailing of the Club documents by the Club offi ce, you can also download a printable gift receipt atwww.steiffusa.com/about-steiff-club-usa/

Number of time-limited items 2012421242 Event Teddy bear Flo 2,450 pieces421235 Club Edition Louis 2,850 pieces673368 Museum bear 980 pieces

and 2013421280 Event Teddy bear Flo 1,950 pieces421259 Club Edition Louise 2,150 pieces673641 Museum bear 2013 700 pieces

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GermanyI S A R 1 2 T E D D Y B E A R

Retro is in. What’s popular in fashion, furniture or interior design can, of course, also be interpreted in Teddy bears. For instance, someone had the idea (in Munich, of course) of creating something as a tribute to “Funkstreife Isar 12”, or “Patrol Car Isar 12”, a very popular German TV series in the early 1960’s. The main characters were police offi cers Huber and Dambrowski, and the cases they had to deal with were decidedly “soft” - especially when considered in the light of today’s equivalents. The patrol car in question was a BMw 501, also known as the “Baroque Angel” for its rounded lines.Embark on a trip down memory lane with the 30 cm Steiff Teddy bear Isar 12 with true-to-the-original accessories and a charmingly reproduced BMw 501 police car made by Schuco.

Special items

Good to knowLO Y A LT Y TE D D Y B E A R This Teddy bear is available exclusively to members who have been with the Steiff Club for at least 5 years.The bear is available until 31.12.2015. Members can download a PDF with the order form at www.steiffusa.com/steiff-club-magazines/Order forms are in the autumn 2013 magazine.

It‘s worth being assigned to a Club storeWould you like to take part in Club events and have local support? Then be assigned to a Club store!The arrangement is non-binding and can be amended at any time. All you have to do is email the Club offi ce at info@steiff -club.de and let us know which Club store will be your contact.

The charming set is available for € 199exclusivelyfrom Oberpollinger,Neuhauser Strasse 18, in 80331 Munich: tel. +49 (0) 89 2902 5968, fax: +49 (0) 89 2902 5768, email:[email protected](Item No. 673825, Limited Edition of 750 pieces)

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USAB U T C H , T H E C O V E R D O G

In the 1940’s, The Saturday Evening Post introduced a character that would capture the hearts of the nation – a black and white cocker spaniel named “Butch”. Created by artist Albert Staehle, Butch appeared on the magazine’s cover more than two dozen times. So it was only natural that Steiff would produce a toy version of the character. First manufactured in 1958 only, Butch makes his return in 2014. He’s made from the fi nest mohair plush using archival patterns. Like the original, Butch features brown “googly” eyes and a hand painted coat. whether you remember his fi rst appearance or are a brand new fan, Butch is sure to bring you years of happiness.(Item No. 682759, 20 cm, Limited Edition of 1,500 pieces)

UK/USAC O W A R D L Y L I O N T E D D Y

Our journey down the yellow brick road continues in 2014 as we present the lovable Cowardly Lion from “The Wizard of Oz”. Following in the glittering footsteps of Dorothy, Toto, and the wicked witch of the west, this is a special edition for both Oz fans and Steiff collectors alike. Our “King of the Jungle” is sewn from fi nest blond mohair and has hand-stitched features. He’s fi ve-way jointed, has a fl oppy felt tail, and wears a red silk ribbon in his mane. Of course, the Cowardly Lion wouldn’t be complete without his medal of courage – a replica of the one used in the fi lm. Come along with the Cowardly Lion as we go off to see the wizard once again!(Item No. 682674, 28 cm, Limited Edition of 1,939 pieces)

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: [email protected]

HOW TO REACH THE STEIFF CLUB IN NORTH AMERICA: Steiff north America, Carolyn Smith, Club Administrator tel.: +1 401 312-0080, e-mail: [email protected]

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Steiff edition of Otto’s comic figure First 100 copies available in advance at Steiff Sommer.

The “Ottifants” may be pretty old now, but they’re undeniably young at heart. And that’s why they can now get piercings: Otto Waalkes’ famous cuddly toy is getting a button in its ear - and it’s a Steiff one, too! Essential for anyone, young or as old as the pachyderm itself, who has ever been made to smile by the amusing cartoon elephant.

Otto is delighted. “The Ottifants have had to wait almost four decades to get a ‘button in their ears’. And now the time has come - and it looks great! I think I’ll get one myself,” said Otto. He won’t even let go of his new Steiff mascot. In fact, the two are also almost impossible to tell apart. When he tried to draw a self portrait, Otto scribbled something that somehow had his facial features, but at the same time also looked something like an elephant.

Otto, who hails from East Friesia, worked closely with Steiff on the development - after all, we’re dealing with his likeness here - and the new Ottifants by Steiff should

be at least as much fun as the originals that have accompanied Otto for decades on album and CD covers, on his stage performances, in their own TV series - and even a movie.

This lovingly made edition stands about 24 cm tall, and is a genuine Otto original. The premiere collection of 1,400 pieces is to be completed this year. The recommended retail price is € 39.90 (plus national/international shipping costs).

The first 100 Ottifants will be available exclusively at the Steiff Sommer from 27 to 29 June in Giengen a. d. Brenz. If you’re lucky at the tombola there, you could take your Steiff Ottifant straight home with you - complete with a birth certificate hand-signed by Otto. Furthermore, the Ottifant daddy will be there in person on Saturday, 28 June to meet fans of all ages and sign autographs.

For delivery dates from September, collectors will be able to reserve their Ottifant at the Steiff Sommer (on the Ottifant stand) or order it in advance at www.ottifantenwelt.de.

Inseparable: Comedian

Otto Waalkes never wants to let go of his

Steiff Ottifant.

(Note: Button and ear tag are oversized

in the picture.)

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Word has got round that the Steiff trademark “Button in the ear” is turning 110 years of age, and that is why all limited items (except replicas) will have an elephant button in the ear in 2014.

Now all Steiff fans can look forward to an additional offer that Steiff is carrying out in co-operation with retailers from May until December. The offer will give purchasers of a Limited Edition of the Spring/Summer novelties a fabulous gift.

110 years of “Button in the ear”Special benefi ts for collectors.

The following items are available: a key holdera tie pina lapel pin(value of each approx. € 14.90)

Please note: Participation in the campaign by retailers and department store toy departments is optional, and the off er is therefore without guarantee. The off er does not apply to online or direct orders.

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111111 S TS TS T P R I Z E : P R I Z E : P R I Z E : V I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N YV I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N YV I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N YV I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N YV I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N YV I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N YV I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N YV I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N YV I S I T T O S T E I F F G E R M A N Y

For 2 persons: Exclusive tour of the For 2 persons: Exclusive tour of the For 2 persons: Exclusive tour of the For 2 persons: Exclusive tour of the For 2 persons: Exclusive tour of the For 2 persons: Exclusive tour of the birthplace of Margarete Steiff, the Steiff birthplace of Margarete Steiff, the Steiff birthplace of Margarete Steiff, the Steiff Museum, fl ights and accommodations.Museum, fl ights and accommodations.Museum, fl ights and accommodations.Museum, fl ights and accommodations.Museum, fl ights and accommodations.Museum, fl ights and accommodations.

3 R D P R I Z E : B R I T I S H C O L L E C T O R S ’ T E D D Y B E A R 2 0 1 4Limited to 2,000 pieces. RRP £165

2 N D P R I Z E : J U B I L E E T E D D Y B E A R

Limited to 1,000 pieces. RRP £325

Exclusive Prizes are waiting for you

* Conditions of participation: Any correctly fi lled out competition postcard participates in the draw. Competition is open to private individuals only. Prizes cannot be exchanged for cash. Persons younger than 18 may only participate with the consent of their parent or legal guardian. Employees of Margarete Steiff GmbH and Steiff Retail GmbH are not permitted to take part. The organiser’s decision is fi nal. By taking part in this competition, participants agree to their personal data being processed and used within the constraints of German data protection legislation. This data will be used by Margarete Steiff GmbH and Steiff Retail GmbH for marketing purposes and for communicating product information via post or e-mail. Participants provide their personal data on a voluntary basis. This data will not be made available to third parties. Participants are entitled to withdraw their consent from Margarete Steiff GmbH or Steiff Retail GmbH at any time. The closing date for entries is 30 June 2014.

COMPET IT IOn

Win a trip to Steiff*

And celebrate the 25th anniversary of the British Collectors’ Teddy bear.

For twenty fi ve years the British Collectors’ Teddy bear has quite rightly ruled as the most coveted “Jewel in the crown” of the collectors’ world. And for these twenty fi ve years an exquisite array of stunning bears has reigned supreme.Our beautiful UK Jubilee Teddy bear was inspired by our very fi rst

“jewel”. He is made of fi nest mohair and pays tribute to the British Collectors’ Teddy bear from 1989.

Slighter in stature, but every inch proud and excited, as are we, to share with you this wonderful anniversary.

The British Collectors’ Teddy bear is the longest running series of limited edition

Teddy bears offered by Steiff. It is the fi rst series to reach this unique

anniversary and all of us at Steiff consider it worthy of a very special double celebration: a fabulous Jubilee Teddy bear and a competition of a lifetime – 1st Prize – a trip to Steiff, Germany!

The winner of the 1st Prize will be gifted an unforgettable journey for two persons with

transport to and from Steiff via economy fl ight from London Heathrow on British Airways and one night accommodation in Giengen with evening meal. The lucky prizewinner will experience an exclusive tour of the birthplace of Margarete Steiff and also the Steiff Museum. In addition, there will be many surprises along the way!

We will also have a wonderful 2nd Prize – the UK Jubilee Teddy bear, which is limited to 1,000 pieces. RRP £325.

3rd Prize - is the British Collectors’ Teddy bear 2014. RRP £165.

To enter you simply need to visit a participating UK Club Store between May and June 2014 and complete a competition form.

we look forward to seeing you soon at our Club stores and we wish you all

Good Luck!

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British Collectors’ Teddy bear from

1989


2nd Prize: Jubilee Teddy bear

2014

Prize: Jubilee Teddy bear

3rd Prize: British Collectors’ Teddy bear 2014

1st Prize:

Visit to Steiff Germany1 Prize:

Visit to Steiff Germany



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COMPET IT IOn


Given the Steiff magic touch, today these half-century old oddities

are often the crown jewels ...

R ARIT IES

Less than cuddly but still adorableA look at some memorable Steiff creatures from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

Not every toy Steiff has made has been as adorable and heartwarming as the company’s traditional Teddy bears and animals. In the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, Steiff launched a whole series of innovative but unconventional designs that can best be described as “creepy crawlers”. Most were from the fi eld and forest product categories, and many were produced from unexpected materials. These items - in real life - would be the last animals most people would want to keep and cuddle as “friends for life”. But given the Steiff magic touch, today these half-century old oddities are often the crown jewels in the collections of vintage Steiff enthusiasts around the world.

Steiff’s fi rst creepy crawler to hit the marketplace was Lizzy eidechse, or Lizzy Lizard, who, despite her name

and breed, was a beautiful work of fi ne art. Lizzy was made from yellow velvet that was carefully and intricately airbrushed with green, back, brown, and white details by hand. She had little black eyes and double thick felt hands and feet. Her fi ngers and toes were also detailed with a vibrant green blush.

She was stuffed with excelsior, which is a remarkable feat given her size, shape, and delicate skin material. Lizzy was produced in 4 and 6 cm from 1959 through 1961.Right after Lizzy’s successful launch, Steiff introduced its now beloved Eric Fledermaus, or Eric the Bat. Despite his

diminutive size - he was produced in 10 and 17 cm - Eric’s body

composition was amongst the most varied and

intricate of any Steiff creation,

even to this day.

His tiny, mouse-like body was constructed from gray-brown mohair. His thin wings were made from plastic-like sheeting. His ears were made from felt. Small eric had arms and legs made from gray pipe cleaners, while the larger size had thin mohair arms and legs. needless to say, he was very labour intensive to manufacturer, which may explain why he only appeared in the catalogue from 1960 through 1962. That, in conjunction with his relative fragility, is one of the reasons that an eric in good condition is considered such

a treasure for most vintage Steiff collectors. Due to his popularity, Steiff produced a replica set of a large and small Eric in 1990 and 1991 in an edition size of 4,000

pieces. Steiff debuted another unusually confi gured creepy crawler duo around the same time as Eric - a small and large sized spider pair. They were called Spidy Spinne or Spidy Spider and made in 12 and 22 cm. Both had black glass eyes and were manufactured from light beige mohair, which was gloriously hand airbrushed in brown, red, and green. Small Spidy had legs and feelers made from gray pipe cleaners, while the larger size had thin mohair legs and feelers. Both large and small Spidy spiders were produced in 1960 and 1961 only, making them quite collectible. And, like with eric, Steiff made a replica set of a large and small Spidy in 1991 and 1992, also in an edition size of 4,000 pieces.

size, shape, and delicate skin material. Lizzy was produced in 4 and 6 cm from 1959 through 1961.Right after Lizzy’s successful launch, Steiff introduced its now beloved Eric Fledermaus, or Eric the Bat. Despite his

diminutive size - he was produced in 10 and 17 cm - Eric’s body

composition was amongst the most varied and

intricate of any Steiff creation,

even to this day.

feelers. Both large and small Spidy spiders were produced in 1960 and 1961 only, making them quite collectible. And, like with eric, Steiff made a replica set of a large and small Spidy in 1991 and 1992, also in an edition size of 4,000

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Lizzy Lizard in cotton velvet was

produced from 1959 through 1961.

Eric the bat appeared in the Steiff catalogue

from 1960 through 1962.

Spidy spider was manufactured for

only two years.


Steiff didn’t slow down a bit to introduce its next creepy crawler to the world. In 1961, nelly Schnecke, or nelly Snail, debuted in the Steiff catalogue. Like eric, Nelly was made from a variety of materials not usually seen on Steiff animals. nelly had a velvet body in either brown or green. Her underside was made from a synthetic material. She had tall, plastic antennae (which had a tendency to snap off during normal play), black bead eyes, and a large, swirled plastic shell to match her body colour. She was only produced for a limited time, from 1961 through 1963. Like an Eric or Spidy, a nelly in good condition is a fantastic fi nd for

Steiff enthusiasts interested in these half-century old unusual rarities. However, nelly was never replicated for a collector’s edition.

The next two early 1960-era Steiff creepy crawlers truly go hand in hand, or in this case, paw in paw. In 1962, Steiff introduced the world to wiggy the ermine and waggy the weasel. Both were 12 cm, unjointed, made from dralon, and standing on all fours. They had pipe cleaner style tails, and their faces were detailed with felt ears, black button eyes, pink hand embroidered noses and mouths, and clear monofi lament whiskers. They were all but identical except for their colouring: Waggy was brown all over except for his chest area, while Wiggy was white all over except for her black tail. Both were produced in this size only and for one year in 1962. Today, it is extremely rare to see a Wiggy or Waggy in very good or better condition on the secondary market; their dralon material tends to get dirty and ratty looking, and often times their pipe cleaner tails simply snap off with age and wear.

Unlike the other creepy crawlers discussed today, this last one might just make you a little hungry! Please feast your eyes on Steiff’s Crabby Hummer or Crabby Lobster. Crabby was produced overall from 1963 through 1965 in three sizes: 10, 17, and 28 cm. All three had black bead eyes, long thin string antennae, and were gloriously airbrushed with all the lines and shell marks you would expect to fi nd on a lobster. The small and medium versions had thin pipe cleaner legs and were made from felt, while the large version, which was practically life sized, was made entirely from mohair and had thick pipe cleaner legs.

Above left:A Nelly snail in mint condition is today considered a rarity.

Above:Like many treasured Steiff creations, Crabby lobster was intricately airbrushed.

Wigg y the Ermine and Wagg y the Weasel were virtually identical except for their colouring.

Steiff enthusiasts interested in these half-century old unusual rarities. However, nelly was never replicated for a collector’s edition.

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R ARIT IES


PASSIOnS

The enduring appeal of DisneyA lifelong collector with a special love for Steiff’s Walt Disney editions.

Helmut Brossmann has treasured Steiff items since childhood and now as an adult has a collection of about 1,500 pieces. His first Steiff animal, a cuddly bedtime poodle named “Ninni”, still resides besides his bed. This dear friend is now quite worn but is truly the catalyst for Mr. Brossmann’s lifelong love of the brand. Today Mr. Brossmann has a special passion for Steiff items created as exclusives for Walt Disney. He feels that Steiff interprets and manufactures these items so accurately - really capturing the look and essence of all the distinct and different Disney characters. As a child, like so many others, he was enthralled by Mickey Mouse comic books. These would transport him to a fascinating world that helped him to forget his troubles of the day. His favourite characters were Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Uncle Scrooge. Today, he still enjoys reading through these comics as a way to relax and touch back to simpler times. His favourite Disney film, both as a youngster and today, is The Jungle Book. It is no surprise to learn that Baloo is his favourite character from the movie. Mr. Brossmann is fascinated by his aplomb and equanimity, and feels that Baloo most closely approximates his character – something that he’s actually quite proud of.

Mr. Brossmann’s first Disney item from Steiff was the Geppetto & Pinocchio set, which was produced in 1996 exclusively for the 9th annual walt Disney world Teddy Bear and Doll Convention. Before this purchase, he did not know of the wonderful Disney themed limited editions produced for this annual event in the United States. Because of Geppetto & Pinocchio, and how strongly he felt about the pieces, he began to take a closer look at this area of collecting. He soon discovered that these beautiful editions were also available in the special sizes of 60 cm and 80 cm, but were each limited worldwide to only 25 and 5 pieces, respectively. He then started to concentrate on these larger and more exclusive rarities, and began looking for them all over the world. To date, he has a full Steiff Disney collection in the smaller standard and in 60 cm sizes, and is only missing a few figures from the 80 cm range.

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Above: The collection of

Mr. Helmut Brossmann includes more than

1,500 items.

Above right: Mr. Brossmann with

a one-of-a-kind diorama from The

Jungle Book, his favourite Disney film.


Mr. Brossmann has even been able to share his love of Steiff with The Pope!

PASSIOnS

when asked which character is most noticeably absent from the Steiff and Disney partnership, Mr. Brossmann gives a hearty endorsement to Uncle Scrooge. He feels this “thrifty” character, who fits into our times like no other, should absolutely be made as a special Steiff edition for Disney.

Unfortunately, walt Disney stopped hosting their annual Teddy Bear and Doll Convention in 2008. As a result, Mr. Brossmann is quite understandably disappointed that Steiff is no longer creating new Walt Disney exclusives specifically for this series. He states, “In my opinion, there was such great interest in these editions because they were an interface between two different areas of collecting: the Steiff collectors on the one hand, and the Disney fans on the other. Because of their limited time and scope of production, I believe all existing Steiff Disney characters will appreciate in terms of value and recognition.”

Believe it or not, Mr. Brossmann has been able to share his love of Steiff directly with His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI! The Pope’s brother, the prelate Prof. Georg Ratzinger, is Mr. Brossmann’s confirmation Godfather. Mr. Brossmann presented Prof. Ratzinger with Steiff’s Leuthold Bear in a Swiss Guard’s costume, which was produced in an edition size of 1,500 pieces in 2005. This was a symbolic gift to his godfather because the Papal Swiss Guard has always guarded the Popes. On a regular visit to Georg Ratzinger, who lives in the same town as Mr. Brossmann, Mr. Brossmann raised the idea of presenting His Holiness with Steiff’s Leuthold Bear as well. Georg Ratzinger thought that was a very good idea, and arranged for such a gift transfer to take place. Apparently, it wasn’t only His Holiness who was pleased about this special gift, but also the Swiss Guards and the Vatican police in attendance!

Professionally, Mr. Brossmann today has been able to weave in projects with the Steiff Company as part of his own business - but the path to that was in no way straight or obvious. He was the son of refugees and grew up poor. Academically, he was a late bloomer. He had always loved folk music - he still plays the accordion - and that interest helped to launch his professional career. He joined a music fan club, then became its manager, and then opened up his own music agency. Over the course of his career, he has managed some of the most successful european folk music groups of the post-war era. Today, he works to

promote Regensburger Domspatzen, the official choir for St. Peter’s Cathedral in Regensburg, Bavaria, Germany; German TV programmes such as Inspector REX; and the Augsburger Puppenkiste, a marionette theatre in Augsburg, Germany, along with its movie A Rat’s Tale. As part of his agency work, he has collaborated on a great number of Steiff special edition items such as the traditionally costumed bears for the Kastelruther Spatzen, a Musical Group from South Tyrol; the St. Bernard doll with a St. Bernard dog set for the Barry Foundation; and a special white donkey for the Björn Schulz Foundation, an organization that helps critically and terminally ill children, amongst many other projects.

Steiff products have accompanied Mr. Brossmann throughout his life, from babyhood to the present day. He is fascinated with not only the products themselves, but also the emotion that accompanies them. He, like all of us, is truly touched by the magic of Steiff, and is guided by the company’s promise of “A Steiff Animal – Forever Yours”.

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Steiff bears and animals are favourites the world over - not just for collectors, but for people who write and illustrate books! Our friends from Giengen have been featured in children’s literature for over a century. Perhaps the first book that specifically used Steiff bears as part of its tale was Mr. Cinnamon Bear by Sara Tawney Lefferts, who published her work in 1907. Since then, Steiff animals have taken center stage in many children’s stories, including Elanor Farjeon’s The Perfect Zoo, Lost Bear, by Ann Durell, and a series of Lonely Doll books by Dare Wright. Today, there’s a new children’s book, available in English, that features a whole community of vintage Steiff animals to tell its uplifting tale. And, its co-author is a huge Steiff fan and collector! Let’s meet her and learn more about this exciting project.

Steiff:Welcome! Please tell us a little about yourself.

Cathleen: My name is Cathleen Smith Bresciani, and I am from the Atlanta, Georgia, USA area. Professionally, I design and sell specialty pet clothing.

Could share some of your earliest memories of Steiff?

I started collecting in the late 1960’s as a young girl. My best friend gave me my first Steiff animal from her own

collection - the small red “Flossy” mohair fish (produced in 13, 28, and 66 cm from 1960 - 1981.) I still have this precious item today. I lived in new York City as a child and FAO Schwarz was my second home, a place I truly loved, and still do. I would go there to visit the Steiff department, and spend hours staring at the store’s delightful dressed Pieps mice. Looking back, the time that I spent there is probably my most beloved memory of all. Today I have over 400 vintage Steiff items in my collection, most from the 1950 - 1970 time frame.

What are a few of your favourite things in your collection?

I love dressed Steiff animals - they have a charming human quality to them, and they have made me smile since childhood. So of course, my collection of dressed Pieps mice from FAO Schwarz probably tops that list. I also cherish my Helen Ratkai Steiff animals. Helen was an artist who lived in new York City. She dressed Steiff items from the 1950’s and 1960’s in outfits made from fine fabrics and laces; these treasures were then sold at high-end stores like Lord & Taylor and FAO Schwarz. I especially love my Ratkai elephant and giraffe. These elegantly attired Steiff animals are really hard to find today.

As a lifelong collector, have your tastes and preferences changed over the years?

I used to collect everything Steiff. But today, I focus more on the hard to find FAO Schwarz exclusive items. I just purchased several FAO Exclusive Dalmatians, including the original “Royal Dally”, (produced in 14 cm in 1963 only) and I am over the moon about that.

How do you display your collection of over 400 pieces? Do you update your display seasonally?

It’s always Steiff time around my home! I tend to group my items by type, and put them on shelves, in armoires, on the fireplace mantel, and other visible spaces. They are truly integrated into the decor. During the winter holidays, I put Santa hats and costumes on some items, while at easter, my bunnies get baskets and lots of colourful eggs!

DISCOV ERIES

Sassafrass JonesAnnouncing the publication of a book starring Steiff creations!

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Cathleen Smith Bresciani, author

of “Sassafrass Jones and the Search for a

Forever Home”.


You have taken your passion for Steiff and created a book for children. Tell us how that came about, and a little bit about the story.

The book is titled “Sassafrass Jones And The Search For A Forever Home”. It is the story of a Pekingese dog and how the right environment and friends, combined with kindness and compassion, can make all the difference. The idea for the book came from a friend, who suggested I create a book with my collection. Originally, it was going to be a book of Steiff photos, but then as we started taking pictures, the story kept evolving. Before we knew it, we had the entire tale written from start to finish. I worked with a fantastic team on this project, including my friend Fred Schneider of the legendary band the B-52’s, who narrated the audio book version of the story.

The book stars many beloved Steiff animals from the 1950’s and 1960’s. How did you decide which animals to use for which roles?

This also evolved organically, and most were natural fits. Wittie owl (produced in 10, 14, 22, and 35 cm from 1954 - 1977) was a great selection for the wise adoption center manager. nightcap rabbits (produced 15 cm from 1968 - 1973) seem thoughtful, so they were perfect as the competition judges. nagy Beavers (produced in 10, 17, and 25 cm from 1958 - 1978) with their buckteeth and spiky fur seemed ideal to play the story’s antagonists. And who better than the snail (produced in 10 cm from 1961 - 1963) to be the slow and steady porter?

Can you describe the process for designing and making the clothing that the Steiff animals wear in the book?

In some cases, the outfits are original to the animals, like many of the dressed Pieps mice. Other outfits were authentic vintage doll clothing; for example the beaver sisters wear dresses made many years ago by the Vogue doll company. I worked very closely with an expert dressmaker in the Atlanta area to create other dresses; these were hand made using period materials from Hyman Hendler & Sons, a store in new York City that has been supplying high end ribbons and trims since 1900. The hats featured in the story were also designed and made by a world-class milliner.

Tell us about the sets for the book pages.

I come up with the look and feel for each set. They are then built by Christopher McClellan, who worked as a professional set coordinator and carpenter for television. He has a great eye for size, proportion, and angles. The average set is about 45 cm long and wide, and 30 cm tall. It takes him up to two weeks to build the shell for any given set. The sets are “furnished” and detailed with miniatures from my dollhouse collection. If we need something for a set that I don’t already own, we go out and find it. But this happens quite infrequently.

What’s next for Sassafrass Jones? Will we be seeing more of her and her Steiff friends in the future?

Yes, we are working on the next story! The next book is all about Sassafrass’ adventures in new York City. There she befriends all sorts of wonderful and exotic creatures – Steiff, of course! I do hope this story, and future Sassafrass tales, will help children of all ages develop an interest in Steiff and the wonderful role these treasures can have in fantasy and make-believe play. I think the world would be a far better place if each of us had a little more whimsy in our lives!

Thank you for your time and for helping to make the world a bit more playful through Steiff!

Dressed mice, many from legendary toy store FAO Schwarz in New York, are a favourite of the author. The elaborate settings for Sassafrass Jones sometimes took two weeks or more to build.

DISCOV ERIES

15


The familiar saying, “all the whole world is a stage” is also true for Steiff collectors. Steiff Teddy bears, animals, and dolls are particularly playful, as well as photogenic, and have always been willing to play a starring role in large window displays, store vignettes, and event venues. On a smaller scale, many Steiff enthusiasts also like to decorate their homes with their collections, especially in themes related to the holidays or seasons. Let’s meet a collector with a special talent for creating “over the top” displays with his extensive Steiff collection.

Tell us about your interest in Steiff and your collection.

I started seriously collecting Steiff around 20 years ago. when I was a kid, I had a Pieps mouse, a kangaroo, and Jocko. Today, I’d say I have anywhere from 500 to 700 in my collection, give or take a few hundred... it’s hard to keep track with all the selling, trading, buying, and moving that has gone on over the years. Friends of mine joke that I don’t just have one of something, I have to have at least 5 of them. But, that’s what makes a collection! I have multiples of Molly the puppy, black cats, squirrels, early goats, and lizards. My top three favourite things in my collection today are an FAO Schwarz Xorry studio fox, a mint original and early Minnie Mouse, and a pre-war lying fawn.

Steiff:Please share a little about yourself with us.

Denis: My name is Denis Morella, and I live in California. I am an animation director by profession, and create TV shows. My latest show is a Disney program called Sheriff Callie’s Wild West. This is very exciting for me, as Steiff and Disney have been partners for a very long time. It’s my dream that one of my Disney characters will someday be made by Steiff!

PASSIOnS

His own magic kingdomLife at home with a Disney animator who’s also a Steiff enthusiast.

16

As an animator, Denis is surrounded by

lovable Disney creatures by day and

Steiff creations by night!

Mr. Morella has

been collecting Steiff for more than 20 years.


How do you display your Steiff collection?

Most of my collection is with me in a few antique store display cases. The studio animals are clustered together in what would be a small offi ce in a normal person’s house. The cases are mostly in the living room and the guest room. I can’t display everything I have, so I store items in large, sealed plastic containers.

You create fabulous holiday themed tableaux and displays using your collection.

It’s something I’ve always loved to do. Many of my inspirations come from my childhood and watching stopmotion animation fi lms. I have always made a big deal around Halloween, Christmas, and Easter. For these holidays, I could use up to 75 Steiff items to create a display, and it could take me 2 or 3 evenings after work to assemble it. But the displays aren’t always on this scale. For Thanksgiving, I use Tucky turkeys and other seasonal items to create an interesting dinner table centerpiece. I once did a Groundhog Day display that was really simple - just some gravel, a half a log, some moss, and a vintage Steiff Murmy.

What is your advice for putting together a great Steiff display?

There are three key things. The fi rst is lights. These should be the fi rst things to put in a display. Little white twinkle lights work great, but don’t use older Christmas lights as they get too hot and can burn your items. Sheets of cotton that look like snow look amazing over white twinkle lights. The second is props. Dollhouse furniture works great for the Pieps mice family. Just about anything that’s miniature and to scale will work. Old circus toys such as wooden blocks, ladders, stools, metal trains, and old circus cages also make great props. The third is risers. You want to be sure the characters in the back can be seen as well as the ones in the front. You can use wooden or old fashioned metal ones, but spice rack shelves work especially well.

What are your favourite Steiff displays of all? And what would be your dream display to design? I once did an elaborate sea-themed display with stacks of miniature vintage aquariums, fi shing nets, seashells, and other ocean-inspired props. That was really fun to do, and more original than holiday displays that can become routine. From the historical perspective, I especially love the early Steiff circus displays by designer Albert Schlopsnies. I have this fantasy of having a museum to display my studio animals in big dioramas like the Museum of Natural History. How great would that be?

That would be absolutely marvellous! We so appreciate your time today!

Left:Steiff treasures from all eras play a role in the displays of Denis Morella.

PASSIOnS

17


Have you ever watched a TV show where an ordinary person has literally “hit the jackpot” with an amazing boot sale, fl ea market, or auction fi nd? Well, this doesn’t occur in reality very often! However, it did happen in the most Steiff-like way to a terrifi c and lucky lady recently, who just happened to place the right bid at the right time on the right auction lot. Here is her story, in her own words:

Steiff:Josie, thank you so much for speaking with us today! Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Josie: My name is Josie Rockett, and I live with my family in Rye, in the South East of England. I am a full time Mummy to my three young children and most of my time is spent looking after them, our two dogs, and running our home. I call my spare time “Teddy time”. This is my time for tending to our Teddy bears, reading about bears, making Teddy bears, and restoring antique teddy bears that are in need of love and attention.

STORIES

The surprising story of Black JackHow one collector discovered an ultra-rare 1910s-era black Steiff Teddy.

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Are you a Steiff collector?

I am a collector of vintage and antique Teddy bears. I am fascinated by the history of Steiff and marvel at the beauty of all Steiff pieces. when it comes to Teddy bears there can be no doubt that they are in a league of their own.

You had a very exciting find at auction recently. Can you give us some background on that?

I wasn’t at the auction when I won the lot; it was an incredibly lucky twist of fate. I spotted a lot at a general auction being held at an auction house; there was no photograph, only a description. I liked the sound of it, took my chances, and placed a bid remotely. I often place bids like this. I like the fun and excitement of not really knowing what I am going to find. I was very happy to win the lot and my Father, who lives close to the auction house, went to collect it for me.

Your auction win turned out to be much more than you expected. Tell us about opening up the old trunk and what you were thinking as you were going through its contents.

nothing could have prepared me for what I was about to find. A week after the auction my Father came to visit us. On arrival he handed me a tatty red suitcase. As I opened the case, the first thing I saw were some dolls, some doll clothes, and some lovely Teddies. I was very happy with all of them. Then I saw something wrapped in a blanket at the bottom of the case. I picked it up and started to unravel the blanket. The first thing I saw was a black mohair paw. At that point, I stopped and took a deep breath…it couldn’t be! I then very slowly lifted the blanket off completely to find a beautiful black antique Teddy! My heart was pounding, I cannot tell you the excitement and joy that then erupted in our house! Had I just found an antique black Steiff bear?

That is a fantasy situation that every Steiff collector dreams of! How did you know you might have a special treasure?

My first feeling was that he may be a Steiff bear from the moment I saw him. His shape and line and beautiful

expression led me to feel that he could be a Steiff. After an excited sleepless night, I got up the next morning, took some photographs, and sent them to Rebekah Kaufman, the Consultant Steiff Archivist for north America. She had helped me a few times in the past and I knew that I had to contact her with this find as well. She confirmed that she too thought he was an early black Steiff bear after reviewing the materials I sent to her. Based on where I was, and what I had found, she suggested I contact Mr. Carsten esser at Teddy Dorado auction house about the bear.

You did take the bear Germany to meet Mr. Esser. Tell us about this trip.

The trip to Germany was amazing! My Father came with me and we had such an adventure. It felt so special to be taking the bear back home to Germany. I feel so honoured to be a part of this special cub’s journey. Meeting with Carsten was wonderful; I was quite nervous but very excited. It was a little nail-biting watching him examine the bear, but he did it with a smile and it wasn’t long before we were all very excited! The next step was for the bear to go to Giengen for authentication, as he didn’t have any Steiff IDs on him. It felt good to leaving the bear with Carsten. Up until that point I felt like I had been his guardian. There was a little sadness but an overwhelming feeling of relief and happiness that he was in such safe hands. ...

Josie and Black Jack meet with Mr. Carsten Esser of auction house TeddyDorado.

STORIES

19


You named the bear „Black Jack“. Can you tell us how that name came about?

The name Black Jack was really given to him because he is a black Teddy bear. It is also quite lovely that my late Grandfather was called Jack. Both my brother and I were given names that started with a “J” as a tribute to him, so it is very special for him to have the name Jack.

How did you decide whether to keep the bear or sell him at auction?

This was a very difficult decision. We did consider keeping Jack but after giving it a lot of thought we decided that he would be most at home in a fine Steiff collection or museum where he could be properly enjoyed. Our house is full of children and pets and in the short time I had him, he was wrapped up and hidden away for safety. If he were to stay with us, he would remain this way. I don’t believe he wants to be hidden away anymore.

Jack went through a rigorous process by Mrs. Manuela Fus-tig, head of the Steiff Archives in Germany, in order to be au-thenticated as Steiff. What went through your head when you learned that he received this cer-tification?

I can’t tell you how amazing it was to hear that news. It was so great to be able to say “Black Jack is a Steiff bear!” From the day I found him up until that moment, it all felt like a dream. It all still does in a way! I think the news just made the whole situation more real for me.

Will you be going to the Steiff 2014 Summer auction to watch his sale?

Yes! I really want to be there. It will be so lovely to say good-bye to Jack and wish him well for the next part of his journey. I think there is something magical about him coming back to his place of birth to find his new home. What an adventure he has been on! I have never been to Giengen and I am so looking forward to going. And, if I could tell his new owner one thing, it would be pretty simple. Just love him!

Thank you so much for sharing this amazing story with us!

Information for collectors:Steiff will market a replica of “Black Jack” in spring 2015. You can already look forward to an exceptional Teddy bear!

STORIES

20


This year, Margarete Steiff GmbH is inviting guests to the ninth STEIFF SOMMER in Giengen an der Brenz from 27-29 June. And this year’s traditional summer event is all about magic. There will be plenty for children, adults, friends and collectors to see and do from 10:00 until 19:00. Food and drink will also be provided, and admission is free.

As in recent years, visitors will find an exciting and comprehensive programme on the show stage and all over the company’s premises. There will be plenty to rummage through in the Steiff tent and Steiff Flea Market - with finds ranging from rare collector’s items to excellent bargains. Retailers and exhibitors from all over the world gather at the international exchange in the historic glass building of 1903, where they can exchange, sell and purchase valuable replicas and antique Steiff rarities. And on Saturday afternoon, German comedian Otto Waalkes will be signing autographs. The Steiff Club will have its own stand with limited items in the Autumn/Winter range. Various craftspeople and partners of the Steiff Museum will be at the Summer Market providing an insight into their skills. The house where the world-famous company founder Margarete Steiff was born will be open, exclusively, during the event. And of course, it will also be possible to visit the Steiff Museum at any time over the weekend. The highlight of the Steiff Sommer 2014 will be the big Steiff special auction on Saturday, 28 June at 18:00 in the “Schranne” under the management of auctioneers TeddyDorado GmbH of Wachtberg. Veritable treasures have gone under

the hammer at this auction in recent years. Apart from “Black Jack”, this year’s attractions include a unique 18 cm Teddy Maid of 1933/34. Afterwards, guests are invited to a “Magic night” from 19:00 until midnight on the square outside the Steiff Museum, where a fabulous fireworks display with music will be the perfect finish to a memorable day. Steiff has come up with some very special attractions to ensure that children have the greatest fun! Outside the Steiff Museum, they will be welcomed by a petting zoo and various rides. The team of the 1st FC Heidenheim 1846 football club will be there to sign merchandise for fans. Also, visitors can watch, live, as a replica of a Steiff “Zottelbär” - shaggy bear - of 1914 is made by hand. They can then try it for themselves in the Teddy bear workshop on Friday and Saturday, between 9:30 and 12:30 and 14:00 and 17:00 hrs. Registered participants will be shown how to make their own personal, Limited edition Steiff Teddy bear stuffed with wood shavings. Late-comers are requested to contact the company at [email protected] to check availability. The cost of the workshop is € 269 per participant. And as in previous years, once again this year Margarete Steiff GmbH will be presenting a 2014 STEIFF SOMMER Teddy bear.

Who’s coming along?Let‘s visit the magical world of Teddy bears.

Margarete Steiff GmbH is delighted to invite Club members in France and other interested parties on a trip to Giengen an der Brenz. Exceptionally, the visit - which is planned for 16/17 October - will include a tour of the production facilities. The planned agenda is as follows:

• Tour of the Steiff production facilities in Giengen• Visit to the Steiff Museum• Visit to Margarete Steiff‘s birthplace• Club Event• Guided tour of Giengen an der Brenz

In order to optimise our arrangements, it would be helpful to know as soon as possible how many Club members are interested in coming along. we would therefore be extremely grateful if you could book your place as soon as possible. There are only 20 places available.

Although the final price of the trip has not yet been established, we estimate it will be in the region of approx. € 380 per person. The price will include the return train journey from Paris, two meals (drinks not included) and one night‘s accommodation (single room) at a hotel in Giengen. To reserve yourself a place on this trip, please send an email to: [email protected].

V EnUES

Steiff Sommer 2014The magical family event at the Steiff Museum from 27-29 June, 2014.

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This year’s opening to the Club events in mid-January was undertaken, as tradition has it, by the Steiff Club stores “bruno bär” in Esslingen and Oberpollinger in Munich.

Some 80 Steiff fans from near and far attended the event at “bruno bär” and looked forward to what 2014 had to bring, presented by “fairy” Petra May and her assistant Sabine Schötz. Other highlights were taken straight from the esslingen store to the friendly “waldheim” pub in esslingen, where they were then presented to admire and purchase. Auctioneer and managing director of the famous “TeddyDorado” auctioneers Carsten esser welcomed the guests with an exciting talk on the subject of “110 Years of Button in the ear”.

Along with the winners of the raffle with valuable Steiff animals as prizes, the Steiff Team was also able to congratulate another happy winner: Angela Hunscheidt of ehrenkirchen was the winner of the second prize in the “BonBon-Aktionswochen” in September 2013: an invitation to the Steiff Sommer 2014, including 2 nights accommodation, for 2 people!

In line with the motto of “Magic” for Steiff’s spring collection with characters from “Alice in wonderland”, guests at Oberpollinger in Munich were welcomed to the traditional exclusive setting for the Club event. The room and tables were decorated accordingly, and the refreshments were superlative. Club speaker Bettina

Heinrich hosted the event supported by the friendly team from the toy department. Carsten esser, managing director of TeddyDorado GmbH, was among those present, and shared lots of interesting facts about Steiff and about his activities as an auctioneer and on determining the value of Steiff animals. The right rub-off ticket (a Steiff button with an elephant motif) brought many a guest the prize of a pretty Steiff animal. There was another presentation at Oberpollinger: Bärbel Fechter of Unterschleissheim was the winner of the first prize of the “BonBon-Aktionswochen” of September 2013: an exclusive guided tour of the Steiff archives and the birthplace of Margarete Steiff, including 2 nights’ accommodation for two people. Our warmest congratulations!

V EnUES

Enchanting start to 2014Lots of applause at Club events in Munich, Esslingen and Stuttgart.

22

In the photo (l to r): Sabine Schötz

(Steiff team of speakers), Roland Higelin (Steiff Regional

Sales Manager), Angela Hunscheidt (the happy winner),

Bruno Weber (also known

as “Bruno Bär”), Petra May

(Steiff Club Speaker), Carsten Esser

(auctioneer and managing director of

TeddyDorado GmbH).

Top right: Looking good:

The room for the Club event at Oberpollinger.


“Fairy” Petra May welcomed around 70 guests to the Kaufhof on the Königstrasse in Stuttgart, and introduced the 2014 new items in an enchanting programme. The store’s decorating department had transformed the canteen into a magical world where guests could have their photos taken and then take them home with them. And the

This BMW Z4 GT3 will be competing in the annual Super GT Championship in Japan in eight weekend races. The vehicle is appearing for the BMw Sports Trophy Team Study, and is being driven by the well-known, successful racing driver Jörg Müller. The racing season lasts from early April until the middle of november. Steiff is keeping its fingers crossed!

Left: Club speaker Bettina Heinrich presenting a “large” novelty. Right: The Steiff novelties were lovingly decorated for the Club event at Kaufhof, Stuttgart.

In our picture, from l to r: Racing driver Seiji Ara, Steiff managing director Daniel Barth, the CEO of BMW Japan, Alan Harris and racing driver Jörg Müller.

winners of the raffle of valuable Steiff animals could also have a “say” in their prize: the right “magic words” could help them to find a new “friend for life”!

V EnUES

Big in Japan Steiff Japan sponsors BMW Team at the Super GT Championship.

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Question:I have had the “little dwarves” in the picture for a long time. I‘ve never seen them anywhere else and, despite my best efforts, have not been able to find out more about them.

I would like to know when they were made and whether there are any other dwarves in different sizes.E. K. V ienna

Answer: The Steiff Shepherd figure with a rubber head was offered for the first time in 1954, initially only in the 35 cm version. It was made in this version until 1974. The smaller shepherd of 19 cm was in the range between 1969 and 1974, and is much more difficult to find today.The shepherd was also made as a 170-cm display model in the late 1960s.

These shepherds do not have their own particular names, and so only have the chest tags with the words “Original Steiff” printed on them. The original equipment of every single shepherd includes a wooden staff; the two larger versions have a so-called shepherd’s crook.

The figures shown here are no longer quite complete, but are in a good condition. They date back to around 1970. The shepherd’s extensive clothing is sewn from coloured felt; only his shirt is made of fabric. The felt waistcoat of the 19-cm version is fastened by a white thread rather than press studs. This type of fastening is a works original, but is often described as a repair on recorded examples.

The shepherds, and especially the ones with rubber heads, are particularly popular with collectors of historic Steiff toys, and are often displayed in a group with sheep and a dog in the matching sizes.

Catalogue entry:A particularly interesting picture of the two little shepherds from the 1969 main retailers‘ catalogue. The original accessories can all clearly be seen.

Expert info: The crook is still in use in the Schwäbische Alb in Germany today as an all-purpose tool. The municipality of Amstetten, only 35 km east of Giengen, even has this tool in its crest.

Question:This Teddy bear was left to me many years ago by a friend of my grandmother when she died. At a rough estimate, he could be over 100 years old. Could you possibly tell me more about this marvel-lous item?D. W., Munich

Answer: Steiff Petsy of between 1928 and 1930 is one of the most popular Teddy bears in the collector‘s world. The trademark of this cheerful young bear is the centre seam on his head. Steiff Petsy of between 1928 and 1930 is one of the most popular Teddy bears in the collector’s world.

CLUB MAIL

Readers’ serviceDo you have a question about a Steiff item in your collection? Find out more here!

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The “novelties” sheet of 1928 speaks thus of Petsy: “Petsy. A cheerful young bear, jointed, soft, long mohair plush, brown tipped, large movable ears, red nose, blue eyes.”

Petsys from size 15 cm (22 cm upright) have a press growler, while the larger ones from 28 cm (42 cm upright) have an automatic growler.

Petsy was made in 12 different versions, including in a plain colour or tipped, with cross eyes, as a handbag, racing driver and glove puppet. The best-known version in serial production is the standard version shown here of a jointed Teddy bear with blue eyes, movable ears with an integrated wire, and the red embellishments of nose and claws. This particular version was produced in eleven different sizes. The small and medium versions are especially popular with collectors, since they show the cheerful young bear’s facial expression at its very best. Your particular version is one of the highly sought-after medium-sized Petsy bears, and is in excellent condition. It probably dates back to 1928, the first year of production. The lightly bleached tips, especially on the front side of the bear, are absolutely typical and due to the material, but have no particular effect on its popularity and collectability. Congratulations on this complete rarity!

Expert info: There are also several slightly different versions of the stand-ard Petsy with blue eyes. Most of the original Petsy bears available today have a slightly melon-shaped nose embroidered in red. The embroidered nose with two additional stitches on the outer sides as “nostrils” is much rarer.

Catalogue entry:Extract from the 1928 Spring catalogue, where Petsy had one of his first official appearances.

Question:These wooden dice with the bell have been in the family for years, and we are very proud of them. Unfortunately, though, we don‘t know exactly how old they are. Can you help us?D.R., Mülheim

Answer: This set of three dice is a complete set of three so-called Baby-Bimblocks, which were produced in these colours from 1939. The three Bimblocks were originally provided in a matching cardboard box. They were in our range as item 8005 from 1939 until 1943, and then again from 1949 until 1956.

From 1957 they were available, also in slightly different colours, until 1966, and from 1959 also as individual dice in clear packaging.

Your Baby-Bimblocks were made between 1939 and 1956. Unfortunately, we can’t say more about this item without the packaging, since they were all identical in construction during this period.

Expert info: Some wooden toys, such as various cube dice, the Multiform peg game and the Baby-Bimblocks were sold in the identical construction and packaging during the time before and after W W II. In order to provide more precise information on dates, we would have to compare the original retail prices, which is often written on the boxes. So the Baby-Bimblocks cost RM 2.50 after 1939, but DM 4.50 after 1949.

Catalogue entry:Extract from the public catalogue of July 1939 with the new Baby-Bimblocks.

CLUB MAIL

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Steiff ’s dogs have always been second only to the company’s bears as favourites among collectors. And, for cultural and legacy reasons, Steiff has had Dachshunds continuously in their product offering since before the turn of last century! Dachshunds are a distinctly Germanic type of dog that was bred in the 18th century specifically to hunt and catch wild boar and to go into badger dens. So it should be no surprise to English speakers that “Dachshund” translates to “Badger Dog” in German! Perhaps the most beloved vintage Steiff Dachshund of all is “Waldi the long haired Dachshund”.

The original “waldi” design was introduced to the world in 1933. He was the first Steiff Dachshund to be given a proper name. The earliest waldi dogs were manufactured standing on all fours or in a sitting up, begging position. All were made from brilliant copper coloured mohair, with shiny black eyes, black hand-embroidered noses, black airbrushed mouths, and delightfully large, floppy ears. The standing waldi dogs were unjointed and had longer mohair on their bodies, tails, and ears, and shorter mohair on their arms, legs, and faces. The sitting waldi dogs were made from short mohair only.

waldi appeared continuously and practically unchanged in the line for almost half a century.

Because of his popularity and adorable looks, Waldi’s general pattern was used to create two additional pre-war novelties. The first was a 10 cm “Tumbling Waldi”. This toy was made of mohair, sitting up, and perched upon a green wooden hemisphere. This tumbler was produced from 1937 through 1941. The second was “Pupp-Waldi” or waldi Doll. This item was a standing, head jointed dog doll dressed as a hunter; he wore a little green felt suit,

plaid vest, and a green hat. Pupp-Waldi’s head and the tops of his hands and feet were mohair, while his body and limbs were made from peach colored felt-like material. He was detailed with a little wooden gun with a leather strap as an accessory. Post war, a practically identical 26 cm waldi hunting dog appeared in the line from 1950 through 1974.

Given Germany’s affinity for Dachshunds, it is not surprisingly that a Dachshund was chosen as the logo mascot for the 1972 Olympics in Munich. Much to the Steiff community’s delight, this world symbol of the games was aptly named “Olympic Waldi”.

Steiff produced two “official” items for these global games. Both had a resemblance to the company’s original Waldi the long haired Dachshund design. The first was a 25 cm “Olympic Waldi” in dralon, a synthetic plush material that was very common on Steiff play animals of the time. The second was a 15 cm, 17 piece standing Dachshund puzzle. He was made from solid wood; His colour scheme matched that of the dralon Olympic Waldi.

And Waldi continues to be a favourite. A 35 cm version, made of high-quality Alpaca is available in the current range.

Above: Waldi has been made in various sizes and

styles since 1933.

Above center: A wooden Waldi

puzzle was made for the 1972 Olympics in

Munich.

Above right: Olympic Waldi was

also made in a synthetic plush material called

“Dralon”.

FAVOURIT E

Waldi DachshundSteiff’s most wonderful dog.

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Waldi dachshundItem No. 078712

FAVOURIT E

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Margarete Steiff GmbH, Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, 89537 Giengen an der Brenz

9135

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www.steiff.com


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