Everyone's a Winner Celebrating 135 Years Love for a Lifetime
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The magazine for Steiff Club members – Issue One NEWS Everyone’s a winner STEIFF INSIDE Celebrating 135 years PASSIONS Love for a lifetime A00949_Club_Magazin_01_2015_USA.indd 1 16.01.15 13:24 Rascal Teddy bear, item no. 034039. 2 A00949_Club_Magazin_01_2015_USA.indd 2 16.01.15 13:24 EDITORIAL Dear Steiff friends, In our Club magazine, we often talk about the fascination that Steiff animals hold for us. And I am sure you will be able to understand that the motivation of Steiff employees is borne along by this fascination in much the same way that the enthusiasm of the many collectors is. Once again in this issue, committed Club members share with us how Steiff accompanies them throughout a lifetime, and can even make life-long dreams come true. The simple fact that this is so fascinates us and renders any advertising slogan superfluous. Turn to pages 20, 21 and 23, and experience once again the sheer pleasure of Steiff as a hobby. Then it’s on to our spring collection, where every one of our designers’ creations under the motto of “Casino Royal” is a winner. You decide whether to let the croupier play for you – or if you would rather go for the joker instead. Replica fans will be delighted with the 1912 black bear, the original of which sold for an amazing €15,000 at a special auction during the Steiff Summer 2014, and also with “Mr. Vanilla” of 1906. As you would expect, both receive their due recognition in this issue. We are also taking a look back at the 135 years of the company’s history and at two very special Teddy bears, as well as many largely unknown but no less fascinating wooden toys of the past. I would also like to draw your attention to page 4 and ask you to take note of the important organisational changes detailed there. Finally, I would also be delighted if you were to complete our current members’ survey. The form is enclosed with this mailing. By doing so, you will help us to ensure that the Steiff I MPR I NT PUBLISHER: Margarete Steiff GmbH Club’s services satisfy as many members Richard-Steiff-Straße 4, as possible for the long term. This is our 89537 Giengen an der Brenz, Germany tel.: + 49 (0) 7322 131555 constant endeavour. EDITORS: Rick Emerson, Inge Zinnecker CONTRIBUTORS: I would like to take this opportunity to wish Rebekah Kaufman, Daniel Hentschel DESIGN AND PRINT: you all the very best for a healthy, successful Hess GmbH - Medien, www.hess-medien.de and happy 2015! 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. Best wishes, 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 12/2014 e – Item No. 914287 INGE ZINNECKER Steiff Club Manager CONTENTS CLUB NEWS Organisation 4 CLUB MAIL Readers’ service 18 NEWS Everyone’s a winner 5 PASSIONS Love for a lifetime 20 NEWS Special items 8 VENUES A new Steiff destination 22 STEIFF INSIDE Celebrating 135 years 10 VENUES A photo studio with 500 Steiff animals 23 RARITIES Steiff wooden toys – 1920 to 1930 14 FAVOURITE The crown jewel 27 3 A00949_Club_Magazin_01_2015_USA.indd 3 16.01.15 13:24 CLUB NEWS Organization As the new Steiff Club year begins, we are Membership Benefits Exclusive to announcing some wonderful changes and Steiff Club North America updates for our members! Following Germany’s protocol, Steiff Club 1. Exclusive Club “members only” North America will be changing from monthly access to a special section on the mailings to quarterly mailings of membership Steiff website (www.steiffusa.com) documents. Please see the following chart to with content and features created know when to expect your delivery. Shipment especially for members of the annual membership gift bear will continue to be sent within 4 to 6 weeks of 2. Collector’s insurance offer for Steiff joining or renewing. Club members only 3. Event announcements, invitations, special opportunities and offers Mailing Schedule for Membership Documents 4. *NEW* Readers’ Service dedicated to Steiff Club North America. Send in your photo and brief description Join or Renew Receive Documents Join or Renew Receive Documents of a favorite Steiff piece and receive 1/ 1 – 3/31 April detailed information and history from 1/1 – 3/31 April our Steiff archivist 4/ 1 – 6/ 31 July 4/1 – 6/31 July 7/ 1 – 9/ 30 October 7/1 – 9/30 October Increase in subscription rates 10/ 1 – 12/ 31 January 10/1 – 12/31 January Due to rising costs in every area, following the last adjustment in 2013, it is now necessary to increase the subscription rate. Effective January 1, 2015 one year’s membership fee How to reach the Steiff Club North will be as follows: America: Printed magazine tier: $72 USD Steiff North America Digital magazine tier: $65 USD Carolyn Smith, Club Manager Telephone: 401 312-0080 Fax: 401 475-2147 E-mail: [email protected] 4 NEWS Everyone’s a winner Our Spring collection offers a “full house” of choices for every Steiff fan. From Las Vegas to Monte Carlo, we took the inspiration for our latest collection from the Teddy bear 1912 replica, world’s most glamorous and glittering casinos. But you don’t have to be a gambler to play item no. 403200. this game – there’s something to make every collector feel like a winner. The owner of the original version of our 1912 replica probably felt like she had “hit the jackpot” when she discovered a special treasure in a box of old dolls and Teddy bears. Purchased at auction by remote bid, there was an unmarked Teddy that looked like a Steiff in the winning lot. Could it be one of the famous black bears of 1912? Indeed it could. In 2015, we’re bringing collectors everywhere a chance to share in the original owner’s good fortune with our superb replica of this most distinguished bear. Sewn from jet black mohair with black glass eyes and wood wool stuffing, this gorgeous Teddy will occupy a place of honour in the collections of only 1,000 lucky Steiff enthusiasts. Will you be one of them? ... 5 A00949_Club_Magazin_01_2015_USA.indd 5 16.01.15 13:25 NEWS “Mr. Vanilla” 1906 replica, item no. 403231. 6 A00949_Club_Magazin_01_2015_USA.indd 6 16.01.15 13:25 NEWS If you’re feeling lucky and want to try your hand at dice, Which items in our 2015 collection are most take a chance on Davis, next in our series of bears sewn likely to sell out? Smart collectors will with batik mohair. Around his neck he wears a pendant place their bets on our “Jubilee Teddy” and of golden dice embellished with sparkling crystals and “Fritzle” bear. These two pieces were created suspended by a red leather cord. With Davis in your hug of to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the bears, “Lady Luck” will always be on your side. founding of our company. Wearing a golden mohair coat, the For the card sharks among us, we proudly present a bear Jubilee Teddy holds a with the ultimate winning hand – four aces! He’s “The tiny felt reproduction Joker” and he’s always ready for some fun in his handmade of Margarete Steiff’s jester’s costume. Like many of the items in our casino- famous elephant pin themed collection, he’s available in an edition of 1,111 cushion. Our Fritzle bear pieces – representing the aces of hearts, spades, diamonds, is likewise rich with history. and clubs. Around his neck, he wears a satin ribbon that has been Politics are always a gamble – unless you’re voting for imprinted with famous Steiff our 1906 replica, who’s always the winning candidate. advertising artwork from the early The charming bruin is based on an original affectionately 1900’s – a well-known motif that serious Above: known as “Mr. Vanilla” from a famous U.S. collection. His collectors will instantly recognize and appreciate. Davis Teddy bear, item no. 021077. mohair coat has been specially dyed to refl ect the vanilla patina of the fi rst “Mr. Vanilla.” He’s wood wool stuffed With so many fascinating, creative, and historic characters Below: and wears an underscored button. Our new version of “Mr. in our collection, we’re sure you’ll agree: every Steiff Joker Teddy bear, item no. 021008. Vanilla” is sure to be “the people’s choice.” enthusiast is a winner in 2015! Jubilee Teddy bear “135 years”, item no. 034046. Fritzle Teddy bear, item no. 021022. 7 A00949_Club_Magazin_01_2015_USA.indd 7 16.01.15 13:25 NEWS Special items UK / USA T I N M AN Follow the yellow brick road ... Follow the yellow brick road UK B R I T I SH C OLLE C TORS ’ T EDDY B EAR 2015 L. Frank Baum’s classic tale comes to magisterial Technicolor life with the Wizard of Oz! The Academy Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the British award winning 1939 musical magical wonder film about a Collectors’ Teddy bear. For twenty five years the British young farm girl whisked out of her earthbound existence Collectors’ Teddy bear has quite rightly ruled as the most into a land of pure imagination. coveted “Jewel in the Crown” of the collectors’ world. Young Dorothy lives on a farm in Kansas where a large As part of our celebrations to honour a bear which has tornado picks her, her house, and her dog Toto up and achieved the longest running series of a limited edition deposits them in the Land of Oz.