However, they are listed for sale on eBay for upward of $8,000. Harlequin Bear - 71,000. These bears were called Rod teddies because they had metal rods inserted in them so as to create joints. Afterward, it went with Henderson to WWII, survived the D-Day along with its owner, and returned home with glory. Steiff Bears reserved wood wool stuffing, a.k.a. Their rarity gives them the high price achieved at auction in 2010. That lovely mohair bear produced in 1926 became a present for the 42nd wedding anniversary to his wife, Rosemary. As the oldest surviving model, its only normal that its monetary value is in a six-figure ballpark. The buttons importance is not only esthetic, but it indicates the production year. Here at the World of Bears we like to think we give a service worthy of the Steiff Bear and the Steiff name. Its unclear how many were actually sold, but department store Selfridges said at the time that they hoped lavish Christmas spenders would be enticed by the gilded teddy. If you take a good feel of a very vintage bears armpit and feel a hard, flat, round disk both in the arm and in the body where the two come together, this probably would be an example of the companys disk jointed bears from about 1906 onward. From 1905, the company replaced its metal rods with pins on cardboards. Bottom line: Not to be confused with the newer Steiff Grandpa Teddy Bear, the Grandfather version was a display bear for Steiff and a big one at that, measuring 46 inches tall. Louis Vuitton Bear Vintage Steiff Bears Identification What should I look for in a Steiff bear? Are Steiff bears numbered? The first Steiff Bears sold in the U.S. were the 28 P.B.s in 1904. He would become a colonel in the British Army and fight in World War II right alongside his beloved Teddy Girl. Rod bears tend to vary a lot in their actual looks and presentation, given they are so early, made by hand, and their patterns were rapidly evolving. Then and today, the company has made sure that their toys are resistant to flames as much as possible. George, Steiff Original Teddy Bear,,1965 to 1966,Steiff Button. Many collectors are unaware that more Mourning bears were produced in 1917 and 1918. That same year, after the multi-award-winning cult classic Titanic hit the theaters and broke records, Steiff released the Titanic Mourning Bearto commemorate the tragedy. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Plush toys have delighted their owners for 130 years. Bear with Louis Vuitton monograms - $ 182,000 3. The company began production immediately, and 655 Teddy bears were made in 1912. These are some of the oldest manufactured teddies by Steiff. Both retain . That was an excellent way to protect Steiffs high-quality products from imitations and prevent possible fraud. The artisan also was required to constantly shape the cooling material into a nose shape, which explains why early and original gutta percha noses often are asymmetrical and have fingerprints and nicks on them. The Steiff Purity Law: A Promise Of Quality. The bear on this list was found in excellent condition despite its almost a century-old existence making it highly coveted by collectors. In collaboration withBarbara Bieshaar-Dolls & Bears / Iconic Toys and Movie Memorabilia Expert. Theres the classic orange on antique models, yellow ribbon on recent regular models, white for limited editions, and gray for 2019 bears. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Vintage Steiff Bear Value (Identification & Price Guides), Old Stamps Value (Identification & Price Guides), Vintage Beanie Baby Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Teacups Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Teapots Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Coffee Grinders Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Milk Cans Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Pie Safe Value (Identification & Price Guides), Vintage Valentine Cards Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Bottles Value (Identification & Price Guides), Benrus Watch Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Blue Willow China Value (Identification & Price Guides), Antique Car Blue Book (Car Value & Identificatiron), Old Buttons Value (Identification & Price Guides), Skeleton Key Value (Identification & Price Guides). They have real diamonds on their glass eyes and were produced to celebrate the 125th year of the brand with only 125 pieces. was created in 1904 and the hot water bottle bears lasted between 907 1914. Also, as a potential reseller, its best to buy a bear in at least good condition to last for decades while increasing in value. As its name suggests, this bear has an opening in . Many manufacturers have distinctive features in the bears that make them readily identifiable. Great Savings & Free Delivery / Collection on many items Buy Steiff Teddy Bears and get the best deals at the lowest prices on eBay! From November 1904 onwards, every Steiff animal leaving the factory had a "Button in Ear". $120.00 + $7.50 shipping. As the stories go, he held on to his teddy girl during World War II making Teddy Girl a pseudo veteran of the British Army. Naturally, these figures will pique your interest and have you rummaging through your old toys looking to make top dollar. Bottom line:Boasting one of the most extensive teddy bear collections in the world, Rosemary and Paul Volpp celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary in 1989 by buying one of the rarest and most expensive teddy bears: Happy Anniversary. Bear means 55cm tall, Plush Beweglich (Moveable in German) Bear. So it sat untouched in storage for decades, which is why it was in such good shape at the time of the auction. The first was lot #482, a 24 tall, c. 1905 enter-seam teddy bear. To prove the authenticity of their products, the Steiff company used a BUTTON IN EAR tag. Steiff, Germany, "Penny" The Federation Teddy Bear Made Exclusively for Australia, Limited Edition of 2000 by Theodore Bruce Est: AUD200 - AUD300 AUD120 2 Bids Mar 02, 9:00 AM EST R. JOHN WRIGHT WINNIE-THE-POOH AND PIGLET, LOT OF TWO by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates Est: $50 - $100 $70 2 Bids Mar 02, 9:00 AM EST You can update your preferences, withdraw your consent at any time, and see a detailed description of the types of cookies we and our partners use in our Cookie Policy. The standard design is characterized by a yellow fabric tape with the company and the words . Although a few of these first bears still exist, it is practically impossible to find them. In todays economy, that value has dropped to 31,200 Pounds. . Korean Jessie Kim paid an unbelievable $2,100,000 for it and reserved a spot for it in a Teddy bear museum on Jeju Island, South Korea. This excerpt from the 2010 catalog stating the Steiff Purity Law will provide insight into Steiff's depth of commitment to the quality of their products. . The Earliest Steiff Bears. This Teddy bear type first appeared in 1925. Some are expensive and often reach tens of thousands of bucks at auctions, while rare and highly appreciated ones are worth a few hundred thousand dollars. He had a wonderful expression on his face, with his original boot-button eyes and funny black nose! This material is a natural latex product made from the sap of the Palaquium gutta tree. Rare Steiff Bears with a limited release, recalled or discontinued models are the most valuable designs. The first models came and included an elephant sign on the Steiff button, although they evolved to a simple inscription of the companys name. It determines the availability of the item since many Victorian-age things were lost during the first and second world wars (1919 1918, 1939 1945). Steiff PB 28 Rod Bear - Super Rare. Bears have never been sold or seen since 1902, so they remain the most elusive model of Steiff Bears ever produced. That included claws and a pronounced face. In December 2006, a rare example featuring its original water canister sold at Christie's in London for 31,200 (around AED 150,000). Q: Which other antique teddy bear brands exist? Ordinary Steiff bears produced after WWII, particularly from the 1950s to the 1980s, can be worth approximately $60. Therefore, any product that survived that era automatically becomes coveted because it reminds nostalgic collectors of the past. Atlanta, A limited reproduction of about 5,000 bears was released in 1990, but those bears never achieved the value of the original. This bear was supposed to come in a set of six different colored toys as an order from a London-based company, Harrods. is a perforated, single-layer fabric tape since . She kept Alfonzo until her death in 1965, and her daughter eventually auctioned off the bear in 1989 the year the Berlin Wall came down and the Soviet Unions grip on Eastern Europe loosened. Your WorthPoint account has been suspended. HISTORY OF STEIFF German toymaker Margarete Steiff (July 24, 1847 - May 9, 1909), born in Giengen, started creating toy stuffed animals in 1880 in the town of Giengen an der Brenz, Germany. One of the most coveted antique teddy bears is the Steiff Titanic Mourning Bear. But it is the old treasures, especially the plush toys from the German manufacturer Steiff, that collectors are after. Bottom line: Caesar doesn't look much like Julius Caesar, but that's a good thing. Additionally the nose is pure gold and the eyes are made up of, you guessed it, diamonds. It was originally estimated to be worth less than a third of what it sold for, racking up 32 bids before it finally closed. The age of this bear is easily distinguished by the center seam running down the middle of the bear, a trademark of some of the earliest Steiff teddy bears. The list of the most expensive Steiff bears you can find on the current market includes: The companys designers were convinced that a lovely Hot Water Bottle Teddy bear with an added can should be a hit in 1910 when it came out as a new product. Steiff bear values have remained steady throughout the years, and bears that are in good condition can sell for hundreds of dollars. More like this. Today, it has a market value of $1,000. Steiff toy company partnered with leading fashion brand Louis Vuitton to create this beautifully adorned teddy bear. Featuring cuddly plush fabric and adorably grinning faces, these machine-washable Teddy bears are safety tested for all ages. The reason for its supposed worth is the bear's history. Richard Steiff created the first Steiff Teddy bear, the so-called BEAR 55 PB, in the early 20th century. Despite its name, the Happy Teddy bear has quite a solemn face and darker fur. The German Antique Bear (1902) - This was manufactured by Steiff Manufacturing Company and sold at five cents during that time. 18.60. . She wrote "Collecting Teddy Bears" in 1988, which showed off her extensive collection and knowledge of antique bears. Picture Information. Unfortunately, you can do nothing about the missing Steiff companys trademark button. All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. Georgia 30328 | 877.481.5750, Rebekah Kaufman is a Worthologist who specializes in vintage Steiff and other European plush collectibles. Unbelievable! Steiff Bear Value As it always goes, the product's value primarily depends on its condition when offered for sale. bears were lost at sea, the 1904 28 PBsare the oldest models recorded in Steiffs history. The German toymaker used mohair textile to cloth the filling because it felt like a real-life bears fur. 654961, Cosy friends blonde bear, no. Click to enlarge. As a general rule in keepsake collections, older items are more valuable than recent creations; however, there are a few outliers. Already, you should know that Steiff Bears are valuable because theyre produced by one of the oldest teddy bear makers in the world. Interestingly, Franz Steiff also added an elephant print on the buttons surface in early design versions produced in 1904. One such 1909 bear, listed at Christie's Auction House in London, has an estimated value between $520 - $800. Watch Rebekah Kaufman below as she unboxes this fabulous rod bear! Teddy bears originated in 1903 and can be worth a lot of money today. Steiff 28 PB 3. 4. Quick view . Weve compiled a comprehensive guide for you to appraise the stuffed toys at face value before reaching out to a professional. In 2008, two German legends, the Steiff toymaker and artist-designer Karl Lagerfeld, teamed up to create a teddy version of Lagerfeld with all of his signature elements hip sunglasses, a suit and tie, and a "KL" monogrammed belt. Bottom line: At the time, Teddy Girl was the most expensive teddy bear ever sold. The company had partnerships with some other brands like Louis Vuitton. 1. If you dont know when your toy was created, the button will solve the mystery. For example, in 2000, a Louis Vuitton Steiff Bear was auctioned for almost $200,000, while another rare model sold for over $150,000. Teddy bears came into existence in 1903 thanks to a political cartoon. However, teddy bears from the 1950s and 1960s, are also popular. photo source: www.gazette-drouot.com. We became fast friends with our mutual Teddy bear interest and she introduced me to Rebekah Kaufman to assist in identifying my old Steiff bear. 660498 (with COA), Millennium bear, no. Teddy Girl Bear - 130,000. Many people keep their teddy bears through major life changes, from moving homes to getting married. This jointing system shows up prominently in an x-ray, and thats best way to confirm a bears internal connectors. While the tradition remains even today, vintage and antique teddy bears stay on top of the value and demand chain for many reasons. excelsior, for its valuable models since the material was expensive. According to Ashby Bears, the tags come in different colors, indicating the category of the individual bears. Steiff Bear with Hot Water Bottle, $30,000. Insider reported that each bear had a $35,000 price when it entered the market, but it has doubled in todays market. Excelsior stuffing helped keep the Toys snout shapely regardless of the movement throughout playtime. 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